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welcome to everyone it's good to be in the house of God this evening you can turn with me in your Bibles to psalm 119 for our call to worship psalm 119 we'll read the section verses 161 to 168 Prince's persecute me without a cause but my heart stands in awe of your word I rejoice at your word as one who finds great treasure I hate and abhor lying but I love your law seven times a day I praise you because of your righteous judgments great peace have those who love your law and nothing causes them to stumble lord I hope for your salvation and I do your Commandments my soul keeps your testimonies and I love them exceedingly I keep your Testim your precepts and your testimonies for all my ways are before you amen well please turn in your Trinity Psalter to Psalm number one [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] oh let us pray Our Blessed God and holy father it's a joy to gather in your house again on the Sabbath day we come to the Father through the son by the power of the Spirit and pray that God would be exalted and glorified in this place we acknowledge that you are indeed Most High that you are the god of absolute and unrivaled sovereignty to her God who is most glorious and worthy to be praised and as Scripture sets forth who would not fear you O king of the nations for indeed it is your do all your creatures should worship and honor and praise we know because of sin and rebellion and rejection we know that man does not worship your right and so we praise you for your Sovereign Grace that has taught our heart to fear we praise you that while we were yet dead in our trespasses and sins well we were in darkness and far from you you drew us not through the preaching of the gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit you've shown us the glory and the majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we praise you for that God we don't stand we don't sit before you now is redeemed sinners because if our own works or our own good choice or anything like that but we are here because of your graciousness and because of your mercy because you predestined and foreordained the salvation of a great multitude that no man can number the fullness of the time you sent forth your son on that mission of recovery Redemption and we praise you that since he rose again and ascended on high you have given the Holy Spirit to call a son to the Lord Jesus Christ so be glorified as we sing tonight as we pray as we look to Holy Scripture we would ask that the Spirit of God would be at work in our minds and hearts causing us to approach you and to treat you with the reverence and the honor that is due your most high name as well may flood our hearts with joy and with Thanksgiving as we sit redeemed through the blood the Lord Jesus Christ we ask thee would forgive us for our sins and transgressions against you we ask that you would wash us in the blood of the Lord Jesus we thank you that we live in those days prophesied by Zechariah that there would be a fountain opened for sin and uncleanness we would pray tonight that you would save to the uttermost others that have yet to come to the Lord Jesus we pray God that you would bless the preaching of the gospel in this place we pray for other churches in Chilliwack thanking you god that we're not alone in this community thanking you that there are other local churches where the truth is preached and where the people of God are are edified and worship the Lord God Most High may you use these churches here in this city to call sinners to yourself through Jesus Christ the Lord we pray father for your blessing upon our congregation we ask that you look with favor upon our brother dawn new felt we know these are weighty matters that must be considered these are very grave concerns with reference to brain surgery we would just ask that you would grant wisdom to dawn and to Karen we asked he would guide them and direct them through this time of a difficult Providence and that you would just blossom and provide for him long-term relief from this recurring problem we pray father for your blessing upon pastor Porter we thank you that he had the opportunity to minister in Kirkland today we ask that you would own the preaching of the word there she would encourage the Saints there she would bless dawn and Stefan as they are in Cuba engaged in gospel ministry we rejoice at this prospect we rejoice at the thought that [Music] who I disciplined strengtheneth their arms yet these are bodies people against me they return the not to the most of their incidence of shall fall by the sword of their this [Music] [Music] seemed firebreaks the pseudo statement and a scripture [Music] [Music] [Music] well good evening everybody you can turn with me in your Bibles to first John chapter two its first John chapter two last time we saw verses three through six of chapter 2 this this evening we will look at verses 7 through 11 but I will read beginning at verse 3 to set the context for us so first John to begin reading at verse 3 now by this we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments he who says I know him and does not keep his Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him but whoever keeps his word truly the love of God is perfected in him and by this we know that we are in him he who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked brethren I write no new commandment to you but an old commandment which you've had from the beginning the old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning again a new commandment I write to you which thing is true in him and in you because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining he who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now but he who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him but he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes amen well let's go to our God in prayer our Lord God we thank you that you are the god