Seeking Jesus First - June 24, 2023

Who does God love unconditionally? John 3:16-17

What is the New Covenant command that takes the place of all The O.T. Law commands? Matt. 22:36-40, John 13:34-35

How does love reveal itself? John 3:16, Gal. 5:13, 1 Tim. 1:5 …

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16–17, NKJV)

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36–40, NKJV)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”” (John 13:34–35, NKJV)

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13, NKJV)

“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,” (1 Timothy 1:5, NKJV)

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11, NKJV)

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8, NKJV)

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17, NKJV)

“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:8–10, NKJV)

• God loves His creation.
• God loves His creation enough to save it though loving sacrifice of self.
• The greatest command of The Old Covenant was to love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul and mind.
• The second greatest commandment of The O.T. was to love your neighbor as yourself.
• All of the law would be fulfilled through keeping these two commands.
• Jesus gave a new commandment for a new covenant.
• The new covenant is not a continuation of the old covenant or it would have been called Law Part Two.
• The New Covenant is not built on the law.
• Jesus Christ is the foundation and cornerstone that all must build upon.
• As the builder of a New Covenant “House”, Jesus had the authority to write its rules with The Father.
• Jesus said, “A new commandment, I give to you… love one another as I have loved you…”
• This command is a calling to liberty but not permission to pursue selfish lusts.
• This command is to love and by love to serve each other.
• Its purpose is love from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith.
• Our debt of love is to the body of Christ.
• Our service of love to each other is our calling card to the world. They will know us by our love for each other.
• Our love for the world does not save them.
• God’s love does.
• We convince them that God loves them by loving one another.
• When they see our love for one another and hear how much God loves them (the good news), they will believe in their hearts and receive God’s love and salvation like we did.