Loving Another
The sermon emphasizes the importance of loving our neighbors as Christ has loved us, and provides practical guidance on how to overcome our natural tendencies to take offense and be bitter towards others.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches on the new commandment given by Jesus to love one another as He has loved us, emphasizing the importance of unity and love among believers, including those on earth, in heaven, and with God. Isaac Williams reflects on the unity we share with our brethren, saints, angel hosts, and God in love. Jean Nicolas Grou highlights how self-love leads to various faults and challenges us to sincerely question if we truly love our neighbors as Christ loves us, promising that Christ can transform our hearts to love others as He does. Lucy C. Smith expresses that experiencing joy in each other's well-being is a glimpse of heaven.
Text
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
JOHN 13:34
ONE with our brethren here in love,
And one with saints that are at rest,
And one with angel hosts above,
And one with God for ever blest.
ISAAC WILLIAMS
ALL extreme sensitiveness, fastidiousness, suspicion, readiness to take offence, and tenacity of what we think our due, come from self-love, as does the unworthy secret gratification we sometimes feel when another is humbled or mortified; the cold indifference, the harshness of our criticism, the unfairness and hastiness of our judgments, our bitterness towards those we dislike, and many other faults which must more or less rise up before most men's conscience, when they question it sincerely as to how far they do indeed love their neighbors as Christ has loved them. He will root out all dislikes and aversions, all readiness to take offence, all resentments, all bitterness, from the heart which is given up to His guidance. He will infuse His own tender love for man into His servant's mind, and teach him to "love his brother as Christ has loved him."
JEAN NICOLAS GROU
Enjoying each other's good is heaven begun.
LUCY C. SMITH
Sermon Outline
- The Commandment to Love
- The Problem of Self-Love
- The Power of Christ's Love
- The Result of Christ's Love
- Enjoying each other's good
- Heaven begun in our relationships
- Teaching us to love as Christ has loved
Key Quotes
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Enjoying each other's good is heaven begun.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“He will root out all dislikes and aversions, all readiness to take offence, all resentments, all bitterness, from the heart which is given up to His guidance.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We should strive to love others with a selfless and unconditional love, just as Christ loves us.
- By giving ourselves up to Christ's guidance, we can overcome our natural tendencies to take offense and be bitter towards others.
- Living a life of love and selflessness can bring heaven to our relationships and make us enjoy each other's good.