of light you're the one who is in accessible light who is absolutely holy absolutely pure Oh God yeah we can have communion with you through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we thank you that you have revealed us revealed to us your son Jesus Christ who is the light of the world that we might know the way of salvation you ain't know what pleases yoga we might know your Commandments that we might say as the psalmist day we might be delight in your law Oh God like to do the things that please you we thank you God for the source of these things as we seek to love you and love each other help us remember that it's you who's loved us Oh God may this cause us to love you may this cause us to love each other when we think of what Christ did on behalf of his people the things that Christ went went through for his people probably God we thank you that he lived died and rose again we thank you that he was the one who truly loved you he was the one who truly loved others Oh God but those who could not do those things may have everlasting life may have communion with the God of heaven and earth we thank you for our Lord we thank you for what he's done Oh God and we thank you that we can look back in history as you revealed it to us in your word and see what he has done and as we look ahead O God to that time when he returns again we look forward to these times Oh God the time when our Lord returns you'll gather his people together and we will be with you O God in the new heavens and the earth where there is a place where there's no night where there's no need for a lamp for you O God will shine forth in it we thank you for these things help us to ponder these things help us to remember the these things O God and may we walk in light may we walk in love may we love our brothers and sisters O God we pray that you would give those who are believers tonight assurance give them comfort and to help them to know that they have eternal life help them to know that they know the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ O God as you evidence love in them by your spirit may this be an encouragement and a hope to them O God for those that do not know Christ may you show them their need for their Lord may you show them how they do not love how they hate how they hate you and they hate your law show them what they what their punishment what their sins deserve O God that they might find everlasting life in Jesus Christ who is the light of the world we thank you for him that the darkness did not seize him O God that the light shone forth we thank you that we can preach this light our Lord and Savior we pray that you would be with us now help us by your spirit to understand the things that John is saying here help us to understand what you would have us say O God and we pray that you would be with us by your spirit we pray that you would be glorified this day in the name of Christ amen when we are continuing in point one of John's sermon in first John and point one refers to the idea of living in the light now if you remember the overarching theme of first John is to give his hearers assurance that they might know that they have eternal life and one of the ways he does this is showing them how true believers live in the light if you remember last time we saw to answer the question how do we know that we know him and verses 3 through 6 of first John 2 highlights what is required what believers should do by this we know hit by this we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments and in verses 7 through 11 further characterizes what those Commandments look like so in a lot of ways were still under that question how do we know that we know him but he just like in all the other texts we've looked at there is a false problem a false claim some claim that they know Jesus Christ some claim that they are in the light but they hate their brothers some claim to have be in communion with the Lord of Heaven and Earth but they do not love their brothers and sisters as they ought so in a lot of ways brothers how do you and I know that we are Christ's perhaps me to answer another question do we love our brother do we love our brother and that's the question we'll seek to look at this evening and we will look at this question under three headings the command to love one another in verses 7 & 8 secondly the one who hates his brother in verses 9 and 11 and then thirdly the one who loves his brother in verse 10 so the commandment to love one another the one who hates his brother and the one who loves his brother notice with me first of all the command to love one another in verses 7 & 8 brethren I write no new commandment to you but an old commandment you see the very thing he's talking about is something that has been passed down to him it's it's it's existed even since the beginning of the world it is not a new commandment you see these false teachers these false men would have taught that they had secret new knowledge that they had new Commandments that they had Knuth it's concerning what is right what is true because they had special knowledge from art from on high so they would have perhaps done away with certain Commandments got rid of certain Commandments taught in a lot of ways new Commandments that's not the case John is combating that when he says brethren I write no new commandment to you but an old commandment so what is this old commandment well I think the commandment here is to love one another I think we see that with the very address he says in verse seven he says brethren perhaps better rent perhaps other also rendered beloved he's highlighting this idea of loving one another he's highlighting that the recipients indicate how John is going to focus on love this beloved is a term of endearment for his people beloved I write no new commandment but an old commandment he's even highly it's even highlighting the reality he's speaking to believers it's not a new commandment for them but an old commandment and as