Sunday Sermons at the Una Church of Christ: Loving Like Jesus: Like the Father's Love

April 13, 2014

Loving Like Jesus

Like the Father’s Love

Matthew 5:43-48

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Introduction

Hatred is an interesting topic.

Hatred and descent is something that has been an issue since the very beginning.
Even in Jesus’ day the motto was “Hate those that hate you.”
They might even thought that their hatred was justified:

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?

And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

22 I hate them with complete hatred;

I count them my enemies. Psalm 139:21-22

* Why do people justify their hate?

It is a way of proving that they have standards.
It is a way of showing that they have standards.
It is a way of showing they refuse to accept bad behaviors.

It makes them righteous/honorable/Godlike

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Jesus challenged this way of thinking.

“Wait a minute, that is not how your suppose to act”
Live differently...LOVE not HATE!

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Text

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

Listen to what is being said!

We hear these teachings and reply, “This doesn’t make sense!”

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8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

While we may not understand, all we really need to know is that this is HIs desire!

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It has always been His desire for us to love our enemies!

Even back in the OT...consider the following.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

22 for you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you. Prov. 25:21-22 (also see - Rom. 12:20)

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**Why would Jesus teach us to love our enemies and not hate them?

Lesson - as we consider loving our enemy consider these reasons.

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OUR REWARD - notice vs. 46

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

What is this reward that Jesus speaking of?
Notice Luke 6:35…

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

According to one researcher:

People who do not forgive the wrongs against them…
Experience more stress
Have more depression
Suffer from more cardio-vascular disease (strokes and heart attack)

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NOT LIKE THE PAGANS - notice vs. 47

And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

As Christians we belong to Jesus and no one else.
Before we were Christians we belonged to Satan.

As followers of Satan we are taught and learn how to hate.

Jesus, “Don’t be like that!”

You are called to something much higher and greater than the way your acting.
Be people of love!

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:20

Stand up against Satan!

Don’t fall back into your old life.
As a follower of Christ you are obligated to Him, you have no obligation to Satan anymore!

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PROVES WE ARE HIS - notice vs. 45

so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

God loves His enemies.
But how is it possible for God to have an enemy? Who are these enemies?

Consider - “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” Rom. 5:10

WE were enemies of God.

Despite the fact that we were enemies with God, He sent His only Son to die that we might have eternal life (John 3:16)

“so that YOU may be sons of your Father who is in heaven...” - vs. 45

God is not like us (remember Isaiah 55:8-9), His ways and times are not like ours!

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

***We too must LOVE & FORGIVE as Jesus!

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