John 13:1-35

All right, as a little bit of an intro, in prepping for the sermon, I began to think a little bit and realize that there are probably a number of people here who actually don't really know who I am.

So for anybody in that boat, my name is Caleb Waters. I've been here at CFC since fall of 2012.

I ended up here just as like a large chunk of us have of initially connecting through college Bible study while studying at what that time was in GCSU.

I met my wife at the new members class here, and we both got education degrees from UNG. Both of us got jobs in Forsyth County.

We lived in a camper in Cleveland for a while right when we got married and we bought a house in Dahlonega.

Now we have a couple of boys, Everett, who is almost two, and Isaac, who is almost three months old.

I served as an elder here from really, really, really early 2020 until last summer when I stepped down so that, as Nathan mentioned earlier, we could prep for the move.

We're turning our house up here into an Airbnb. I had to find a new teaching job down there, that kind of thing.

Some of you who knew the details of that have started to ask us, like, has the plan changed?

Like, are y'all actually still moving? Y'all are still here?

And it's really just that we are super planners, and so the move is finally here, about three and a half weeks away, I guess.

But it feels like we're moving home, but moving away from home.

This church has been our family for the last over ten years now.

We love you guys, and it's really, really hard to leave.

And anyway, I just wanted to say all of that for anybody who might have gotten here in the last year or so,

and I feel like I haven't been in the stage as much in that last little bit.

All right, let's get to the word this morning.

Nathan told me I could preach anything that I wanted to,

and that sometimes is a really hard thing to then narrow down.

But as I reflected just back along my time at CFC, I couldn't get away from one idea,

and so that's what we're going to focus on this morning.

So y'all turn with me to John 13.

John 13.

Alex Kohler read a chunk of this text last Sunday in the Lord's Supper service,

and I hope because of that the context will feel familiar to some of us.

I do want to read a very large chunk of this chapter, but don't be afraid.

We are not going to dig into every single part of it.

I really just want to focus on two verses,

but I think the context is so important that we should read a lot of it.

And those verses that we'll particularly be focusing on are verses 34 and 35.

All right.

Let's go ahead and read John chapter 13, starting all the way in verse 1.

John 13 · chapter mention

Now before the feast of the Passover,

when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father,

having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot,

Simon's son, to betray him,

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands,

and that he had come from God and was going back to God,

rose from supper.

He laid aside his outer garments and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.

Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet

and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,

Lord, do you wash my feet?

Jesus answered him,

What I am doing you do not understand now,

but afterward you will understand.

Peter said to him,

You shall never wash my feet.

Jesus answered him,

If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.

Simon Peter said to him,

Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Jesus said to him,

The one who has bathed does not need to wash except for his feet,

but is completely clean.

And you are clean, but not every one of you.

For he knew who was to betray him.

That was why he said,

Not all of you are clean.

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments

and resumed his place,

he said to them,

Do you understand what I have done to you?

You call me teacher and Lord,

and you are right, for so I am.

If I then, your Lord and teacher,

have washed your feet,

you also ought to wash one another's feet.

For I have given you an example

that you also should do just as I have done to you.

Truly, truly, I say to you,

a servant is not greater than his master,

nor is a messenger greater than he who sent him.

If you know these things,

blessed are you if you do them.

I am not speaking of all of you.

I know whom I have chosen,

but the scripture will be fulfilled.

He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.

I am telling you this now before it takes place,

that when it does take place,

you may believe that I am he.

Truly, truly, I say to you,

whoever receives the one I send,

receives me,

and whoever receives me,

receives the one who sent me.

After saying these things,

Jesus was troubled in his spirit and testified,

truly, truly, I say to you,

one of you will betray me.

The disciples looked at one another,

uncertain of whom he spoke.

One of his disciples,

whom Jesus loved,

was reclining at table at Jesus' side.

So Simon Peter motioned to him

to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.

So that disciple,

leaning back against Jesus,

said to him,

Lord, who is it?

Jesus answered,

it is he whom I will give

this morsel of bread

when I have dipped it.

So when he had dipped the morsel,

he gave it to Judas,

the son of Simon Iscariot.

Then after he had taken the morsel,

Satan entered into him.