one writer says this characterizes them as beloved people of God and shows John's love for them so it's a commandment to love one another I think the context further highlights that when we see that in verses 9 through 11 but we also see that in 2nd John 4 through 6 in 2nd John 4 through 6 our same writer says at verse 5 and now I plead with you lady not as though I write a new commandment to you but that which we've had from the beginning that we love one another this is not a new commandment brothers and sisters this is an old commandment so why is it old what makes it an old commandment now when we think of loving God and loving one another we certainly think of the Ten Commandments don't we the first four Commandments refer to loving God and the latter six refer to loving mankind when we think about God's law when we trace its history we think about where it came from it comes from God who is holy it comes from his eternal law and then we see that eternal law written on the heart of Adam written on the heart of mankind that mankind might know what is true and written on their heart through natural law but even then the Ten Commandments are further reveal at Sinai those ten words how to love God and to love our brothers and sisters and in also many ways it's the same message that was handed down from Christ to his apostles and then handed down from the Apostles to these recipients here and in many ways to us as well this is not a new commandment brothers and sisters as their brother highlighted this morning we should not seek to have innovation kind of like these false teachers were trying to do we should hold fast that which has been handed down to us found in the Word of God namely this is not a new commandment to love one another and so he says I write no new commandment but an old commandment which you've had from the beginning well we've just traced the history of where this comes from perhaps again from the beginning here highlights how these recipients had received this message since it's been handed down to them the Apostles received it from Jesus and then as John preached it to the recipients here they would have known to love one another and then I think Jesus highlights this in John 15 verse 9 John 15 9 Jesus says as the father loved me I also have loved you abide in my love if you keep my Commandments you will abide in my love just I've kept my Commandments my father's Commandments and abide in his love so it's not a new commandment but then in verse 7 it also goes to further highlight further clarify what this looks like notice it's almost kind of a repeat of what's been said but only he almost says it twice he says I do not write no new commandment to you but an old commandment which you've had from the beginning the old commandment is the word again this word probably highlights the word which they'd heard from the beginning it probably highlights the Apostles message that they had preached to them the Apostolic witnessed the thing that had been handed down to them namely that they must believe on Jesus Christ believe on the gospel but then they might also love one another and this is what he says in 1st John 3:11 for this is the message that you heard from the beginning that we should of one another this is not a new commandment brothers and sisters it is an old commandment to love one another it is again in evidence and assurance that we are believers beloved this is not a new commandment but then in verse eight he goes on to say that it is a new commandment doesn't he that's a little confusing but I think the best way to take it is in verse eight in the New King James it says again but perhaps it's better rendered at the same time or perhaps in some sense it is a new commandment perhaps you're talking to someone and they ask you a question and you say well in some sense that's true but in some sense that's not not true and the same is true here he's saying it is an old commandment it is an ancient commandment but in some sense it is a new commandment so how is it a new commandment how is it something that is new and I think the best way to take it is it's patterned after our Lord Jesus Christ that's how it's a new commandment Jesus in John 13:34 highlights how to love one another is a new commandment he says in 1334 a new commandment I give to you that you love one another but notice what he goes on to say as I have loved you that you also love one another you see brothers and sisters we live in the age of the between that we live between the two advents of our Lord our Lord has come our Lord has lived our Lord has died and our Lord has rose again we are still waiting for his second return you see we can see and look back see the one who truly loved God see the one who truly loved one another as one writer says he says since the darkness was defeated by Christ and is in the process of being annihilated the commandment comes to us with greater relight realization of full fulfillment and this also comes on the heels of what John says in two six first John 2:6 he who says he abides in him ought also himself also to walk just as he walked so it is an old commandment one that has been handed but is in some sense a new commandment because it's patterned after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and I think John goes on to further explain this in the rest of verse 8 he says which thing is true in him and in you now I think perhaps a better translation would be what is true in him and in you is that the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining that is when he says that which is true in him and in you goes with what comes after not with what comes before and notice he says it's it's highlighting how could this idea of union with Christ what that which is true in him true in our Lord true in our Savior and those who are united to him when he says in him and in you if we are united to our Lord if we are intimately connected to our Lord and it is in you as well should we not love