LOVE GOD – LOVE PEOPLE
1 John 4:20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
1 John 4:19 We love because (God) first loved us.
Love is the only thing that can produce love
The lens through which you VIEW people, will determine how you TREAT people.
Matthew 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor AS YOURSELF. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
1 John 4:19 We love because (God) first loved us.
Luke 15:1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
People should be treated based on what they do.
What you do determines what else you can do.
Luke 15:3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
Offense 1 – Blessings without relationship
Luke 15:13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
Offense 2 – Wasted everything the Father gave him on reckless / sinful living
Luke 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
Offense 3 – Worked with Pigs – Making him more defiled
Luke 15:17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”
Offense 4 – Came up with his own plan of redemption
Luke 15:20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him…
Response 1 – He was looking for His son
Luke 15:20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him…and felt compassion…
Response 2 – He Felt Compassion for His son
Luke 15:20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him…and felt compassion…and ran…
Response 3 – He ran to His son
Luke 15:20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him…and felt compassion…and ran…and embraced him and kissed him.
Response 4 – He embraced and kissed His son (in his dirty condition)
Luke 15:21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
Response 5 – He did not accept the son’s lesser plan of redemption, but instead restored him to total sonship.
Luke 15:23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my SON was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Response 6 – Threw a party because He was HAPPY his SON was alive and home!
31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’
Response 7 – Rebuked (in love) the haters that would question His grace.
*