2016.10.16 礼拝

2016.10.16 礼拝

2016.10.16 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 “Forgive and Love Yourself”

Some Christians believe that there is no record in the Bible about loving yourself.

But is it really true that Christ never teaches about “loving yourself”? No, He does teach to love yourself.

Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Should we have to add the third commandment, “Love Yourself” to the two most important commandments, “Love God,” and “Love Your Neighbor”? The answer is ‘No.’

Jesus says Love yourself as you love your neighbor with God’s Love and love your neighbor as yourself with God’s Love. It is clear that He also meant you to be an object of God’s love.

Therefore, we should realize that “yourself” is included among the objects of God’s love together with “your neighbor”.

2 Timothy 3:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Does it teach to deny “Love yourself”? Here, love represents man’s deep attachment to greed and “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”

There should be a clear distinction between “loving yourself” and “self-centered love” since the kind of love described in above verse reflects the kind of “self-centered love”.

Steps to love yourself

➀Admit and accept honestly that you are a sinner.

Luke 15:18-19　18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’

You should know you are not as good as you think you are.

➁Believe God’s Love and Forgiveness thoroughly.

Luke 15:22 ”But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.’

Romans 8:1 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

When we are in trouble or feel really sinful, we are made to believe that God would not love us nor forgive us and move away from us.

However, we are not to judge ourselves but believe God’s love and His forgiveness especially at such a time.

➂Forgive yourself and decide to accept who you actually are, including your weakness, just as God has done.

1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them.

Loving yourself when you are doing well is and successful easy but accepting yourself as a failure may be difficult. If God loves us as we are – sinful and imperfect, why shouldn’t we?

➃Hold the right image of yourself

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.