All right, as a little bit of an intro, in prepping for the sermon, I began to think a little bit and realize that there are probably a number of people here who actually don't really know who I am.
So for anybody in that boat, my name is Caleb Waters. I've been here at CFC since fall of 2012.
I ended up here just as like a large chunk of us have of initially connecting through college Bible study while studying at what that time was in GCSU.
I met my wife at the new members class here, and we both got education degrees from UNG. Both of us got jobs in Forsyth County.
We lived in a camper in Cleveland for a while right when we got married and we bought a house in Dahlonega.
Now we have a couple of boys, Everett, who is almost two, and Isaac, who is almost three months old.
I served as an elder here from really, really, really early 2020 until last summer when I stepped down so that, as Nathan mentioned earlier, we could prep for the move.
We're turning our house up here into an Airbnb. I had to find a new teaching job down there, that kind of thing.
Some of you who knew the details of that have started to ask us, like, has the plan changed?
Like, are y'all actually still moving? Y'all are still here?
And it's really just that we are super planners, and so the move is finally here, about three and a half weeks away, I guess.
But it feels like we're moving home, but moving away from home.
This church has been our family for the last over ten years now.
We love you guys, and it's really, really hard to leave.
And anyway, I just wanted to say all of that for anybody who might have gotten here in the last year or so,
and I feel like I haven't been in the stage as much in that last little bit.
All right, let's get to the word this morning.
Nathan told me I could preach anything that I wanted to,
and that sometimes is a really hard thing to then narrow down.
But as I reflected just back along my time at CFC, I couldn't get away from one idea,
and so that's what we're going to focus on this morning.
So y'all turn with me to John 13.
John 13.
Alex Kohler read a chunk of this text last Sunday in the Lord's Supper service,
and I hope because of that the context will feel familiar to some of us.
I do want to read a very large chunk of this chapter, but don't be afraid.
We are not going to dig into every single part of it.
I really just want to focus on two verses,
but I think the context is so important that we should read a lot of it.
And those verses that we'll particularly be focusing on are verses 34 and 35.
All right.
Let's go ahead and read John chapter 13, starting all the way in verse 1.
Now before the feast of the Passover,
when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father,
having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot,
Simon's son, to betray him,
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.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
Lord, do you wash my feet?
Jesus answered him,
What I am doing you do not understand now,
but afterward you will understand.
Peter said to him,
You shall never wash my feet.
Jesus answered him,
If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.
Simon Peter said to him,
Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Jesus said to him,
The one who has bathed does not need to wash except for his feet,
but is completely clean.
And you are clean, but not every one of you.
For he knew who was to betray him.
That was why he said,
Not all of you are clean.
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments
and resumed his place,
he said to them,
Do you understand what I have done to you?
You call me teacher and Lord,
and you are right, for so I am.
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.
Truly, truly, I say to you,
a servant is not greater than his master,
nor is a messenger greater than he who sent him.
If you know these things,
blessed are you if you do them.
I am not speaking of all of you.
I know whom I have chosen,
but the scripture will be fulfilled.
He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.
I am telling you this now before it takes place,
that when it does take place,
you may believe that I am he.
Truly, truly, I say to you,
whoever receives the one I send,
receives me,
and whoever receives me,
receives the one who sent me.
After saying these things,
Jesus was troubled in his spirit and testified,
truly, truly, I say to you,
one of you will betray me.
The disciples looked at one another,
uncertain of whom he spoke.
One of his disciples,
whom Jesus loved,
was reclining at table at Jesus' side.
So Simon Peter motioned to him
to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.
So that disciple,
leaning back against Jesus,
said to him,
Lord, who is it?
Jesus answered,
it is he whom I will give
this morsel of bread
when I have dipped it.
So when he had dipped the morsel,
he gave it to Judas,
the son of Simon Iscariot.
Then after he had taken the morsel,
Satan entered into him.
Jesus said to him,
what you are going to do,
do quickly.
Now, no one at the table
knew why he said this to him.
Some thought that
because Jesus had the money bag,
Jesus was telling him,
buy what we need for the feast
or that he should give something
to the poor.