Jesus said to him,

what you are going to do,

do quickly.

Now, no one at the table

knew why he said this to him.

Some thought that

because Jesus had the money bag,

Jesus was telling him,

buy what we need for the feast

or that he should give something

to the poor.

So after receiving

the morsel of bread,

he immediately went out

and it was night.

When he had gone out,

Jesus said,

now is the son of man glorified

and God is glorified in him.

If God is glorified in him,

God will also glorify him

in himself

and glorify him at once.

Little children,

yet a little while

I am with you.

He will seek me

and just as I said to the Jews,

so now I also say to you,

where I am going,

you cannot come.

A new commandment

I give to you,

that you love one another

just as I have loved you,

you also are to love one another.

By this,

all people will know

that you are my disciples

if you have love

for one another.

All right.

That's our text for this morning.

I know that it's

heavy and intense.

All right,

that's where we're at.

So let's talk about the context

first for a little bit

and then we'll get into

the main part of the sermon.

So something that's really important

to note at the beginning

of this passage

is that very early in it,

we see that this is recorded

at a time

when Jesus knows

that his time

is coming short.

It's become clear to him

that he doesn't have

much time left

in this world,

that he'll soon be sold

to authorities,

he'll ultimately be condemned

and put to death

and then be raised.

And I think it's important

to note John specifically

pointing this out here

in verse one,

that Jesus,

even as he knew

his time was coming soon

to be put to death,

that he didn't try

to hide out.

He didn't keep to himself

all the time,

but what does it say?

He loved his disciples

to the very end.

Jesus did not choose

to make a decision

that would bring comfort

or safety

in his last little bit

of time here on this earth,

but instead he chose

to love his disciples,

those who were with him

to the very end.

And so that's our context here.

He's having a meal

with his disciples.

He decides to wash

their feet.

And it becomes very clear

that this washing of feet

is very significant,

both in the minds

of the disciples

and in Jesus' mind.

And so a couple ways

we can see that.

Firstly, we see some insight

to what the disciples

are thinking,

how they are reacting

to this whole scenario.

And as is very often

typical in the Gospels,

we see exactly

what Peter had to say

about it.

And so let's read

verse 5 through verse 11

one more time.

It says,

Then he poured water

into a basin

and began to wash

the disciples' feet

and to wipe them

with the towel

that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter

who said to him,

Lord, do you wash my feet?

Jesus answered him,

What I'm doing

you do not understand now,

but afterward

you will understand.

Peter said to him,

You shall never

wash my feet.

Jesus answered him,

If I do not wash you,

you have no share with me.

Simon Peter said to him,

Lord, not my feet only,

but also my hands

and my head.

Jesus said to him,

The one who has bathed

does not need to wash

except for his feet,

but is completely clean.

And you are clean,

but not every one of you,

for he knew

who was to betray him.

That was why he said,

Not all of you are clean.

So Jesus is going around

watching the disciples' feet

and Peter speaks up.

He's clearly embarrassed,

maybe a bit ashamed

that his teacher,

the one he's followed

for so long,

the one who he has begun

to understand

and will soon fully understand

that is the very Son of God.

He's ashamed that

our Lord Jesus

is washing his feet.

And so he starts saying,

Lord, you're never going

to wash my feet.

And he seems a little bit

taken aback,

maybe startled slightly

by what the Lord's response is.

That he will not have

any share with him

if he is not washed.

And Peter's thoughts change.

We can see that clear change there.

He says,

Wash all of me,

of course,

I want to share with you.

Peter didn't fully understand here.

Peter didn't get

that the Lord was using this

as a picture of his blood

that was going to be shed

on their behalf.

Sure, he was starting

to catch on.

He was getting there,

but he didn't quite get

that full picture yet.

And the Lord says this

to Peter

and to all of the disciples here.

You don't quite get this now,

but afterwards,

speaking there of his death,

his resurrection,

you will understand it.

And so,

after Peter's response,

we hear some more

from the Lord.

Let's look at 12 through 17 again.

We're going to be saturated

in the scripture.

Let's not be afraid of it.

