Love One Another The New Commandment of Jesus

Love One Another The “New Commandment” of Jesus John 13: 34 -35

Should We Preach on Brotherly Love? • Preaching on brotherly love is part of preaching the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20: 27) • Jesus, John, Peter and Paul preached on brotherly love • Preaching on brotherly love will help avoid local church division and destruction • Preaching on brotherly love will help stimulate inactive members

Brotherly Love • Jesus gave a “new” command to love one another (Jn. 13: 34 -35); not new in time (Lev. 19: 18, 34); but new in kind - a sacrificial love (1 Jn. 3: 16) – Sacrifice time and talents for our brethren – Sacrifice personal preferences for our brethren – Sacrifice without sacrificing truth (Eph. 4: 15) – Sacrifice without sinning (Rev. 3: 19)

What Will Brotherly Love Accomplish? • Brethren will be honored (Rom. 12: 10; 13: 8) • Personal conscience will be respected (Rom. 14: 15) • Personal harm will be avoided (Gal. 5: 13 -15) • Unity will be maintained (Eph. 4: 2) • Personal growth will abound (1 Thess. 3: 12; 4: 9; 2 Thess. 1: 3; 2 Pet. 1: 7)

What Will Brotherly Love Accomplish? • Good works will be stirred up (Heb. 10: 24 -25) • Brethren around the world will be treated properly (1 Pet. 2: 17) • Needy brethren will be cared for (1 Jn. 3: 1018, 23) • Hatred of brethren will cease (1 Jn. 2: 7 -11; 3: 15; 4: 7, 11 -12, 20 -21)

What Kind of Love Is This? • A love that is sacrificial (Jn. 13: 34 -35; 15: 12 -17) • A love that is balanced (1 Cor. 13: 4 -7) • A love that is selfless and serving (Gal. 5: 13) • A love that is sincere and fervent (1 Pet. 1: 22) • A love that is controlled by God’s commandments (2 Jn. 5 -6)

Brotherly Love “Let love of the brethren continue” Hebrews 13: 1