John 15:9-14
9. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
11. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
14. You are my friends if you do what I command. '
“Just as the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”
1. Abiding in the Word
In the Gospel of John, Jesus said three things about disciples of Jesus. First, disciples are those who abide in the Word.
“Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.’” - John 8:31 (NIV)
Becoming a disciple of Jesus is not about working a lot or gaining a position in the church. Disciples of Jesus are those who stay in the word of God. An intimate relationship with Jesus is not emotional or abstract; it involves reading the Word of God, discerning its meaning, and putting it into practice in our lives.
2. Loving One Another
Second, Jesus said that when we love one another, we are His disciples.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:35 (NIV)
So how can we love more?
3. Bearing Fruit
Third, Jesus said that if you bear fruit, you are His disciple.
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” - John 15:8 (NIV)
It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Faith grows in the soil of relationships. Without relationships, our faith remains theoretical. But God gave us relationships. In them, faith in God's will bears the fruit of Christ's character in our personalities, and the kingdom of God that loves one another is achieved through us all.
- We don't just have a good relationship. There are some odd relationships. 1) It usually occurs when a close relationship goes sour. The more you give your heart and time, the more hurt and betrayal you feel. 2) They know each other very well. So, we know where to stab each other to make it hurt. 3) Wensu is usually found on a single tree bridge. It may seem like it would hurt to hug them, but they are fateful people that we have no choice but to embrace and live with. The relationships are within the five fingers.
1. Thumb: Closest to my heart Close friends and family “For this reason a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two become one flesh. This secret is big. I say this about Christ and the church. Therefore each of you must love his wife as himself, and let her respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:31-33
2. Index finger: Pointing Finder. People who teach. pastor, teacher “Elders who rule well should be given double respect. This should be especially true of elders who labor in preaching and teaching the word.” 1 Timothy 5:17
3. Middle finger. People with authority government, company “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling and sincerity of heart. We must do it as to Christ. Do not do it blindly, like people-pleasers, but sincerely practice God’s will as a servant of Christ. Serve willingly, as to the Lord and not to men.” Ephesians 6:5-7
4. Ring finger: Weakest finger, socially disadvantaged “Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus called a child to him, made him stand among them, and said to him, “Truly I tell you, Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:1-5
5. Pinky (My self): “Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the most important and foremost commandment. The second commandment is like this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39
- The roots of the love of the world and the love of believers are different. In the world, everything starts with me. give me what's mine is finite. But for believers, God is our root. We are not light, but luminous bodies. So we must remain in God’s presence. We must receive love first. It must be enjoyed. That is the gospel. The value of existence must be restored. You must fill yourself first and love with what flows. We must love our neighbors as ourselves. You must love me. If you cannot love God, you cannot love anyone. A person who loves God more than anyone else inevitably lives for people. Also, if a person cannot love people, he cannot be said to love God. Dividing all of God's commandments into two means loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself.
“If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love. It is as if I keep my Father's commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may overflow.” John 15:10-11
- The church is a family and training center that experiences the kingdom of God. There are five types of people in the church. The church is a prototype. The same thing that leaks at home also leaks outside. In the temple and at home. You have to do both of these things well. These words are addressed to the community of faith. Training must first occur in the community.
“And day after day they gathered together in the temple with one mind, breaking bread from house to house, and eating their food with joyful sincerity of heart.” Acts 2:46
- We must have the heart of Jesus. Jesus' heart was that of a servant. The greatest person in the kingdom of God is one who lives with the heart of a servant on this earth. When Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, Judas Iscariot was among them. Because he knew Jesus' movements, he sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. It seemed like the conclusion of Judas Iscariot and the religious people's plan, but this was only happening according to God's will. Jesus stooped down to wash the feet of his disciples, including Judas Iscariot. He became lower than his disciples.
“Have this mind within you. That is also the heart of Christ Jesus. Although he had the image of God, he did not take equality with God for granted, but emptied himself and took on the form of a servant, becoming like a man. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God highly exalted him and gave him a name that is above every name.” Philippians 2:5-9
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