When he had washed their feet

and put on his outer garments

and resumed his place,

he said to them,

Do you understand

what I have done to you?

You call me teacher and Lord,

and you are right,

for so I am.

If I then,

your Lord and teacher,

have washed your feet,

you also ought to wash

one another's feet.

For I have given you an example

that you also should do

just as I have done to you.

Truly, truly,

I say to you,

a servant is not greater

than his master,

nor is a messenger

greater than the one

who sent him.

If you know these things,

blessed are you

if you do them.

And so,

we get a little bit more

perspective of what

this foot washing

is all about.

It was to be a picture

to the disciples

that they clearly saw

that this was like

a lowly,

gross maybe,

task,

task,

and yet their teacher

and Lord,

he is partaking in it

for them.

And Jesus makes

the argument then

that is a similar

argument to what we'll see

in our main couple

of verses

that we'll be focusing on,

that as they see

their teacher

and their Lord

partaking in the

lowliest of service,

that they should too.

They should serve

one another.

They should follow

the example

of their teacher

and their Lord.

The Lord reminds them

that a servant

should not expect

to do things differently

than their master.

If anything,

he should expect

to have to do

harder work.

And when they see

their teacher

partaking in the service,

they should be eager

to do the same thing.

Now,

after these verses,

we see lots

about Jesus' betrayal.

We'll talk about

that a little bit,

but for now,

with our context set up,

let's get to

verses 33 to 35.

Remember that we

see that Jesus

knew that his time

was coming soon.

Then we saw him

saying the disciples

would understand

an idea more

fully afterward,

speaking of after

his death,

his resurrection.

And then in

verse 33,

that will become

even more clear.

So,

let's read

33 to 35

one more time.

Little children,

yet a little while

I am with you.

You will seek me,

and just as I said

to the Jews,

so now I also say

to you,

where I am going,

you cannot come.

A new commandment

I give to you,

that you love

one another.

just as I have

loved you,

you also are

to love one another.

By this,

all people will know

that you are my

disciples,

if you have love

for one another.

And so Jesus,

again,

so many times

in this passage,

he has pointed out

that he's not going

to be with them

much longer.

And pretty interestingly,

he gives them

this new command

right after that

statement.

It's almost as if

he's saying,

when I'm gone,

be ready to do

this work.

He commands him

to follow this

in his physical absence.

And with that in mind,

let's actually give

some structure

to the rest of the sermon.

I think I gave

a lot of intro

this morning.

There's going to be

five points,

and here they are.

The first one will be

the command itself.

The command itself.

The second one will be

the newness

of the command.

The newness

of the command.

Third,

the impossibility

and possibility

of the command.

Four,

some examples

of the command.

And number five,

are we following

the command?

So let's get into it.

So let's talk about

the command itself.

So it's actually

pretty simple

to understand.

Verse 34 just says,

we are to love

one another,

and then it clarifies

how are we

to love one another?

We are to love

one another

with the very same love

that Christ

has loved us with.

And if that amount

of love

is not startling

to us,

it should be.

We should remember

some context

yet again here.

Verse 33,

little children,

yet a little while

I am with you,

you will seek me,

and just as I said

to the Jews,

so now I also say

to you,

where I'm going,

you can't come.

Let's remind

each other

that all the way

up to that,

John is making

it very clear

that Jesus knows

that his time

is coming soon.

And so with that

context in mind,

that amplifies this.

Because what is coming?

Where is he going?

Our Lord knows

that he's about

to die.

He knows that he's

about to be wrongfully

accused and tried,

be put to death.

But he also knows

something else,

that his death

will atone for the sins

of all those

who will trust in him.

He knows that these

disciples are included

in that.

We saw him referencing

that very clearly

right before these verses.

So it's something

I think we all understand.

We all know it.

But let's track

with that logic

just to make sure

we're all on the same page

with what is being

talked about here.

If we are called

to love

as he has loved

the disciples

and us

for that matter.

And with the context here,

we can begin

to clearly see

that he's speaking

of his death

for the disciples

and for us.

And so with that,

what is our calling?

We're called

to give up

our very life

for one another.

We're called

to give up

our very life

for one another.

And that gets us

to the next point.