one another should we not um cherish our brothers and sisters should we not love them as matthew henry says he says it is the Lord Jesus that is the great master of love it is his school his own church that is the school of love his disciples are the disciples of love and his family must be the family of love they must love one another that which is true in him and in you is that what is true in him and on you is that the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining again we are between the advents of our Lord the between the two comings of our Lord and and he be has begun to annihilate the darkness what is Psalm 110 say the lord sit at my lord the lord said to my lord sit at my right hand until i make thine enemies a footstool what does jesus say to Peter your Peter on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it you see our Lord is the one who defeated darkness our Lord is the one who defeated death and as we as this present age is still existing we still wait for that time when it will and and will cease the darkness is passing away the wickedness is passing away or prayer and then he goes on to say and the true light is already shining that language of already is a last times charged word brothers and sisters it is already shining now and perhaps we can take it with the reality that as John says in John 1:9 when he describes our Lord he describes what he as his relation to the light he was the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world and even verse 5 and the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it and as Jesus says in John 8 he says I am the light of the world they see brothers and sisters if you and I were to walk in the darkness without our Lord we would be taken very quickly the blessedness of our Lord is that the Lord the Lord shines forth in the darkness and the darkness does not seize him the darkness does not take him and that which is true in him and in you is that the darkness is passing away and the true light is and the true light is already shining forth we have this revelation of our Lord we have this revelation of what is true we have this revelation found in the word not some secret knowledge but revealed knowledge concerning our Lord concerning what might heat what he has done and also what he requires of his people in all the ways when we speak of light certainly and it highlights that ethical aspect walking in the light walking in the darkness but also carries with it the idea of revealing truth and darkness on the flipside hiding truth what is true what is right what must you and I do that is truth and then we must walk in a manner that pleases our Lord and even as we think about this language of the true light is already shining perhaps there's a connection with revelation 22:5 the new heavens and the new earth how does it describe the new heavens in the new earth there is no night there is no need for a lamp there's no need for light because our bored shines forth in the new heavens and the new earth but we see that already begun and we if we use the language of the already but we're still waiting for the not yet that's what's going on in first John seven and eighths we're looking forward we have the Lord who has come we have this old commandment but in some sense it is a new commandment because it's patterned after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so that's the commandment to love one another let us look secondly then at the one who hates his brother verses 9 and 11 notice again these claims verse 9 he who says he is in the light this one is claiming to be in the light so perhaps similar to what we've seen before in in chapter 1 verse 5 this is the message that we have heard from him and declare to you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all if we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not practice the truth but if we walk in light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin so he's bringing back the imagery of light and darkness isn't he but he's further describing what light and darkness looks like if we are in the light we will realize the truth and the reality of sin we acknowledge sin we have sin there's still sin then he further highlights here what is darkness hating our brothers and sisters hating our brothers and sisters further illustrating what it means to live in the darkness and just like perhaps good works love is an evidence to us that we are saved and assurance of God's work in us hating our brother is an evidence of unbelief conduct is not only evidence and assurance of saving faith but is also an evidence of temporary faith think through that for a moment again you know I'm not saying that there's never going to be a time where you hate your brother and sister I'm never gonna said I'm not saying there's never going to be a time where you sin but nonetheless do you love your brother and habitually as an evidence of Christ's work do you believe on the Lord and seek to live in a way that pleases him or do you disregard God's law as many of these false teachers have done do you say there's no sin who reject the truth like many of these false teachers have done and then as an outflow of those things do you hate your brother perhaps then we should ask ourselves what does it mean to hate our brother I think as some of the lexicons or some of the dictionaries define it it highlights the idea of strong aversion to hatred for I certainly think that's in view here it's one of the ways I think we can take the idea of this idea to hate and I think we see that in first John 3 when he uses the example of Cain he says this is coming on the heels of what said in verse 11 that we should love one another not as Cain who is one of the wicked one and murdered his brother and why did he murder him because his works were evil and his brothers righteous we should not hate our brothers and sisters we should love our brothers and sisters but perhaps there's another connotation we should take