2016.7.31 礼拝

2016.7.31 礼拝

2016.7.31 1 John 4:10-21 “Putting Evangelism into Practice”

Q.　What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ?
.A.　To love Jesus Christ

The last question Jesus asked Peter was not “Do you believe in me,” but …

John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Apostle Paul also teaches about “love” and “faith as …

１Corinthians13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Some people may have seen, heard or had mysterious experiences or performed miracles. However, all such experiences would be meaningless unless love of God is involved.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

So, the question Jesus is asking us is not “Do you believe in me,” but…

John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

➀　Responding to Jesus’ question, ”Do you love me?”

1 John 4:15 If anyone acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.

To believe Jesus is the Son of God is to obey the command of Jesus – love God and love one another.

1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

When we understand and accept God’s love, we can testify that God is love. As a response to God’s love, we should love one another.

What is that “love”?

1John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. All starts from these – faith, hope, love.

We are all sinners and God knows that more than us. However, God took the initiative and showed his love by allowing Jesus Christ to be put on the cross to forgive our sins. We know all of us are sinners, therefore, if we love one another we should also forgive others.

How has the love of Christ changed your life?

１John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Romans 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

God’s love knows no fear, however, to live in God’s love, we need Jesus who is the bridge for our relationship with God. If we live in God’s love, we know Jesus is in us and helps us to have a relationship of love with others.

➁ Know that Evangelism is all about love.

１John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Because we know God’s love, we want to share his love with others and want them to live in God’s love as we do.

１John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Telling others about Jesus is important, but words must be supported by action – love. If parents live in God’s love, practicing their love of each other in God, they should be able to forgive each other. Seeing their parents, children could understand God’s love. So let it be our challenge to practice God’s love at church.