And these next couple points

will be where we spend

the majority

of our time

this morning.

That'll be the newness

of the command.

The newness

of the command.

The Lord calls it

a new commandment here.

If he's calling it new,

we might be a bit confused

as to what

is really new about it.

How is it different

from all of the different

ways we've heard

loving our neighbor

be talked about before?

You might think

of passages

way in the Old Testament.

Think about

Leviticus 19,

Leviticus 19:18

verse 18.

You shall not

take vengeance

or bear a grudge

against the sons

of your own people,

but you shall love

your neighbor as yourself.

I am the Lord.

If your name is Zach,

you might think

of Jesus teaching

in the Sermon on the Mount

where Jesus amplifies

the importance

of even loving

our enemies.

Takes it a step

further, right?

You might think

of plenty of passages

in Paul's letters

that, yes,

are coming after this,

but poor were instructed

to love others well.

My point in saying

all of that

is this is clear

throughout all of Scripture.

And so with that in mind,

it kind of begs the question,

what about the command

when Jesus gives it here

to the disciples,

what is making it new?

Why does he call it

a new commandment?

And I honestly think

we can see that

pretty clearly

in the text itself

and we'll clarify that

with some other Scripture

as well.

So when Jesus

is saying this,

we've said it about

20 times already today,

he knows his time

is coming short.

He will soon be crucified.

What's about to happen

is that he's giving up

his life.

What does that mean?

That means the reality

of God's love

that is shown to us

is about to become

so much more clear

than it has ever been before.

So clear.

What was,

we even talked about

in the Lethia way

with the kids this morning,

something that has been

hidden in shadows,

not quite fully understandable,

will be fully known.

God's redemptive plan

of history

will be here.

It's happening

right now.

And the disciples

and us now

will actually be able

to actually see

the love of God.

Not just try

to understand it,

but see it perfectly

displayed

in Christ

in so much

fuller of a way

than ever before.

And so one way

in which this commandment

is new,

that it's different

from all of the ways

in which we've been

instructed to love

our neighbors before,

is that we actually

have the perfect example

of love now

as we see it

in the work of Christ.

We now have that example

to follow.

You might be thinking

of all of the passages

right now

that explain

that very idea.

Maybe you're thinking

of John 15,

John 15:12

verses 12 and 13,

that says,

This is my commandment

that you love one another

as I have loved you.

Greater love

has no one than this,

than someone to lay down

his life for his friends.

It's the exact same idea.

Or you might be thinking

of classic John 3, 16,

For God so loved the world

that he gave his only son

that whoever believes in him

should not perish

but have eternal life.

Or you might be thinking

of Romans 5,

Romans 5:6–8

verses 6 through 8,

For while we were still weak,

at the right time,

Christ died for the ungodly.

For one will scarcely die

for a righteous person,

though perhaps

for a good person

one would dare even to die.

But God shows his love for us

in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.

And we can keep going

and going and going

and list all of the passages

that tie the Lord's love for us

directly to his death

on the cross for us.

But that's so important, right?

These passages are so precious to us

because we actually see

how massive the love of God

for us is.

How he has loved us.

He's loved us in such a way

that he gave up everything,

even his own life,

for the sake of those he loved.

And so the disciples here

were seeing that happen.

They were seeing that happen.

They knew it was about to happen.

They didn't fully understand it.

It was almost there.

And so as they're seeing

that perfect love

of the Lord of the universe,

that's how it's new, right?

We are seeing

the perfect love displayed.

And let's remember,

as we're reminded in those passages,

that he did not give his life

for perfect people,

but gave his life for us

while we were dead

and our sins.

He shows his love

perfectly for us

in that he died for us

when we could do

absolutely nothing

for him.

And that's the same kind of love

we're being called to here.

Not a love that thinks about

what we might get in return.

Not a love

that loves

when we could get a benefit,

but a love for sinners.

And if that sounds very difficult,

you've been listening.

Right?

So let's get to

number three.

The impossibility

and possibility

of the command.

I just said that

if we've been paying attention well,

we'll realize that

what we've been called to

is incredibly difficult.

I would wager to say

it's impossible

without the grace of our Lord

on our behalf.

