God's Children Must Walk in Love (Ephesians 5:1-2)
Introduction:
1. Last Sunday morning we showed that "the Scriptures teach us how to walk." 2. This evening we are concentrating on the main point made in these verses that "God's children must walk in love." Discussion: I. LET US WALK IN LOVE FOR GOD
A. The Israelites were instructed to love God (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). B. Loving God is "the first and great commandment" (Matthew 22:35-38). C. According to 1 John 5:3, loving God includes obeying His commands. D. John explained why we are to love God in 1 John 4:19, 9-10. II. LET US WALK IN LOVE FOR CHRIST
A. The Lord wants us to love Him more than anyone else (Matthew 10:37). B. According to John 14:15, loving Christ includes keeping His commands. C. In John 21:15-19, Jesus questioned Peter about his love. III. LET US WALK IN LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS
A. The Israelites were instructed to love their neighbors (Leviticus 19:18). B. In Matthew 22:39, Jesus identified loving neighbors as "the second" command. C. The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) is the practical application of loving neighbors. IV. LET US WALK IN LOVE FOR BRETHREN
A. Jesus commanded His followers to love one another (John 13:34-35). B. John wrote at length about this relationship (1 John 4:7, 11-12, 20-21). V. LET US WALK IN LOVE FOR GOD'S WORD
A. A wonderful statement to this effect is found in Psalm 119:97. B. Love for God's Word is demonstrated in Nehemiah 8:1-12. Conclusion:
1. Let us fulfill the responsibilities that Jesus gave in Luke 9:23. 2. Let us also walk in love as God's children.