So after receiving
the morsel of bread,
he immediately went out
and it was night.
When he had gone out,
Jesus said,
now is the son of man glorified
and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him,
God will also glorify him
in himself
and glorify him at once.
Little children,
yet a little while
I am with you.
He will seek me
and just as I said to the Jews,
so now I also say to you,
where I am going,
you cannot come.
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.
All right.
That's our text for this morning.
I know that it's
heavy and intense.
All right,
that's where we're at.
So let's talk about the context
first for a little bit
and then we'll get into
the main part of the sermon.
So something that's really important
to note at the beginning
of this passage
is that very early in it,
we see that this is recorded
at a time
when Jesus knows
that his time
is coming short.
It's become clear to him
that he doesn't have
much time left
in this world,
that he'll soon be sold
to authorities,
he'll ultimately be condemned
and put to death
and then be raised.
And I think it's important
to note John specifically
pointing this out here
in verse one,
that Jesus,
even as he knew
his time was coming soon
to be put to death,
that he didn't try
to hide out.
He didn't keep to himself
all the time,
but what does it say?
He loved his disciples
to the very end.
Jesus did not choose
to make a decision
that would bring comfort
or safety
in his last little bit
of time here on this earth,
but instead he chose
to love his disciples,
those who were with him
to the very end.
And so that's our context here.
He's having a meal
with his disciples.
He decides to wash
their feet.
And it becomes very clear
that this washing of feet
is very significant,
both in the minds
of the disciples
and in Jesus' mind.
And so a couple ways
we can see that.
Firstly, we see some insight
to what the disciples
are thinking,
how they are reacting
to this whole scenario.
And as is very often
typical in the Gospels,
we see exactly
what Peter had to say
about it.
And so let's read
verse 5 through verse 11
one more time.
It says,
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.
He came to Simon Peter
who said to him,
Lord, do you wash my feet?
Jesus answered him,
What I'm doing
you do not understand now,
but afterward
you will understand.
Peter said to him,
You shall never
wash my feet.
Jesus answered him,
If I do not wash you,
you have no share with me.
Simon Peter said to him,
Lord, not my feet only,
but also my hands
and my head.
Jesus said to him,
The one who has bathed
does not need to wash
except for his feet,
but is completely clean.
And you are clean,
but not every one of you,
for he knew
who was to betray him.
That was why he said,
Not all of you are clean.
So Jesus is going around
watching the disciples' feet
and Peter speaks up.
He's clearly embarrassed,
maybe a bit ashamed
that his teacher,
the one he's followed
for so long,
the one who he has begun
to understand
and will soon fully understand
that is the very Son of God.
He's ashamed that
our Lord Jesus
is washing his feet.
And so he starts saying,
Lord, you're never going
to wash my feet.
And he seems a little bit
taken aback,
maybe startled slightly
by what the Lord's response is.
That he will not have
any share with him
if he is not washed.
And Peter's thoughts change.
We can see that clear change there.
He says,
Wash all of me,
of course,
I want to share with you.
Peter didn't fully understand here.
Peter didn't get
that the Lord was using this
as a picture of his blood
that was going to be shed
on their behalf.
Sure, he was starting
to catch on.
He was getting there,
but he didn't quite get
that full picture yet.
And the Lord says this
to Peter
and to all of the disciples here.
You don't quite get this now,
but afterwards,
speaking there of his death,
his resurrection,
you will understand it.
And so,
after Peter's response,
we hear some more
from the Lord.
Let's look at 12 through 17 again.
We're going to be saturated
in the scripture.
Let's not be afraid of it.
When he had washed their feet
and put on his outer garments
and resumed his place,
he said to them,
Do you understand
what I have done to you?
You call me teacher and Lord,
and you are right,
for so I am.
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.
Truly, truly,
I say to you,
a servant is not greater
than his master,
nor is a messenger
greater than the one
who sent him.
If you know these things,
blessed are you
if you do them.
And so,
we get a little bit more
perspective of what
this foot washing
is all about.
It was to be a picture
to the disciples
that they clearly saw
that this was like
a lowly,
gross maybe,
task,
and yet their teacher
and Lord,
he is partaking in it
for them.