And so what is going on?

What is the standard

that the Lord is setting?

It's certainly really high,

but is it something

that we can't meet?

Is it something

that's just getting thrown out

to strive for

but we can't do?

Well, I think we need to remember

that while we can never

honor the Lord perfectly,

sometimes I think

we're a little too harsh

on what we believe

we can

and we cannot do

with the Lord's help.

A scripture that comes to mind,

I think we've shared it

the most here

in terms of a benediction,

it's Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:20

verses 20 and 21

where it says,

Now to him who is able

to do far more abundantly

than all that we ask

or think,

according to the power

at work within us,

to him be glory

in the church

and in Christ Jesus

throughout all generations

forever and ever.

Amen.

And something that I think

is really important

to note about that scripture

when Paul is writing there

is he's pointing out

that the Lord is able

to do far more abundantly

than all we ask or think.

That's clear,

but the next part

is so important.

According

to the power

at work within us,

according to the Holy Spirit's

work in each of us,

I think sometimes

we can err

towards the side

of feeling like our sin

has so much power over us

that we can't get out of it,

that we can't make progress.

And while there's

some good sentiment

in that classic

in the circles I grew up in,

the I'm just an old sinner

saved by grace

kind of thinking,

the Lord has also called us

to sanctification.

And while yes,

there is effort on our part,

he's the one

ultimately doing that work.

And so it's going to happen.

He's going to accomplish it.

We don't have to be

stuck in our sin.

And so in light of that,

this is a command

we can walk faithfully in

and always seek

to continue growing in,

just as everything else

that the Lord has commanded us

to put off or put on.

We can grow,

and by the Lord's grace,

we will.

Years ago,

I feel like the number one motion

I saw Nathan make

when he was preaching

looked like this.

like over and over

and over again.

And he was talking about

progressive sanctification.

And he explained

how often

we are, you know,

doing well,

moving on up,

but then like crashing

and feeling like

we can't get back,

but then we keep going up.

But the general trend

is always that we're

moving up.

We're growing in

Christ-likeness.

We should remember

that we can do that.

And so this command

is no different.

We can love one another well.

All right.

Y'all go ahead

and turn with me

to Philippians 2.

Philippians 2.

I'm stealing all

of Alex Kohler's passages

from the Lord's Supper

if y'all haven't noticed it yet.

But flip over there.

While we've reflected

that we can,

we can actually grow

in loving one another well,

this is a passage

that I think illustrates

this perfectly.

He paired it with

earlier parts

of chapter 13.

And I think it's,

it feels like

almost a direct application

of how we can love

the way that the Lord

has loved us

that we've just read about.

So let's read

verses 1 through 11

here in Philippians 2.

So if there's

any encouragement

in Christ,

any comfort from love,

any participation

in the Spirit,

any affection

and sympathy,

complete my joy

by being of the same mind,

having the same love,

being in full accord

and of one mind.

Do nothing

from selfish ambition

or conceit,

but in humility

count others

more significant

than yourselves.

let each of you

look not only

to his own interests,

but also

to the interests

of others.

Have this mind

among yourselves,

which is yours

in Christ Jesus,

who though he was

in the form of God,

did not count equality

with God

a thing to be grasped,

but emptied himself

by taking the form

of a servant

being born

in the likeness of men.

And being found

in human form,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient

to the point of death,

even death

on a cross.

Therefore God

has highly exalted him

and bestowed on him

the name

that is above every name.

So that the name

of Jesus

every knee should bow

in heaven,

on earth,

and under the earth,

and every tongue

confess that Jesus Christ

is the Lord

to the glory

of God the Father.

Here in this passage

we see Paul

basically explain

how to love

as Christ has loved us.

At the beginning

of this section

Paul is giving

some very direct

this is what you should do

kind of exhortation.

But there in the

middle he shows

the mindset

we are to have

behind all those actions.

Note in those

first four verses

Paul encourages

to encourage,

to have love,

affection,

sympathy,

unity in Christ,

to not have

selfish ambition,

but to count

others' interests

more significant

than our own.

But then in verse 5

Paul explains

the mindset

that we should have

while carrying

out these actions.

And what is it?

