By This All Will Know - DJ Dickerson

Good evening. It is certainly wonderful

that we could be here.

The opportunity that we've had

throughout the day to study God's word

and to uh worship him and the

opportunity we have this evening to do

that. And it's been a good day. I'll say

that uh for certain. We had those that

we had one restored this morning and and

then we had a baptism that followed

services this morning. And so we've uh

been blessed today and we want to

continue that edification and

encouragement uh this this uh evening.

And the title for this evening's lesson

is by this all will know. So I'd

encourage you to turn in your Bibles to

John chapter 13 and we'll be looking at

John 13 · chapter mention

verses 31-35.

That's going to be our main text for

this evening's lesson in John chapter 13

John 13:31

verse 31 down through verse 35. You know

a lot of times you say they're simple

lessons but yet they are profound all in

itself as we look to God's word and we

think about how plain and simple these

words are but yet they hit home and uh

what wonderful lessons we have to be

reminded of. But John 13 beginning verse

31 down through verse 35. Let's read

that together.

So when he had gone out, Jesus said,

"Now the son of man is glorified and God

is glorified in him. If God is glorified

in him and God will also glorify him in

himself and glorify him immediately,

little children, I shall be with you a

little while longer.

You will seek me. And as I said to the

Jews, where I am going, you cannot come.

So now I say to you, a new commandment I

give to you, that you love one another,

as I have loved you, that you also love

one another. By this all will know that

you are my disciples, if you have love

for one another.

When you really look at this passage in

on the final night before the cross,

Jesus gathered his disciples in an upper

room. Uh the air was heavy,

betrayal was near,

suffering was certain, and knowing that

his time was short,

Jesus chose his words so carefully and

masterfully.

Now, I want us to think about this and

how many times we read John chapter 13,

John 13 · chapter mention

especially these verses here, and and we

it's sometimes easy to gloss over

that understanding that Jesus did not

give them a strategy. Uh he didn't give

them a structure. He just gave them a

standard.

And Jesus said the world would recognize

his followers uh not by their size, not

by their power of themselves or their

influence themselves, but what he

identifies. He says they're going to

know who you are and whose you are

by their love.

What Jesus commanded in John 13. I'm

going to share with you some things we

studied about in our Bible class, our

adult Bible class from the book of Acts.

What the early church demonstrated in

the book of Acts because the pages of

Acts show us really what love looks like

when the command of Christ is truly

taken seriously.

So again, we're going to consider this

lessons that I'm entitled from Jesus'

own words that we just read in John 13.

By this all will know. So let's begin

with the command of love that we see

here in verse 34 and 35 specifically.

Well, Jesus begins with that command. A

new commandment I give you that you love

one another.

Now something that we have noted

probably throughout many sermons uh

throughout many lessons and maybe maybe

even our own uh studies at the house

regarding the very topic of love is that

love in scripture is not optional

sentiment. Y'all ever think about that

love is called obedient action. That's

what that is. Uh there's a lot of

scriptures on that for that matter. But

the newness of this command was not love

itself,

but rather the pattern. Sometimes this

is where we easily miss this as we talk

about this commandment that he's that

he's given that you love one another.

But did you notice the pattern that he

shared with them of how you are to love?

Let's underline it. As I have loved you.

That takes it to a whole another level,

doesn't it?

Now, what was going on in John chapter

John 13 · chapter mention

13? This is one that we've studied, I

know, in the past, uh, and and have

heard lessons on this, but what was

going on prior to Jesus giving this new

commandment? Y'all remember washing

feet, right? Jesus washed feet. He

washed their feet. And what he would

soon do following this is shed his own

blood.

So when you're talking about love on

that type of level that Jesus saying as

I have loved you that means it's

sacrificial love it's humble it's

intentional friends it's unconditional

even and Jesus makes a statement that

defines disciplehip by this all will

know that you are my disciples if

there's the if word if you have love for

one another.

What's he saying? He's saying love is

not an accessory to Christianity. That's

not what love is. Love Jesus says

explaining in this is the very evidence

of Christianity.

Let's talk about love put into practice.

I want you to go to Acts chapter 2. In

Acts 2 · chapter mention

our adult Bible class, we were studying

Acts chapter 2 not too long ago. In Acts

Acts 2 · chapter mention Acts 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2, it's a familiar passage that

you find verses 41 down through verse

47. We know that this is the early

church here that's being established on

the day of Pentecost as the gospel's

first gospel sermon was being preached

there on the day of Pentecost. And what

you find recorded in in Acts, the church

in Acts 2 is they're not merely

preaching that of love. They were

actually living it. Now look at in verse

41 and 42 of Acts chapter 2. Then those

Acts 2 · chapter mention

who gladly received his word were

baptized. And that day about 3,000 souls

were added to them, and they continued

steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and

fellowship in the breaking of bread and

in prayers.