into consideration as we understand the word in its first century context perhaps in Moore has the eye and perhaps it also has the idea of treating someone as inferior as one writer says he says the English term hate generally suggests an affective connotation that do not always do justice to some shame some of the Semitic and Greek greco-roman shame honor oriented use mainly in the sense of holding in disfavor being disinclined to having relatively little regard for treating others like they're nothing and you know what brothers and sisters these false teachers would have treated others like they were nothing if they didn't have this special knowledge if they didn't have this special truth they would have treated other people like they were inferior because they didn't have that special knowledge this is the idea of hatred this is perhaps again highlights they of treating someone as inferior but even further out working in murder and hatred it has a broad connotation we must take into consideration what does it mean to hate our brother notice then he goes on to say the reality he says he who says he's in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now that until now means he was never in the light that until now means the hypocrite hypocrite was never truly in the light he never walked in truth to begin with he may have said he walked in truth but he never did that's what the until now means he is in darkness even until now because he never was in the light that is one of the reality he's in darkness but then notice in verse 11 he further characterizes what this looks like but he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness that is they are actually sinful and they actually practice sins and sadly these things eventually will lead to something quite terrifying spiritual blindness they lead to spiritual deadness and they're already spiritually dead but even further spiritual deadness he goes on to say this and does not know where he is going why because the darkness has blinded his eyes in his pitch-black outside he cannot see his hands he does not know where he is going and he most likely will fall into a trap that's the imagery that's the analogy and this is very very terrifying you see brothers sisters the light guides our way our Lord guides our way our Lord shows us what we must do what is truth jesus also speaks of walking in the darkness in John 12 he speaks of walking the darkness and how they do not know or they are going in other places even in the Old Testament isaiah 6:10 talks about the analogy of spiritual deadness they shut their eyes and what's this a sign of it's a sign of judgment God bringing judgment they cannot see that's a terrifying reality but even further as we think about this idea of spiritual deadness when we think about someone who's physically blind typically they know that they're spiritually blind don't they they actually confess that they cannot see not so with people that are spiritually blind they do not know that they are spiritually blind they do not know that they are walking towards that giant hole in the ground that they will fall into they cannot see it they do not know it they do not have the light shining forth on what is true that is the reality of this they do not realize that there are they actually are blind like these false teachers it's terrifying they think they have special knowledge they think they have special truth they think they've received the light that you think they've been enlightened in many ways but they are not they deny the things that have been revealed in Scripture that they have denied the things that are found in the Word of God they are spiritually dead he who hates his brother is an evidence that they are in darkness that they walk in darkness and they have blinded eyes as a sign of judgment that's the one who hates his brother this is the one who does not love his brother these blatant disregard for the Word of God so that's the one who hates his brother let us look thirdly then at the one who loves his brother in verse 10 notice in verse 10 he says he who loves his brother abides in the light the one who has love for our brothers and sisters and again perhaps like we asked what does hate it mean to hate what does it mean to love well in 1st John 3:16 he says by this we know love because he laid down his life for us highlighting our Lord and will draw this out in a moment further but he goes on to say and we also ought to lay down our lives for the Brethren just as our Lord laid down his life for us we ought to lay down our lives for our brethren and he goes on to say but whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother in need and shuts up his heart from him how does the love of God abide in him and then he'll go on to say in 1st John 4 and this commandment we have from him that he who loves God must love his brother also but I think Paul gives us some good characterizations of what love looks like perhaps first Corinthians 13 is one of those examples of what love is and I must confess it is like a dagger to the soul when you read these types of things first Corinthians 13 for love suffers long and is kind love does not envy love does not parade itself it is not puffed up does not behave rudely does not seek its own is not provoked thinks no evil does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth I love that one I mean I love all of them I should love all them I don't do them very well but I love the idea of does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth how do people define love these days it's tolerating people for what they are or what they live in or for who they are in a lot of ways who they are even if that means living in blatant sin that's what it means to love someone what does Paul say loving is rejoice not rejoicing in iniquity regardless of who engages in it not rejoicing in iniquity but rejoicing in the truth he goes on to say it bears all things believes all things hopes all things