It's that we should

be looking

to the Lord.

reading verse 5

through 8 again,

have this mind

among yourselves

which is yours

in Christ Jesus

who though he was

in the form of God

did not count

equality with God

a thing to be grasped

but emptied himself

by taking the form

of a servant

being born

in the likeness

of men.

Being found

in human form

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient

to the point of death

even death

on a cross.

Note,

Paul is tying

the thinking

exactly like

our Lord did

where it's recorded

back in John.

Our Lord commanded us

to love one another

as he has loved us.

Paul gave this

long list

of what loving

one another looks like

and then ties it back

to that same mindset

of tracing it back

to look at how

the Lord has loved you.

Let's not think

that we are higher

than our master.

Let us serve

as he served.

Just like Paul says here

he emptied himself.

He became a servant

for us

and even more

than that

he gave up

his very life

for us.

And that's

the same love

that we're called

to have

for others.

We must humble

ourselves

seek to serve

rather than

to be served.

Count others'

interests

more significant

than our own

just like

our Lord did.

And again

this is impossible

under our own strength.

Absolutely impossible.

But by the Lord's grace

he will help us

to walk in it.

We can be obedient

and so let us

love as he is loved.

So let's get

to number four.

Number four.

So these are

some examples

of the command.

I mentioned earlier

that I had

a little bit

of a tough time

picking exactly

what it would be

that I wanted

to preach.

I had considered

doing a reverence

sermon.

I had my text

picked out for it.

I had tried

to sit down

and write

a little bit

of it

and I just

couldn't get

my mind to it.

And I think

the reason

for that is

my thinking

was if I have

one more sermon

one more opportunity

to speak truth

to the church

to you guys

I wanted to

speak about

something that I

believe has been

the number one

thing that I

have learned

about from CFC.

and also

a thing that we

can always

continue to

press into.

And so this

is where I

landed.

I believe

as a church

we do an

incredible job

of dying

to ourselves

and serving

others.

Of considering

each other's

interests ahead

of our own

of giving up

our own

lives

for the sake

of those

around us.

