Sacrificial Love Luke 6:27-36

Well, we're glad to have you with us today we come together to worship our Lord and we're just thankful that we live in a country that we have the freedom to do such and It's a blessing to meet together with you.

It's always an encouragement to me. I hope it's an encouragement to you we are to encourage one another in the Lord and Remember the things that we have and I'll give you some of the announcements that we have Following the service this morning.

We have the Lord's Supper where we celebrate the Lord's death barrel and resurrection and Also, we have a prayer meeting tonight at the 6 p .m. If you've not been to that you might enjoy that we have a time of prayer and then we usually have a time of Talking right following so we catch up on what everybody's talking about.

Everybody's doing. I we don't call it gossiping though. We just they're catching up on what everybody's doing and but we pray for the church and we pray for our country and we just thank the Lord that we have that privilege to do so and remember Saturday May the 13th that the biblical counseling course continues and set that aside and come out and If you have any questions about that you can ask pastor or you can look on our website and see that and remember our ladies Bible study at 10 in The morning on Saturday the 20th.

So remember those items continue to pray for Richard he's home, but he's feeling weak. His Son who's a truck driver came home Monday and was visiting but he has a grandson and has a lady. That's kind of looking after him in on him now and then so remember him and uphold him and we think about our shut-ins even at this time and we think of veneer and We think also Jimmy who would like to be here and can't be and we remember them and uphold them in prayer.

So let's go to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father we come to you this morning thanking you for the blessings that you give us. We thank you that you've allowed us to live in a country where we have freedom to worship you and We thank you Heavenly Father for the blessings that you have given to us even as a country.

We do uphold our leaders our president our governors and those in the Senate in the house. Lord we uphold each of these Individuals before you when it asked Heavenly Father that They might seek counsel from you in all the decisions that they make.

We would pray that you would help us Lord to constantly uphold them in prayer before you. We pray for pastor today as he Brings your word again. We would just pray for Liberty as he delivers the things that you've laid on his heart for us we pray that it might be a blessing for us as we get into the word and we pray that we might apply it to our own hearts the things that we will learn today and As we sing and as we praise you and we give testimony to what you have done in our life through our songs Lord.

We would pray that it might be a blessing to each one that is here and we will thank you for it. We think of our shut is that we've just talked about for Jimmy for Venera and For Richard today, we were just uphold them before you pray that you would strengthen them and encourage their hearts today.

We thank you for those that have come out to worship you. We pray that this day might be a When we leave say it's been good to be in the house of the Lord and we'll thank you and pray in Jesus name Amen.

One last thing I forgot to say we got our new voice magazine. It's on the back. It's a free magazine. We belong we're not in a denomination, but we belong for fellowship to organization called ISCA International.

They publish a magazine that comes out about every three months and a lot of good articles. Biblical articles in there that you would enjoy. So feel free to pick one and take it home.

Let all that I am praise the Lord with my whole heart. I praise his holy name. May I never forget the good things he has done for me is by God's grace that we are Blessed by him. Let's stand and sing to our Heavenly Father.

Morning scripture reading is from Matthew Matthew chapter 5.

Matthew chapter 5 verse 43 through 48. You'd like to follow along with me or just listen. That'd be fine. Matthew 5 43 through 48. You have heard that it was said you shall love your neighbor And hate your enemy.

But I say to you love your enemies bless those who curse you do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and Persecute persecute you that you may be sons of your father in heaven for he makes his son rise on the evil and on the good and Sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if you love those who love you What reward have you. Do not even the tax collectors do the same. And if you greet your brethren only What do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so.

Therefore you shall be perfect just as your father in heaven is perfect. May God bless the hearing of his word.

Well, let's joyfully sing to our Heavenly Father.

Please turn with me to Luke chapter 6.

Luke chapter 6 Verses 20 7 to 36. But I say to you who hear love your enemies do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you and pray for those who spitefully use you to him who strikes you on the one cheek offer the other also and From him who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either give to everyone who asks of you and from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back and.

Just as you want men to do to you. You also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you for even sinners love those who love you love them? And if you do good to those who do good to you What credit is that to you for even sinners do the same and if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive.