And Jesus makes
the argument then
that is a similar
argument to what we'll see
in our main couple
of verses
that we'll be focusing on,
that as they see
their teacher
and their Lord
partaking in the
lowliest of service,
that they should too.
They should serve
one another.
They should follow
the example
of their teacher
and their Lord.
The Lord reminds them
that a servant
should not expect
to do things differently
than their master.
If anything,
he should expect
to have to do
harder work.
And when they see
their teacher
partaking in the service,
they should be eager
to do the same thing.
Now,
after these verses,
we see lots
about Jesus' betrayal.
We'll talk about
that a little bit,
but for now,
with our context set up,
let's get to
verses 33 to 35.
Remember that we
see that Jesus
knew that his time
was coming soon.
Then we saw him
saying the disciples
would understand
an idea more
fully afterward,
speaking of after
his death,
his resurrection.
And then in
verse 33,
that will become
even more clear.
So,
let's read
33 to 35
one more time.
Little children,
yet a little while
I am with you.
You will seek me,
and just as I said
to the Jews,
so now I also say
to you,
where I am going,
you cannot come.
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.
And so Jesus,
again,
so many times
in this passage,
he has pointed out
that he's not going
to be with them
much longer.
And pretty interestingly,
he gives them
this new command
right after that
statement.
It's almost as if
he's saying,
when I'm gone,
be ready to do
this work.
He commands him
to follow this
in his physical absence.
And with that in mind,
let's actually give
some structure
to the rest of the sermon.
I think I gave
a lot of intro
this morning.
There's going to be
five points,
and here they are.
The first one will be
the command itself.
The command itself.
The second one will be
the newness
of the command.
The newness
of the command.
Third,
the impossibility
and possibility
of the command.
Four,
some examples
of the command.
And number five,
are we following
the command?
So let's get into it.
So let's talk about
the command itself.
So it's actually
pretty simple
to understand.
Verse 34 just says,
we are to love
one another,
and then it clarifies
how are we
to love one another?
We are to love
one another
with the very same love
that Christ
has loved us with.
And if that amount
of love
is not startling
to us,
it should be.
We should remember
some context
yet again here.
Verse 33,
little children,
yet a little while
I am with you,
you will seek me,
and just as I said
to the Jews,
so now I also say
to you,
where I'm going,
you can't come.
Let's remind
each other
that all the way
up to that,
John is making
it very clear
that Jesus knows
that his time
is coming soon.
And so with that
context in mind,
that amplifies this.
Because what is coming?
Where is he going?
Our Lord knows
that he's about
to die.
He knows that he's
about to be wrongfully
accused and tried,
be put to death.
But he also knows
something else,
that his death
will atone for the sins
of all those
who will trust in him.
He knows that these
disciples are included
in that.
We saw him referencing
that very clearly
right before these verses.
So it's something
I think we all understand.
We all know it.
But let's track
with that logic
just to make sure
we're all on the same page
with what is being
talked about here.
If we are called
to love
as he has loved
the disciples
and us
for that matter.
And with the context here,
we can begin
to clearly see
that he's speaking
of his death
for the disciples
and for us.
And so with that,
what is our calling?
We're called
to give up
our very life
for one another.
We're called
to give up
our very life
for one another.
And that gets us
to the next point.
And these next couple points
will be where we spend
the majority
of our time
this morning.
That'll be the newness
of the command.
The newness
of the command.
The Lord calls it
a new commandment here.
If he's calling it new,
we might be a bit confused
as to what
is really new about it.
How is it different
from all of the different
ways we've heard
loving our neighbor
be talked about before?
You might think
of passages
way in the Old Testament.
Think about
Leviticus 19,
verse 18.
You shall not
take vengeance
or bear a grudge
against the sons
of your own people,
but you shall love
your neighbor as yourself.
I am the Lord.
If your name is Zach,
you might think
of Jesus teaching
in the Sermon on the Mount
where Jesus amplifies
the importance
of even loving
our enemies.
Takes it a step
further, right?