it also defines for us love in Romans 12 at verse 9 I actually love the way that the New King James editors what they did for the heading behave like a Christian I mean that's the simple answer isn't it behave like a Christian and then you read it and you go WOW says in verse 9 let love be without hypocrisy app or what is evil cling to what is good be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love in honor giving preference to one another again giving preference not treating someone as an inferior not lagging in diligence fervent in spirit serving the Lord rejoicing in Hope patient in tribulation continually steadfast continuing steadfastly in prayer distributing to the needs of the saints give in to hospitality bless those who persecute you bless and do not curse rejoice with those who rejoice weep with those who weep we have the same mind toward one another do not set your mind on high things but associate with the humble do not be wise in your own opinion repay no more evil for evil have regard for good things in the sight of all men if it is possible as much as depends on you live peaceably with all men beloved do not avenge yourselves but rather give place to to wrath and then for it is written vengeance is mine I will repay it says the Lord and then skipping down to verse 21 do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good what does it mean to love brothers and sisters all those things that we see that Paul records for us all those things that he says and and we see then the result of these things that we are in the light that we walk in the light he who loves his brother remains abides continued steadfastly in the lights Eve only think about this that are those that what love is we think about our Lord we think about all of those things he was patient he was kind he did not envy he did not boast and on and on and on so we're in our Lord we will seek to live in a way and walk as he walked but notice what he goes on to say he who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him I take this that this word does typically mean to stumble but I take it here to have the idea of a trap and I think that makes sense in light of the context in verse 11 we talked with someone who's walking doesn't know where he's going he might fall into the trap but if we have the light shining forth for us we see that trap and we avoided or perhaps better God Almighty guides us across that trap you see the light shines forth to us the truth remains in us that we might seek to avoid the things that are displeasing to our Lord that's what's going on here the focus is not so much on causing others to stumble but the one who loves does not fall into the trap because we have the light because we see what's going on again the language here is a device for catching something again the illustration is John uses this vivid imagery that light shines the way for us we know what is right and what is true you know what the irony is we know what we are supposed to do brothers and sisters but it's difficult isn't it it's hard to do those things that's why we need our Lord we need our Christ who's the author and finisher of our faith that's all I need the work of the Holy Spirit to work within us that's why we should be present at the means of grace that we might grow in grace and knowledge because it is difficult even all these Commandments that John gives remember last time I said they're kind of like speaking to children don't sin love them one another keep the commandments they may be simple in speaking them but they're difficult to do aren't they that's why we need our Lord that's why we need our Christ that's why we need to go to our source and spring of our love for God and for others you see John masterfully as he builds to the conclusion of his sermon in 1st John he as he goes through he kind of gives us a little hints okay here's what love is in some sense here's what light is and he drives to the point or one of the points in John 4 concerning and showing us our source of love namely our God he says in first John 4:7 beloved let us love one another for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God he who does not love does not know God for god is love in this the love of God was manifested toward us that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him in this is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins I mean notice verse 11 beloved if God so loved us we also ought to love one and then even to verse 19 we love him because he first loved us we need to ponder God's love we need to ponder that love that does not grow that does not change we need to ponder this God who is most loving as we thought as we think about what he has done for us may that cause us to stir to press on to to love one another he knew brothers and sisters perhaps if you're like me sometimes we have the evert if you grew up in an evangelical church sometimes they would say God loves you as the gospel now the gospel is not God loves you the Gospels Christ lived died and rose again but the motive for the gospel is that God loves his people that God loves his brothers and sisters so if you believed on Christ if you believed on the Lord if you've looked to him and lived God loves you and we see that in the way that he sent his son to die on behalf of his people this is the we see God's love for us in the plan of redemption Spurgeon has some great things concerning this he says he loved us because he would love us he was not possible for the highest piety to have deserved so vast a boon as the gift of the only begotten it was not possible for anything in man to have merited the Incarnation and the passion of the Redeemer and then he goes on to say if I lament that I do not love God as I ought that is a wholly regret but if I therefore conclude that God's love to me is the less because of this I deny the light because my eye is dim and I deprive myself also of the power to increase in love let me rather think more and more of