- Biblical Basis for Self-Sacrificing Love
John 15:13 (ESV)
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2. Definition of Love
Romans 5:5 (ESV)
. . . God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
- Agape is self-sacrificing love, the kind of love that motivates people to give their all for God and others.
3. The Most Important Pillar
2 Peter 1:5–7 (ESV)
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
- Love is our deepest need and our highest blessing.
4. How did Jesus love?
John 13:3–5 (ESV)
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
5. What are Jesus’ instructions?
John 13:14–15 (ESV)
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
John 13:17 (ESV)
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
- Doing things for others keeps us from an unhealthy preoccupation with our own needs.
John 13:34–35 (ESV)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
- Why is Jesus’ love different from Old Testament love?
The Old Testament:
Leviticus 19:18 (NKJV)
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV)
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength
New Testament:
1 John 3:16 (ESV)
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
THREE WAYS TO LIVE OUT SELFLESS LOVE:
- Remember you’re loved.
1 John 4:19 (ESV)
We love because he first loved us.
- We can’t love others like Jesus loves unless we are continually filled with His love.
Ephesians 3:17–19; Philippians 1:9
2. Reimagine your relationships.
- Instead of asking what others have to offer you, reimagine your relationships as ways you can serve and encourage and bless others!
3. Reorganize your priorities.
- Loving God and loving others.
Questions:
- What did you hear from the Holy Spirit?
- What will you do because of it?
- How can we pray for you?