What's interesting when you look at

these verses, if you'll notice how

doctrine and love, they're never

separated. They go hand in hand because

where do we learn how to love?

Exactly. Right. The Lord teaches us what

love is and demonstrated what love is

and how to love. And then when you think

about it, truth with truth being

proclaimed, what truth produces is

unity,

togetherness.

Look at verse 44 and 45 going down

there. Now all who believe were together

and had all things in common and sold

their possessions and goods and divided

them among all as anyone had need.

What's that saying? When you look at

that verse, you say their love was

visible. I believe it was.

And this was voluntary uh sacrifice

because love caused them to look beyond

what's mine

to what's ours.

So then we ask, well, what's the result

of this? What's the result?

46 and 47.

So continuing daily with one accord in

the temple and breaking bread from house

to house, they ate their food with

gladness and simplicity of heart,

praising God and having favor with all

the people. And the Lord added to the

church daily those who were being saved.

When love flourished inside the church,

souls were added from outside.

It's beautiful, isn't it?

Now,

there's a lot of work that was going on.

There's the large number, right? And

that leads us to Acts chapter 6. I know

Acts 6 · chapter mention

I'm skipping a lot of part there, but

for for the reason for this lesson, I

want to show you some things about how

love does not ignore problems, it

addresses them. Right? So, let's talk

about Acts chapter 6. This is actually a

Acts 6 · chapter mention

a passage we were just completing this

morning in our Bible study in Acts

Acts 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6. And I want you to notice that

that that again by Acts chapter 6, the

Acts 6 · chapter mention

church had grown. And as we talked about

in the class, that means they were

having some growing pains. that again

what happens many times is growth brings

challenges and that's what was going on

here right Acts chapter 6 so we remember

Acts 6 · chapter mention

in our class if you've been in our class

we'll look at it again verse one it says

now in those days when the number of the

disciples was multiplying there arose a

complaint against the Hebrews by the

hellist because their widows were

neglected in the daily distribution

read on in verses 2 through

Then the twel summoned the multitude

disciples and said, "It is not desirable

that we should leave the word of God and

serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek

out from among you seven men of good

reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and

wisdom, whom we may appoint over this

business, but we will give ourselves

continually to prayer and to the

ministry of the word."

Once this complaint arose, I want you to

notice something here. What I want you

to notice is what love did not do.

It did not dismiss the problem, the

issue, the concern.

It didn't deny it either. It didn't

divide the church. Instead, love sought

a solution.

the apostles what they did responding

with wisdom and humility appointing

godly men to serve so that no group

would be overlooked.

Now if you notice that this was love in

action. Now, we don't have all the

specifics of all the things that that

these seven did, but it's apparent that

that uh they were handling the business

that was before them. And they did a

fine job. As as we notice what happened

from this because when you think about

uh verse seven,

then the word of God spread and the

number of the disciples multiplied

greatly in Jerusalem and a great many of

the priests were obedient to the faith.

Now, I believe that that would not have

happened

if it would have been for love being in

full action,

listening,

valuing every single soul,

protecting unity, and sharing

responsibility.

That would not have been the result if

they didn't do that.

Because when love governs leadership,

the church grows stronger, not weaker.

And that's exactly the what we see in

the pattern that's that's laid out for

us in the book of Acts.

And I would submit to you that

those individuals that were seeing all

of this growth and all of the things

that were taking place, even as we were

talking about Stephen there in Acts

Acts 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6 this morning in the latter

part in our Bible class that that they

couldn't find any fault with him really,

could they? Nothing that would

substantiate because what he was doing,

he was a good man. And he was he was

certainly qualified to handle the issues

that were before them in Acts chapter 6.

Acts 6 · chapter mention

But guess what? They set up false

accusations against him. That's the only

way they could they could really kind of

go with that angle

because they saw such love from these

individuals.

That's that's what's amazing is because

what's on full display is love and love

is a strongest witness to the world.

That's why Jesus said from our text, "By

this all will know that you are my

disciples."

I'll tell you, the world may argue

doctrine.

The world may criticize beliefs,

but the world cannot deny genuine love.

The early churches love. They cared for

one another. They maintained unity. that

prioritized souls. They handled

persecution, oppression, problems,

issues within and without all sorts in

and a far different approach than those

of the world.