You might think
of plenty of passages
in Paul's letters
that, yes,
are coming after this,
but poor were instructed
to love others well.
My point in saying
all of that
is this is clear
throughout all of Scripture.
And so with that in mind,
it kind of begs the question,
what about the command
when Jesus gives it here
to the disciples,
what is making it new?
Why does he call it
a new commandment?
And I honestly think
we can see that
pretty clearly
in the text itself
and we'll clarify that
with some other Scripture
as well.
So when Jesus
is saying this,
we've said it about
20 times already today,
he knows his time
is coming short.
He will soon be crucified.
What's about to happen
is that he's giving up
his life.
What does that mean?
That means the reality
of God's love
that is shown to us
is about to become
so much more clear
than it has ever been before.
So clear.
What was,
we even talked about
in the Lethia way
with the kids this morning,
something that has been
hidden in shadows,
not quite fully understandable,
will be fully known.
God's redemptive plan
of history
will be here.
It's happening
right now.
And the disciples
and us now
will actually be able
to actually see
the love of God.
Not just try
to understand it,
but see it perfectly
displayed
in Christ
in so much
fuller of a way
than ever before.
And so one way
in which this commandment
is new,
that it's different
from all of the ways
in which we've been
instructed to love
our neighbors before,
is that we actually
have the perfect example
of love now
as we see it
in the work of Christ.
We now have that example
to follow.
You might be thinking
of all of the passages
right now
that explain
that very idea.
Maybe you're thinking
of John 15,
verses 12 and 13,
that says,
This is my commandment
that you love one another
as I have loved you.
Greater love
has no one than this,
than someone to lay down
his life for his friends.
It's the exact same idea.
Or you might be thinking
of classic John 3, 16,
For God so loved the world
that he gave his only son
that whoever believes in him
should not perish
but have eternal life.
Or you might be thinking
of Romans 5,
verses 6 through 8,
For while we were still weak,
at the right time,
Christ died for the ungodly.
For one will scarcely die
for a righteous person,
though perhaps
for a good person
one would dare even to die.
But God shows his love for us
in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
And we can keep going
and going and going
and list all of the passages
that tie the Lord's love for us
directly to his death
on the cross for us.
But that's so important, right?
These passages are so precious to us
because we actually see
how massive the love of God
for us is.
How he has loved us.
He's loved us in such a way
that he gave up everything,
even his own life,
for the sake of those he loved.
And so the disciples here
were seeing that happen.
They were seeing that happen.
They knew it was about to happen.
They didn't fully understand it.
It was almost there.
And so as they're seeing
that perfect love
of the Lord of the universe,
that's how it's new, right?
We are seeing
the perfect love displayed.
And let's remember,
as we're reminded in those passages,
that he did not give his life
for perfect people,
but gave his life for us
while we were dead
and our sins.
He shows his love
perfectly for us
in that he died for us
when we could do
absolutely nothing
for him.
And that's the same kind of love
we're being called to here.
Not a love that thinks about
what we might get in return.
Not a love
that loves
when we could get a benefit,
but a love for sinners.
And if that sounds very difficult,
you've been listening.
Right?
So let's get to
number three.
The impossibility
and possibility
of the command.
I just said that
if we've been paying attention well,
we'll realize that
what we've been called to
is incredibly difficult.
I would wager to say
it's impossible
without the grace of our Lord
on our behalf.
And so what is going on?
What is the standard
that the Lord is setting?
It's certainly really high,
but is it something
that we can't meet?
Is it something
that's just getting thrown out
to strive for
but we can't do?
Well, I think we need to remember
that while we can never
honor the Lord perfectly,
sometimes I think
we're a little too harsh
on what we believe
we can
and we cannot do
with the Lord's help.
A scripture that comes to mind,
I think we've shared it
the most here
in terms of a benediction,
it's Ephesians 3
verses 20 and 21
where it says,
Now to him who is able
to do far more abundantly
than all that we ask
or think,
according to the power
at work within us,
to him be glory
in the church
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations
forever and ever.
Amen.
And something that I think
is really important
to note about that scripture
when Paul is writing there
is he's pointing out
that the Lord is able
to do far more abundantly
than all we ask or think.
