CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you have love for one another“ – John 13:35

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (John 13:35).

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as looking for Jesus, following Jesus, Jesus’ commandments, loving one another, being identified as Jesus’ disciple.

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35).

IN CONTEXT

“Therefore, when he had left, 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 will glorify Him immediately. Little children, I am still with you a little longer. You will look for Me; and just as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.

 “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” (John 13:31-38.)

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“By this all will know that I am Your disciple, if I have love for another.” (John 13:35).

Jesus is preparing His disciples, including you and me, for His departure when He says, “I am still with you a little longer. You will look for Me; and just as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come”, and it will be the disciples calling and responsibility to carry on the works Jesus has prepared for us ahead of time.

This is not a work to be done in secret, but is a work to be seen, and you are to be identified as a disciple of Jesus.

Jesus instructed, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus warned, “if you say you love me but hate your brother, you are a liar and the truth is not in you.” So, is it true that…

• If you resent your Christian brother or sister, you are a liar and the truth is not in you?
• If you gossip and speak poorly about your Christian brother or sister, you are a liar and the truth is not in you?
• If you snub or deliberately refuse or fail to greet and show respect and Christian warmth and unity to a Christian brother or sister, perhaps you are a liar and the truth is not in you?
• If you are holding a grudge against your Christian brother or sister, perhaps you are a liar and the truth is not in you?
• If you think of yourself as better than or act superior to or look down upon your Christian brother or sister, you are a liar and the truth is not in you?

One of the principal identifying characteristics that you are Jesus’ disciple is that you have love for one another.

Just as importantly is that without possessing a love for one another, we are rendered impotent to carry on His work – BUT WE ARE EMPOWERED BY AND UNITED INTO AN UNBREAKABLE BOND by this love for one another.

“Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel–the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ].” (Philippians 2:1-2)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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Philippians 2:1, “Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, verse 2, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel–the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ]. Verse 3. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Verse 4. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], verse 6, who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes–the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; verse 7, but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].”