And the world noticed

because what love did, it made the

gospel visible.

It made love made the gospel visible.

And what I simply want to point out in

this lesson is that love must still

define the church today. It must define

the church

because

all the way back to Acts chapter 2, the

Acts 2 · chapter mention

Lord added the church. That's the body

of Christ, right?

And we still today, now in 2026,

we're still the body of Christ.

We still carry his name

and we are still identified by his

command.

So somebody might ask, well what does

love look like today? Friends, it looks

the same as it did in the book of Acts.

I'll give you a few for time sake, but

just for consideration,

love today looks like this. Galatians

Galatians 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6 1 and 2. Brethren, if a man is

overtaken and he trespass, you who are

spiritual, restore such one in a spirit

of gentleness, considering yourself,

lest you also be tempted, bear one

another's burdens, and so fulfill the

law of Christ.

That's what love looks like. It's

bearing and sharing.

That means we have responsibilities.

That's love in action.

And we have to ask ourselves, is that

the love that I'm demonstrating?

If I see someone overtaken in trespass,

am I out of love, spiritual gentleness

trying to restore them

because I love them because I care for

them?

Do I seek out to bear another's burdens

to so fulfill the law of Christ? That's

love. That's what love looks like. Well,

what about this one? Number two,

speaking the truth in love. In Ephesians

Ephesians 4 · chapter mention

chapter 4, look at verses 15 and 16. It

says, "But speaking the truth in love

may grow up in all things into him who

is the head Christ. For whom the whole

body joined in it together by what every

joint supplies according to the

effective working by which every part

every part does its share causes growth

of the body for the edifying of itself

in what?" There's that word in love.

It's pretty important, isn't it?

If you'll notice that one speaking the

truth in love, that's going to produce

something

growth.

It's going to be effective.

It's going to work

and it's going to cause growth.

But that's love. That's at the very

core.

What about number three? Forgiving as

Christ forgave. Colossians chapter

3:12-14.

Colossians 3:12-14 says, "Therefore, as

Colossians 3:12–14

the elect of God, holy and beloved, put

on tender mercies, kindness, humility,

meekness, longsuffering, bearing with

one another, and forgiving one another.

If anyone has a complaint against

another, even as Christ forgave you, so

you also must do. But above all these

things, put on love, which is the bond

of perfection.

And through each one of these, we say,

is that what my love today looks like?

Is that how the world will be able to

identify that I belong to Christ?

Another one that we see is serving

without seeking recognition. Philippians

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2 3-5.

Let nothing be done through selfish

ambition or conceit, but in loneliness

of mind. Let each esteem others better

than himself. Let each of you look out

not only for his own interest, but also

for the interest of others. Let this

mind be in you which was also in Christ

Jesus.

See, those are all

things that point to what love actually

looks like.

And we ask oursel, and I'm I'm just

giving you those quick ones, okay?

Is that what love looks like? Friends,

love is not merely felt, it's seen.

What did Jesus say? By this all will

know.

And that's why he's saying love is

visible. You could go through a a whole

host of scriptures, friends. I'm telling

you, I'm just giving you a little bit

tonight because of time. But again, love

is seen in how we speak to one another.

Ephesians 4 speaks on that.

How we handle disagreements, that's

going to be Ephesians chapter 4:es 2 and

3 as well. How we bear burdens, we

talked about in Galatians chapter 6. How

Galatians 6 · chapter mention

we forgive, how we put others first. The

world may never read a Bible, but they

read the church every day.

And they decide whether Jesus is real by

how his people treat one another.

It is love that protects the unity of

the body.

Division weakens our witness.

Bitterness poisons our fellowship.

Unresolved conflict grieves the spirit.

And we know that's not what Jesus prayed

for is all these issues that we don't

deal with. What did he pray for in John

John 17:20

chapter 17 verses 20 and 21.

This prayer is reaching far off into

where we are today in 2026. He's praying

for us. He was praying for us all the

way back in John chapter 17. Look at

John 17 · chapter mention

verse 20 and 21.

I do not pray for these alone, but also

for those who will believe in me through

their word, that they may all may be one

as you, Father, are in me and I in you.

That they also may be one in us. That

the world may believe that you sent me.

That's a really important part what he's

saying there, isn't it? That the world

may believe that you sent me. That means

I play a very critical role in all of

this.

To be a true ambassador of Christ,

I need to be in unity.

Unity is love that refuses to tear down

what Christ died to build.