That's clear,
but the next part
is so important.
According
to the power
at work within us,
according to the Holy Spirit's
work in each of us,
I think sometimes
we can err
towards the side
of feeling like our sin
has so much power over us
that we can't get out of it,
that we can't make progress.
And while there's
some good sentiment
in that classic
in the circles I grew up in,
the I'm just an old sinner
saved by grace
kind of thinking,
the Lord has also called us
to sanctification.
And while yes,
there is effort on our part,
he's the one
ultimately doing that work.
And so it's going to happen.
He's going to accomplish it.
We don't have to be
stuck in our sin.
And so in light of that,
this is a command
we can walk faithfully in
and always seek
to continue growing in,
just as everything else
that the Lord has commanded us
to put off or put on.
We can grow,
and by the Lord's grace,
we will.
Years ago,
I feel like the number one motion
I saw Nathan make
when he was preaching
looked like this.
like over and over
and over again.
And he was talking about
progressive sanctification.
And he explained
how often
we are, you know,
doing well,
moving on up,
but then like crashing
and feeling like
we can't get back,
but then we keep going up.
But the general trend
is always that we're
moving up.
We're growing in
Christ-likeness.
We should remember
that we can do that.
And so this command
is no different.
We can love one another well.
All right.
Y'all go ahead
and turn with me
to Philippians 2.
Philippians 2.
I'm stealing all
of Alex Kohler's passages
from the Lord's Supper
if y'all haven't noticed it yet.
But flip over there.
While we've reflected
that we can,
we can actually grow
in loving one another well,
this is a passage
that I think illustrates
this perfectly.
He paired it with
earlier parts
of chapter 13.
And I think it's,
it feels like
almost a direct application
of how we can love
the way that the Lord
has loved us
that we've just read about.
So let's read
verses 1 through 11
here in Philippians 2.
So if there's
any encouragement
in Christ,
any comfort from love,
any participation
in the Spirit,
any affection
and sympathy,
complete my joy
by being of the same mind,
having the same love,
being in full accord
and of one mind.
Do nothing
from selfish ambition
or conceit,
but in humility
count others
more significant
than yourselves.
let each of you
look not only
to his own interests,
but also
to the interests
of others.
Have this mind
among yourselves,
which is yours
in Christ Jesus,
who though he was
in the form of God,
did not count equality
with God
a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself
by taking the form
of a servant
being born
in the likeness of men.
And being found
in human form,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient
to the point of death,
even death
on a cross.
Therefore God
has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him
the name
that is above every name.
So that the name
of Jesus
every knee should bow
in heaven,
on earth,
and under the earth,
and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ
is the Lord
to the glory
of God the Father.
Here in this passage
we see Paul
basically explain
how to love
as Christ has loved us.
At the beginning
of this section
Paul is giving
some very direct
this is what you should do
kind of exhortation.
But there in the
middle he shows
the mindset
we are to have
behind all those actions.
Note in those
first four verses
Paul encourages
to encourage,
to have love,
affection,
sympathy,
unity in Christ,
to not have
selfish ambition,
but to count
others' interests
more significant
than our own.
But then in verse 5
Paul explains
the mindset
that we should have
while carrying
out these actions.
And what is it?
It's that we should
be looking
to the Lord.
reading verse 5
through 8 again,
have this mind
among yourselves
which is yours
in Christ Jesus
who though he was
in the form of God
did not count
equality with God
a thing to be grasped
but emptied himself
by taking the form
of a servant
being born
in the likeness
of men.
Being found
in human form
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient
to the point of death
even death
on a cross.
Note,
Paul is tying
the thinking
exactly like
our Lord did
where it's recorded
back in John.
Our Lord commanded us
to love one another
as he has loved us.
Paul gave this
long list
of what loving
one another looks like
and then ties it back
to that same mindset
of tracing it back
to look at how
the Lord has loved you.
Let's not think
that we are higher
than our master.
Let us serve
as he served.
Just like Paul says here
he emptied himself.
He became a servant
for us
and even more
than that
he gave up
his very life
for us.