when I

think of

all the

ways I've

seen this

done

for me

particularly

over the

past 10

years

I think

of so

many times

from

the brother

who taught

me as a

young believer

how to

actually

study

the word

how to

build

daily

habits

in the

word

when I

had

never

done

that

before

to the

whole

church

as a

culture

of the

church

and

every

individual

seeming

this

direction

of taking

scripture

so

seriously

and teaching

me not

to rely

on my

feelings

but to

embrace

the firm

foundation

we have

in the

word

to all

the many

people

who have

had so

many hard

conversations

with me

when I

needed to

be called

out for

my sin

to the

brother who

is very

firm with

me and

telling me

that I

finally

needed to

ask my

wife out

called me

out of my

laziness

and showed

me how I

could serve

her better

to that

same

brother being

there for

me at

the drop

of a

hat when

that

relationship

fell apart

and showed

me through

scripture that

I was being

selfish and

caring more

about a

relationship than

I was about

the woman I

was trying to

pursue and

serve

to another

brother reminding

me that I'm

more important

than a bird

and the Lord

cares so much

for me when I

was struggling

to battle

anxiety

to many

many

accountability

partners just

giving unending

hours of time

to me

just seeking to

do that day

in day out

as long as it

is called

today exhort

one another

that no

one's going

to get

hardened by

the deceitfulness

of sin

to the many

men and so

many core

groups over

time that

just again

given up so

much of their

time and

sought to

live life

with one

another to

all the

community

groups just

seeking to

press one

other well

and learn

what it is

like to live

as a family

when I was a

young college

student to

even now

to the

couple who

has literally

never turned

Margaret and

I down

when we've

needed help

or advice

that gave

up endless

amounts of

time to

help us

figure out

how to

deal with

so many

different

situations

and conflicts

especially in

early days

of marriage

to the

elders that

I've seen

go through

great lengths

to do

absolutely

everything

they can

for the

sake of

your souls

the meetings

that went

and I'm

confident

still do

go late

into the

night

those men

care about

you

those men

are truly

worthy of

double honor

having heard

their hearts

they are not

perfect men

but they

always try

to seek

your very

best

and I

could go

on I

could go

on but

I think

you get

the point

it's those

day in

day out

dying to

someone's

own desires

that's the

loving one

another

I would

be wrong

to not

take the

opportunity

that I

have right

now to

thank the

whole church

for the

way you've

loved me

and for

the way

you've

loved my

family

as Christ

has loved

the church

so well

for so

many years

but also

let's

remember

that while

we have

such great

examples

in one

another

we see

each other

love really

well

we have

the greatest

example in

Christ

our Lord

gave up

his very

life for

us

he who

knew no

sin

became

sin

so that

in him

we can

become

the

righteousness

of God

our Lord

loves us

so well

and he's

now calling

us to that

same love

for one

another

so one

final point

that's really

just a bunch

of questions

for us to

think about

a lot of

direct

application

point five

are we

following the

command

I think

I've got

four

questions

here

so in

other words

are we

choosing to

love one

another as

Christ has

loved us

are we

loving one

another with

the kind

of love

that would

lay down

our own

life for

those around

us

so first

question

do we

remember

the love

by which

we are

loved

do we

remember

the love

by which

we are

loved

we are

not going

to be

able to

love others

well if

we are

forgetting the

gospel ourselves

if we aren't

remembering that

we are wretched

sinners only

justified and

brought into

God's family

by his

great love

we'll be

tempted again

and again

and again

to be thinking

in terms of

our own

righteousness

we'll begin

to put hope

in how well

we are doing

whether that

day or that

week or that

month or that

year whatever

it may be

as we're

failing to

believe that

truth of

the gospel

we'll also

end up in

that thinking

of the song

satisfied in

you that

inbred feedback

loop that

some of us

get very

confused of

like what

is that

talking about

I think

it's talking

about that

when we

get stuck

staring at

the ground

forgetting

that ultimately

our righteousness

is not

about us

and we just

go round

and round

and round

looking to

how we're

doing and

that's going

to take us

into a circle

of being

wrecked and

wrecked and

wrecked by

the memory

of our

sin

we've got

to instead

remember the

grace that

our Lord

has shown

to us

we need

to long

for that

remembrance

of the

Lord's

love

just like

a deer

pants

for water

we have

to have

that to

live

second

question

do we

remind each

other

of the

love by

which we

are loved

do we

remind each

other

of the

love by

which we

are loved

if I'm

honest

Margaret and

I about

how we've

been doing

in this

last little

season of

life

jumping from

one to

two kids

has been

really hard

the transition

from zero

to one

felt a little

crazy but

the one

to two

transition

has just

been really

hard on us

we've

struggled to

make time

to be

together

for one

another

to have

good time

in the

word

all the

things have

been hard

Ross and I

have a

weekly phone

call

that I

think he

wakes up

about 30

seconds

before

but he's

so faithful

to adjust

to my

early

schedule

and

anyway

we were

talking

early

this

week

and

I

was

frustrated

with

myself

of

struggling

with

sin

and

just

kind

of

frustrated

with

how

Margaret

and I

were

doing

and I

had just

talked all

about this

in prepping

for this

and what

does he

do

when I'm

frustrated

he is

like

preaching

this sermon

right back

to me

that I've

just

talked

to him

about

I

needed

reminders

of the

truth

that

morning

that

this

wasn't

going to

go well

by how

well

I'm

doing

he

reminded

me

so

quickly

that

our

righteousness

comes

from

the

Lord

not

us

I

needed

that

reminder

that

morning

and

I

hope

as a

church

there's

so

many

of

those

reminders

happening

each

week

that

we

constantly

remind

each

other

of

the

love

by

which

we

are

loved

third

question

do we

love

one

another

as

the

Lord

has

loved

us

that's

literally

the

text

isn't

it

direct

application

there

from

the

text

do we

love

one

another

as

the

Lord

has

loved

us

do we

actually

actively

seek

to

serve

one

another

in

ways

that

are

sacrificial

to

ourselves

do we

put

our

own

interests

aside

for

the

sake

of

others

do we

consider

others

more

significant

than

ourselves

do we

give up

our

time

our

preferences

to

do

so

and