John 17 17 Sanctify them through thy truth

John 17: 17 • “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” 1

Purpose Define Instruct Encourage 2

“Attitude” Defined Attitude: 1. Manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc. , with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, esp. of the mind: a negative attitude; group attitudes. 2. Position or posture of the body appropriate to or expressive of an action, emotion, etc. : a threatening attitude; a relaxed attitude. Source: Dictionary. com 3

What should our attitude be toward our ENEMIES? 4

Matthew 5: 43 -48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 5

Luke 6: 27 & 35 27. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. 35. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil 6

Introduction! • Need to recognize the truth concerning the treatment of our enemies! • The final portion of Jesus’ sermon on the mount! – Dealing with vengeance! • Our attitude toward our enemies must be regulated by scripture! – Matt. 4: 4 – Requires conduct by Christians that is opposite to the conduct of most! 7

What We Will Discuss • • • Definition of Love! The command of Jesus! The reward for loving your enemy! How to love our enemies! Who are our enemies? Conclusion! 8

The Definition of Love! 9

Definition of Love • Agapao – “to love (in a social or moral sense). ” - Strong – “Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom. 15: 2, and works no ill to any, 13: 8 -10; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith’ Gal. 6: 10. . In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant "love" and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential "love" in them towards the Giver, and a practical "love" towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver. ” - Vine 10

The Command of Jesus! 11

Command of Jesus • “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matt. 5: 33 -34). 12

Command of Jesus • Jesus refutes a misapplication of the Old Law! – It did not say to “hate thine enemy”! – It commanded to show love and regard for one’s enemy! • Lev. 19: 17 -18 • Ex. 23: 4 -5 • Prov. 25: 21 -22 13

Leviticus 19: 17 -18 • “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. 18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. ” 14

Exodus 23: 4 -5 • “If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. 5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him. ” 15

Proverbs 25: 21 -22 • “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. ” – Cf. Rom. 12: 17, 19 -20 16

Jesus vs. Pharisees • Jesus specifies proper priorities! – Matt. 22: 34 -40 • The priority! – First - God! – Second - Fellowman! – Last - Self! 17

Command of Jesus • The Demands of this command! – – “Love your enemies” “Bless them that curse you” “Do good to them that hate you” “Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” • "Is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered” - Vine 18

Command of Jesus • Things necessary to meet these demands! – Show aggressive love not hate! - Matt. 5: 38 -42 • “Go the extra mile. ” – Have the mind of Christ! - Phil. 2: 1 -8; cf. 1 Pet. 2: 21 -23 • • • Same love as Christ! Be of one accord and one mind! – Unity! Put away strife and vain glory! Be lowly in mind and esteem others better than self! Look on the things of others! Show humility towards others! – Be “partakers of the Divine nature”! – 2 Pet. 1: 4 -8 19

2 Peter 1: 4 -8 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 20

Command of Jesus • Things necessary to meet these demands! – Show aggressive love not hate! - Matt. 5: 38 -42 • “Go the extra mile. ” – Have the mind of Christ! - Phil. 2: 1 -8; cf. 1 Pet. 2: 21 -23 • • • Same love as Christ! One accord and one mind! Put away strife and vain glory! Be lowly in mind and esteem others better than self! Look on the things of others! Show humility! – Be “partakers of the Divine nature”! – 2 Pet. 1: 4 -8 • Add to your Faith… – – – – Virtue – Moral excellence! Knowledge – Knowledge of the scriptures! Temperance – Self-control! Patience – Endurance! Godliness – Godlikeness, holiness! Brotherly kindness – Fraternal affection! Charity or love – Charitable love! 21

The Reward! 22

Matthew 5: 45 -48 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 23

The Reward! • “That ye may be the children of your father” – The nature of the Father - vs. 45 • Blesses the good and the evil! – Rom. 12: 20 • Shows kindness to the good, evil, just and unjust! – Eph. 2: 7 – Tit. 3: 4 • He sent his Son to die for the evil and His enemies! – Rom. 5: 10 -13; Jn. 3: 16 – We must display a nature like the Father! • Jn. 15: 12 -13 • 1 Jn. 3: 16; 4: 11 24

The Reward! • To “be perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. ” – Must not show the “love” of the Pharisees! - vs. 48 • They loved those who loved them! – vs. 46 – Hated those who hated them! • They were the enemies of Christ! – But, loved by the Father! – Jn. 3: 16 • They were often rebuked by Jesus! – A rebuke of Divine Love! – Matt. 23 – Must strive for perfection as the Father! • Requires us to manifest good will toward our enemies! – Lk. 6: 35 -36 • Not ONLY to our brethren and those who love us! 25

How To Love Your Enemy! 26

How to Love Our Enemies! – “Love your enemies” • Show good will toward both socially, morally & spiritually! • Must not hate them! – “Bless them that curse you” • Speak well of them! • Even if they speak evil of you! – “Do good to them that hate you” • Treat with kindness and respect! • Even if they treat you unkindly and with disrespect! – “Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” • Pray for their salvation and physical well-being! • Pray that they will repent and obey the Gospel! 27

Who Is Your Enemy? 28

Who Is Your Enemy? • Those who revile you! • Those who persecute you! • Those who say all manner of evil against you falsely! “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (Matt. 5: 11). 29

Who Is Your Enemy? • Who are those who… – – – revile you? persecute you? say evil against you falsely? curse you? hate you? despitefully use you? • Sinners • Neighbors • Work Mates • Government • Friends • Family • Brethren • Self 30

Matthew 5: 44 -45, 48 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven. . . Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. ” 31

Conclusion! • We must act like the Father… – To be the Sons of our Father! – To be perfect as the Father! Whose Footprints Are You Following? 32

“What Shall We Do? ” Acts 2: 37 • An alien sinner must… – Hear the Gospel - Romans 10: 17 – Believe - Romans 10: 10 – Repent – Acts 17: 30 – Confess Christ - Acts 8: 37 – Be Baptized in water - Acts 2: 38 • An erring Child of God must… – Repent and Pray - Acts 8: 22 33