Because friends, we cannot claim loyalty

to the head while harming the body

and that we never forget that love is

the actual fulfillment of our calling.

Paul would later write, you know, I was

talking about love. Remember that series

I did on love. 1 Corinthians chapter 13

1 Corinthians 13 · chapter mention

verse one though I speak with the

tongues of men of angels but have not

love I have become sounding brass or a

clan symbol said that's all I am if I

don't have love and that's a beautiful

chapter isn't it

because when he says belief without love

that's just noise

service without love is empty and truth

without love is old

understanding love does not replace

truth. It carries it.

And we have to ask ourselves, if someone

studied our congregation,

would Acts still make sense to them?

Would it would it make sense

if someone observed us for a month?

Would love be the unmistakable

conclusion?

Would they say, you know what, they

truly care for one another? Would they

say they forgive? They they bear one

another's burdens. They love like

Christ. Just like John 13:34 and 35

John 13:34

says,

because Jesus did not say by this some

will know. He said by this all will

know.

Again, love is not our accessory. It's

our identity.

We walked through three passages

basically. There was others that I

shared with you briefly, but we started

in John 13. We went to Acts chapter 2,

Acts 2 · chapter mention

and we looked at Acts chapter 6. Y'all

Acts 6 · chapter mention

notice something with all three of

those. Jesus commanded love in John

John 13 · chapter mention

chapter 13.

The early church lived it in Acts

Acts 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2. and they protected it in Acts

Acts 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6.

And because of those prime examples,

the church grew, unity was preserved,

and God was glorified.

The loudest sermon the church preaches

is not spoken from the pullpit.

It's lived in how we love one another.

And I'll submit to you, friends,

the world may question our words,

but it cannot dismiss or ignore a church

that loves like Christ.

That goes into a whole another lesson

about what love, again, it's not just

loving those who love us in return.

about that golden rule. Do unto them as

you would have them do unto you.

It has to do with what Jesus said on the

sermon on Mount Matthew chapter 5. Love

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

your enemies.

That's tough.

That's not easy.

But he made a very strong point in just

John 13 and the sermon on the mount

which is so heavy and is so deep. We

were reading that for our our our Bible

reading at the house with the kids.

That's some really

good self-examination questions.

What that looks like,

how do we carry that out?

Well, we have great examples that have

shown us just a few that I shared with

you just briefly this evening.

Just remember that Jesus gave the

standard and we are called to live

according to that standard so that all

will know

that we belong to him

because we love like him.

And that's the lesson.

It may be something we said we've heard

this all before. Certainly we have.

We've read this passage. I'm sure

numerous times a lot of times we say

John 13 most people think when John 13

the first thing they think of is what

washing the feet but guess what there is

all of that is so masterfully done to

point out even Jesus washing the feet of

the one who had betrayed

he loved

he washed the feet of the one who had

also denied

that's love

and he wanted them to know very clearly

that he was truly

his father's child

and he loved like the father

and he wants us to love just like that.

I appreciate so much your kind attention

and looking at this brief lesson from

John chapter 13. By all this, by this

John 13 · chapter mention

all will know. And I hope that we we

take even if we've heard it a million

times that we take these things and we

look at our lives and we see areas that

say,

"Am I doing what is good and right?"

And if we can say, "Yes, I'm doing

what's good and right according to the

scriptures." Let's ask the next

question. How well am I doing that which

is good and right? Because it's a

continually growth process of growing

stronger and closer to God, but also to

one another. That's God's design, and

it's a beautiful design that we always

need to keep in mind. With that being

said, God's plan of salvation is always

put forward here. Looking at God's plan,

having heard the word, you believe that

Jesus Christ is the son of God. And with

that, you act upon that, you confess

him, and you repent of your sins. you're

baptized, buried with Christ in baptism,

but arise and walk in news of life.

Romans 6 3 and 4. We saw that this

morning as well. There were still some a

couple that were still here uh hanging

around the building and got to witness

that yet again today. It's a beautiful

thing that we should always be thankful

of the longsuffering of God that we're

here and that we're able to answer this

very call, God's call today from his

holy divine word to become one of his

through Christ. How thankful we are as

disciple of Christ. Maybe there's

something to miss in your life. You also

saw that this morning as well.

Two great examples of what it means to

love God. and want to do what's right in

his sight. He still supplies that

strength

and that hope and how thankful we should

be for the long suffering of God that

there still is a fountain, still a

fountain. And it's free for you to

partake right now. Whatever your

spiritual need, won't you come as we

stand and sing the song that's been

selected?