And that's
the same love
that we're called
to have
for others.
We must humble
ourselves
seek to serve
rather than
to be served.
Count others'
interests
more significant
than our own
just like
our Lord did.
And again
this is impossible
under our own strength.
Absolutely impossible.
But by the Lord's grace
he will help us
to walk in it.
We can be obedient
and so let us
love as he is loved.
So let's get
to number four.
Number four.
So these are
some examples
of the command.
I mentioned earlier
that I had
a little bit
of a tough time
picking exactly
what it would be
that I wanted
to preach.
I had considered
doing a reverence
sermon.
I had my text
picked out for it.
I had tried
to sit down
and write
a little bit
of it
and I just
couldn't get
my mind to it.
And I think
the reason
for that is
my thinking
was if I have
one more sermon
one more opportunity
to speak truth
to the church
to you guys
I wanted to
speak about
something that I
believe has been
the number one
thing that I
have learned
about from CFC.
and also
a thing that we
can always
continue to
press into.
And so this
is where I
landed.
I believe
as a church
we do an
incredible job
of dying
to ourselves
and serving
others.
Of considering
each other's
interests ahead
of our own
of giving up
our own
lives
for the sake
of those
around us.
when I
think of
all the
ways I've
seen this
done
for me
particularly
over the
past 10
years
I think
of so
many times
from
the brother
who taught
me as a
young believer
how to
actually
study
the word
how to
build
daily
habits
in the
word
when I
had
never
done
that
before
to the
whole
church
as a
culture
of the
church
and
every
individual
seeming
this
direction
of taking
scripture
so
seriously
and teaching
me not
to rely
on my
feelings
but to
embrace
the firm
foundation
we have
in the
word
to all
the many
people
who have
had so
many hard
conversations
with me
when I
needed to
be called
out for
my sin
to the
brother who
is very
firm with
me and
telling me
that I
finally
needed to
ask my
wife out
called me
out of my
laziness
and showed
me how I
could serve
her better
to that
same
brother being
there for
me at
the drop
of a
hat when
that
relationship
fell apart
and showed
me through
scripture that
I was being
selfish and
caring more
about a
relationship than
I was about
the woman I
was trying to
pursue and
serve
to another
brother reminding
me that I'm
more important
than a bird
and the Lord
cares so much
for me when I
was struggling
to battle
anxiety
to many
many
accountability
partners just
giving unending
hours of time
to me
just seeking to
do that day
in day out
as long as it
is called
today exhort
one another
that no
one's going
to get
hardened by
the deceitfulness
of sin
to the many
men and so
many core
groups over
time that
just again
given up so
much of their
time and
sought to
live life
with one
another to
all the
community
groups just
seeking to
press one
other well
and learn
what it is
like to live
as a family
when I was a
young college
student to
even now
to the
couple who
has literally
never turned
Margaret and
I down
when we've
needed help
or advice
that gave
up endless
amounts of
time to
help us
figure out
how to
deal with
so many
different
situations
and conflicts
especially in
early days
of marriage
to the
elders that
I've seen
go through
great lengths
to do
absolutely
everything
they can
for the
sake of
your souls
the meetings
that went
and I'm
confident
still do
go late
into the
night
those men
care about
you
those men
are truly
worthy of
double honor
having heard
their hearts
they are not
perfect men
but they
always try
to seek
your very
best
and I
could go
on I
could go
on but
I think
you get
the point
it's those
day in
day out
dying to
someone's
own desires
that's the
loving one
another
I would
be wrong
to not
take the
opportunity
that I
have right
now to
thank the
whole church
for the
way you've
loved me
and for
the way
you've
loved my
family
as Christ
has loved
the church
so well
for so
many years
but also
let's
remember
that while
we have
such great
examples
in one
another
we see
each other
love really
well
we have
the greatest
example in
Christ
our Lord
gave up
his very
life for
us
he who
knew no
sin
