Biblical Love and Self-Sacrifice (John 13)
This sermon delves into the profound nature of biblical love, positioning it as an essential component of the church's spiritual health. It contrasts this divine understanding of love with cultural interpretations, inviting reflection on what it truly means to love as Christ did.
This sermon defines biblical love as self-sacrificing, humble action, exemplified by Christ's foot washing. It contrasts this with the world's selfish view of love, emphasizing that true Christian love is known by giving to meet others' needs.
Overview
This sermon is part of a series on the 'anatomy of the church,' focusing on the church as the body of Christ that should grow into Christlikeness. It introduces love as the fourth essential internal system, following faith, obedience, and humility, which are vital for the church's proper function and identity.
The preacher begins by referencing Ephesians 5:1-2, explaining that to imitate God, one must 'walk in love,' because God is love. He defines biblical love not primarily as an emotion, but as an act of self-giving and self-sacrifice, as demonstrated by Christ's ultimate sacrifice. This true love, he argues, can only flow from a humble heart.
The sermon then dramatically contrasts this biblical understanding with the world's pervasive perversion of love, which he describes as equating love with sexual gratification and self-centered desires. He uses the example of abortion to illustrate society's willingness to commit extreme acts for sexual freedom, highlighting how this false love corrupts the family and society's moral fabric.
Shifting to John 13, the preacher unpacks Jesus's act of washing His disciples' feet, even Judas's, as a profound object lesson in selfless, unconditional love and humility. This act, performed amidst their self-centered arguments, serves as the example for His 'new commandment' in John 13:34-35: that disciples are to love one another with the same self-sacrificing love, making it the distinguishing mark of true followers of Christ.
Key points
- The church is called to grow into Christlikeness, manifesting His virtues corporately, which involves unity of faith and deep knowledge of God.
- Love is presented as the fourth essential 'internal system' or spiritual attitude for the church, alongside faith, obedience, and humility.
- Biblical love is defined as ultimately self-sacrificing, an act of self-giving exemplified by Christ's giving Himself up for us, not primarily an emotion.
- The world's view of love is often a perversion, equating it with sexual gratification and personal desire, which leads to societal corruption and selfishness.
- Jesus demonstrated true, self-sacrificing love by humbly washing His disciples' feet, even knowing of Judas's impending betrayal and their selfish arguments.
- Jesus taught that a Christian is 'bathed' (saved) once, but needs constant 'feet washing' (daily confession and cleansing) as they walk through the world.
- Christ's new commandment is for believers to love one another as He loved them, through self-sacrifice and meeting needs, which serves as a visible sign of discipleship to the world.
In John MacArthur's words
“Love is ultimately self-sacrificing.”
“Nobody can love like this who is self-centered.”
Outline
- Introduction: The Anatomy of the Church
- A. The Church as the Body of Christ: Growing into Christlikeness (Ephesians 4:11-16)
- B. Internal Systems of the Church
- 1. Faith (Habakkuk 2:4; 2 Corinthians 5:7)
- 2. Obedience (Romans 6:17)
- 3. Humility (Philippians 2; 2 Corinthians 12)
- 4. Love (The focus of this sermon)
- I. Biblical Love Defined (Ephesians 5:1-2)
- A. Imitating God by Walking in Love
- B. Love as Self-Sacrifice, Exemplified by Christ
- C. Love as a Product of Humility
- II. The World's Perversion of Love (Ephesians 5:3-5)
- A. Equating Love with Sexual Immorality and Impurity
- B. Societal Obsession with Sex and Its Consequences (e.g., abortion)
- C. The Cultural War Centered on Sex
- III. Jesus's Demonstration of Love (John 13:1-17)
- A. Unconditional Love Amidst Betrayal and Selfishness (John 13:1-3)
- B. The Act of Foot Washing: A Symbol of Humility and Service (John 13:4-11)
- 1. The Custom of Foot Washing
- 2. Peter's Objection and Jesus's Spiritual Explanation
- 3. The "Bath" of Salvation vs. Daily "Foot Cleansing"
- C. The Example Set: "You also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:12-17)
- IV. The New Commandment: Love One Another (John 13:34-35)
- A. Love as Self-Sacrifice, Not Emotion
- B. The Mark of Discipleship to the World
- V. Practicing Self-Sacrificial Love (1 John 3:14-18)
- A. Evidence of Having Passed from Death to Life
- B. Laying Down Our Lives for the Brethren Through Meeting Needs
- C. Love in Deed and Truth, Not Just Word
Scripture references
- Ephesians 4:11-16
- Galatians 4:19
- Habakkuk 2:4
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
- Romans 6:17
- Philippians 2
- 2 Corinthians 12
- Ephesians 5:1-5
- John 3:16
- 1 John 3:14-18
- John 13:1-17
- John 13:34-35
- Romans 5:5
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Insights
Genuine love empties itself for the needs of others.
Humility is the necessary soil from which true love grows.
The world's definition of love often serves only self-gratification.
Questions & answers
What is the main point of this sermon about love?
The sermon argues that true biblical love is fundamentally self-sacrificing, demonstrated by putting others' needs before one's own, even to the point of humiliation, mirroring Christ's example.
How does the sermon define biblical love differently from the world's view?
Biblical love is defined as an act of self-giving and sacrifice, rather than a feeling or emotion. The world's view, in contrast, often equates love with sexual gratification and self-fulfillment, leading to societal corruption.
What is the connection between love and humility in this sermon?
The sermon emphasizes that biblical, self-sacrificing love is a product of humility. Only humble people, who prioritize others, can truly give themselves away for someone else.
What is the significance of Jesus washing the disciples' feet?
Jesus washing His disciples' feet serves as a profound object lesson in humble, selfless love. It demonstrates a willingness to perform the most menial task to meet a need, providing an example for believers to imitate.
What is the spiritual meaning of being 'bathed' versus having one's 'feet washed'?
The sermon explains that being 'bathed' refers to the one-time spiritual cleansing of salvation, where sins are fully washed away. 'Feet washing' symbolizes the ongoing, daily confession and cleansing needed as believers walk through a fallen world.
How does the sermon propose the church should demonstrate love to the world?
The church must demonstrate an alternative to the world's selfish definitions of love by living out self-sacrifice and genuine humility. This practical, needs-meeting love is the primary way the world will recognize believers as Christ's disciples.
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