the greatness of God's love to me as I see more and more my unworthiness of it the more a sinner I am let me the more fully see how great must be that love which embraces such a sinner as I am and then as I receive a deeper sense of the Divine Mercy I shall feel more bound to gratitude and constrain to affection Oh for a great wave of love to carry us right out into the ocean of love do we not see our Lord's love this morning do we not see what our Lord through in the past many sermons in Matthew on those morning services as our brother said Christ cried out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me so that we would not have to cry that out he did that because he loved us he cares for us and he did it even before the found he planned to do this before the foundation of the world as J as Paul says in Ephesians 1 in him he predestined us in love he's God's love that motivates his plan of redemption it's God's love that drives our Lord to the cross it's God's love that drives our Lord to - to soccer to sacrifice himself and die as that sacrifice that you and I might live so brothers and sisters we should love one another not as a perfection in us because it is not it is a perfection God not in us but it is an evidence and in assurance that we are saved and even an evidence and assurance that God does love us perhaps the logic could be if our Lord loves us with such a love let us love one another if our Lord loves us with such a love let us love our God that's the logic that's what's behind it we look at what God has done for us that we might seek to love our God and love each other so brothers and sisters in conclusion we sought to answer that question do we love one another to walk in the light is to love God and one another and this is truly no new commandment brothers and sisters love one another love because Christ has loved you with a great love because Christ has loved you though you are unlovely Christ has loved you though you are sinful love then brothers and love then your brothers and sisters as Christ has loved us now unbeliever let me ask you this question do you hate your brother or perhaps even the other side do you love your brother in a lot of ways that's an evidence that you are unsaved and you have transgressed God's law you know I once spoke with the man I was sharing with him that the the law to show him his need for Christ and I said have you ever hated anyone and he said I have never hated anyone but if we take the language of what hatred means perhaps he treated someone as inferior perhaps he did not protect himself or preserve the life of himself or others perhaps he did hate someone he's just lying about it so clearly he's lying I know that he's lying if you say that you do not hate you are lying if you say that you do not hate you are transgressing and an evidence of that and the only way for you to have everlasting life the only way for you to be and the light is to believe on the light to believe on the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ believe on this one who is lovely believe on this one who is altogether lovely and chief among ten thousand one who is the one who is above all things believe on him and you shall be saved look at his work and look at what he has done to someone so to people so unloving that a people might be loved with a love that is perfect if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you shall be saved you show what you shall be in the light and it will be an evidence that you are loved believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be safe and perhaps as we close again with that same question we asked at the beginning and we just asked again in a lot of ways brethren we need to think about do you love your brother it's for believers we need to think through what that means do we love our brother we need to examine ourselves but unbeliever it's meant to be a teacher a tutor to show you that you are unloving so just as I asked at the outset and I asked towards the close it is for believer and unbeliever do you love your brother well let us pray brothers and sisters Oh Lord God Almighty we thank you that you are a father Oh father God we thank you that you love us we think that your love is perfect that your love does not increase and does not decrease oh God sometimes we do not feel as if you love us but help us to remember what your truth what your word says that you are loved and you do love your people and we see the evidence of your love for us in the gospel we thank you that our Lord lived died and rose again we thank you that you sent forth your son that he might be the propitiation for his people for sins that his people might live father God we pray for a believers here today that you would cause us to walk in a way that pleases you cause us to love one another as we ponder your great love for us may this be an evidence may this be an assurance that we do know you father God for those who do not know Christ we pray that you would show them that they do not love you they do not love others that you show them their need for the Lord who was the one who truly is loving that they might believe on Him and have everlasting life and have this inheritance that comes from you and know the blessedness of having this one who loves us we thank you God for what Christ has done for his people we pray that you would draw forth your people and your people you would by your spirit regenerate the hearts of your people that they might believe on the Lord and know that they have eternal life work in the hearts of them O God work in the hearts of all your people here work in the hearts of unbelievers O God and may we believers be assured and we pray that Saints would be convicted and they might come to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ we thank you for your love for us and we pray that you would be glorified now in the name of Christ amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation then you're dismissed you