became
sin
so that
in him
we can
become
the
righteousness
of God
our Lord
loves us
so well
and he's
now calling
us to that
same love
for one
another
so one
final point
that's really
just a bunch
of questions
for us to
think about
a lot of
direct
application
point five
are we
following the
command
I think
I've got
four
questions
here
so in
other words
are we
choosing to
love one
another as
Christ has
loved us
are we
loving one
another with
the kind
of love
that would
lay down
our own
life for
those around
us
so first
question
do we
remember
the love
by which
we are
loved
do we
remember
the love
by which
we are
loved
we are
not going
to be
able to
love others
well if
we are
forgetting the
gospel ourselves
if we aren't
remembering that
we are wretched
sinners only
justified and
brought into
God's family
by his
great love
we'll be
tempted again
and again
to be thinking
in terms of
our own
righteousness
we'll begin
to put hope
in how well
we are doing
whether that
day or that
week or that
month or that
year whatever
it may be
as we're
failing to
believe that
truth of
the gospel
we'll also
end up in
that thinking
of the song
satisfied in
you that
inbred feedback
loop that
some of us
get very
confused of
like what
is that
talking about
I think
it's talking
about that
when we
get stuck
staring at
the ground
forgetting
that ultimately
our righteousness
is not
about us
and we just
go round
and round
looking to
how we're
doing and
that's going
to take us
into a circle
of being
wrecked and
wrecked by
the memory
of our
sin
we've got
to instead
remember the
grace that
our Lord
has shown
to us
we need
to long
for that
remembrance
of the
Lord's
love
just like
a deer
pants
for water
we have
to have
that to
live
second
question
do we
remind each
other
of the
love by
which we
are loved
do we
remind each
other
of the
love by
which we
are loved
if I'm
honest
Margaret and
I about
how we've
been doing
in this
last little
season of
life
jumping from
one to
two kids
has been
really hard
the transition
from zero
to one
felt a little
crazy but
the one
to two
transition
has just
been really
hard on us
we've
struggled to
make time
to be
together
for one
another
to have
good time
in the
word
all the
things have
been hard
Ross and I
have a
weekly phone
call
that I
think he
wakes up
about 30
seconds
before
but he's
so faithful
to adjust
to my
early
schedule
and
anyway
we were
talking
early
this
week
and
I
was
frustrated
with
myself
of
struggling
with
sin
and
just
kind
of
frustrated
with
how
Margaret
and I
were
doing
and I
had just
talked all
about this
in prepping
for this
and what
does he
do
when I'm
frustrated
he is
like
preaching
this sermon
right back
to me
that I've
just
talked
to him
about
I
needed
reminders
of the
truth
that
morning
that
this
wasn't
going to
go well
by how
well
I'm
doing
he
reminded
me
so
quickly
that
our
righteousness
comes
from
the
Lord
not
us
I
needed
that
reminder
that
morning
and
I
hope
as a
church
there's
so
many
of
those
reminders
happening
each
week
that
we
constantly
remind
each
other
of
the
love
by
which
we
are
loved
third
question
do we
love
one
another
as
the
Lord
has
loved
us
that's
literally
the
text
isn't
it
direct
application
there
from
the
text
do we
love
one
another
as
the
Lord
has
loved
us
do we
actually
actively
seek
to
serve
one
another
in
ways
that
are
sacrificial
to
ourselves
do we
put
our
own
interests
aside
for
the
sake
of
others
do we
consider
others
more
significant
than
ourselves
do we
give up
our
time
our
preferences
to
do
so
and
then
fourth
question
also
straight
out
of
the
text
what
are
we
known
for
as
a
church
what
are
we
known
for
as
a
church
the
text
makes
it
really
clear
that
we
will
be
known
by
our
love
for
one
another
is
that
true
of
us
so
many
of
us
here
share
so
many
common
interests
or
common
views
that
are
not
primary
not
gospel
issues
may
we
not
be
known
by
those
more
than
we
are
known
by
our
love
for
one
another
may
we
love
one
another
the
way
that
the
Lord
has
loved
us
may
the
way
we
serve
one
another
be
a
sweet
savor
of
the
gospel
to
those
around
us
that
those
who
see
us
know
that
we
are
Christ
followers
by
the
love
we
show
for
one
another
and
with
that
in
mind
let's
pray