When we are born again we are born from love and for love. From love - God’s passion for us as His kids. For love - to love God and others. We need to define love. Love is a man - Jesus. True love (Jesus) includes two things: Compassion = to suffer together. Standards = the rules of relationship. You cannot have one without the other. Vs 1-2 - “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.”Vs 3a - “In fact, this IS LOVE FOR GOD: to keep His commands…” Obedience is what that love looks like. EX: Cleaning the dishes is what “thank you” looks like when you’re at someone’s house for dinner. Vs 3b - “…And His commands are not burdensome.”Boundaries are not burdens - they keep you from burdens and bring you blessings. They represent freedom. They keep the bad out and the good in. Rabbi in Jerusalem - “You Christians are so funny. You think of tôrâ as law. We Jews think of tôrâ as our way of expressing our love for God.The way we say, “I love you” to God is to do what He says.
1 John 5:3 (12/21/22)
Defining Love
December 21, 2022
1 John 1:5 (11/30/17)
November 30, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* vs 5-6 - plants can’t grow in the dark. * If we claim to have a relationship with God but aren’t growing, we’re not in the Light. * vs 7 - if we walk in the light we get a reward: * Fellowship with others! * Fellowship is a byproduct of two people loving God and living for Him. * Tori and I call this “trust the triangle.” * God is the answer to all marriage problems. * vs 8 - broken fellowship (relational conflict) is always the result of TWO people. * The key to transformation is when both parties take ownership of their part of the problem. * If they don’t then the divide will remain. * vs 9 - forgiveness comes through confessing to God. * James 5:16 - healing comes through confessing to each other.
1 John 1:8-9 (12/7/22)
December 7, 2022 • Benham Brothers • 1 John 1:8–9
John wrote his three letters to help believers grow in intimacy with God. Intimacy is to be “fully known and fully accepted.” You cannot have intimacy apart from confession. Without confession, people can’t know you. If they don’t truly know you they can’t fully accept you. Vs 8 -“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”We have a natural tendency to hide ourselves from God and others. A cockroach hides when the light is turned on. All relationships should start with this thought - “I’m not perfect.” Vs 9 - “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”Confession opens the door for us to be fully known. God will accept our confession. Relationships cannot thrive apart from intimacy. Two parts to intimacy: 1) Fully Known - seek to be known and to know. Seek to Be Known (by God and others): All good relationships are built on vulnerability. Vulnerability is having a willingness to “open the door” (Revelation 3:20). Let God and others in! Key - Confessing to God brings forgiveness - Confessing to others brings healing (James 5:16). Human nature turns toward humility and vulnerability. When you open up, it draws God & others toward you. Seek to Know (God and others): Go after God - pursue Him to know Him. He rewards those who pursue (Jeremiah 29:13). Go after others - be a good question asker. 2) Fully Accepted - receive acceptance and be accepting. You’re accepted - those who know and love you accept you. Revelation 3:20 - God loves you and wants intimacy with you. Be accepting (of God and others). The Connection Code - the key to connection is found in two questions: Will you be there for me? (Security) Am I good enough for you? (Identity) Create an environment of emotional safety
1 John 2:3-6 (11/30/17)
November 30, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Love involves two things - compassion and standards. * You can’t have one without the other. * Rules without relationship leads to rebellion. * Relationship without rules leads to rejection. * Matthew 24:12 - “because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” * When you have only compassion but no standards, you don’t have love! * Having compassion for God and others and being willing to live within God’s standards proves our love for Him. * This is the foundation for “knowing” Him.