Back, what credit is that to you for even sinners lend to sinners who receive as much back? But love your enemies do good and lend. Hoping for nothing in return and your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High for he is kind to the unthankful and evil.

Therefore be merciful just as your father also is merciful. This is the word of the Lord. Let us pray. Father we're thankful that through Jesus Christ who died for our sin on the cross. By believing in him we can be not only forgiven but also adopted as your sons and daughters.

Thank you that that's our new identity in Christ. And in that identity we get to love the way that your son preaches. Help us every day to love like that Jesus name. Amen. Now love is actually quite popular in our culture.

It's not a concept in which Pastors feel anxious about they want to do sermon series on love. They want to preach about love as much as possible. But what's important to know is. Who defines love? The love that we see in the passage this morning is not the love that the world wants to hear about.

Love.

Contrary to what the world believes is not improving every everything the other person wants right.

Love.

Can disagree.

Love.

Also is not forcing what you think is best on others even if it is really good. Also, love is not utilitarian. Utilitarian means there is an end goal in mind. Utilitarianism is this idea that you do something.

For the sake of the goal. So a phrase something like the ends justify the means. Well, it turned out. All right, so I guess it was love. For example phrases like Hey if you serve others.

One day.

They will serve you or even this concept of karma. You do good to another person and The belief system is something good will happen to you the universe or some deities will reward you back. That's utilitarianism.

That's not love because in the end You're not actually serving the other person for their own sake. You're serving them that you may be served back. It's it's a form of self exaltation. But love is self-giving.

Love is sacrificial and Contrary to what others believe love is not easy. Love is unnatural. The type of love that Jesus preaches in this passage is extremely difficult. Which means love is not something you do as long as it's comfortable for you.

As long as it's convenient for you. As long as it fits your schedule as long as it meets the budget. That's not love this morning. The main point of this passage is that we selflessly and sacrificially Love our enemies as our heavenly father does because we are his children.

We selflessly and sacrificially love our enemies as our heavenly father does because we are his children.

First.

We selflessly love our enemies folks focusing on God's best for them despite the difficulties and cost. We selflessly love our enemies. Focusing on God's best for them despite the difficulties and cost.

Now after the preamble of the principles that characterize Jesus disciples the followers of Jesus. What are they supposed to be like Jesus reveals? What sets his disciples apart? From the world. From everyone else.

The love for their enemies. Verses 27 through 28 are specific commands for Jesus disciples. Regarding their attitude and action toward their enemies. First it starts with love your enemies. Love as we will later learn is actually other centered.

Love is self-giving. What's extraordinary about this command is? Not the verb. It's the object of the verb the object of love. According to Jesus that's our enemies. Jesus commands his followers to. Prioritize the interest and well-being of those who hate them.

Those who want them to fail. Those who speak badly about you. Those who ignore you. And the next three subsequent commands. Specify the first command love your enemies do good to those who hate you. Lest we think love is just a passive emotional experience.

That's just internal. Just an internal attitude that we check off a box. Oh. You know, I did not curse out my nasty nasty atheist neighbor. Love my enemy.

Check.

Jesus commandly commit. Jesus command directly affects our actions. Do good. It is an external act for the very benefit of those who hate you. Hatred is a strong word and we know that hatred means a deep passionate desire to destroy.

Someone who wants you dead and what does Jesus say do good to them. Do specific actions that would improve the livelihood of those who want you dead. That's why it's hard and the next two commands involve God verses 28 through 29.

Bless those who curse you and pray for those who spitefully use you or some translations have revile you revile speak badly. Verse 28 shows us then in order to fully love We must involve God. First there is a revolt reversal in our response to those who curse.

To those who condemn you. To those who want you to see you in hell. Instead of cursing back. Which would be our most natural response? Jesus command is that we would bless them in our nature in our flesh.

If we bring up our enemies at all before God It is for him to curse. Right. God, please remove them from our lives. God, please deal with them however. We're commanded to call upon God's favor to them.

Our desire when we love our enemies is that our enemies would experience God's blessing. Not only that we are to pray for them. We are to bring their need and Their well-being before our Heavenly Father on their behalf.

That's the prayer. Love is selfless and other centered and love points Godward. Truly loving our enemies Means seeking and desiring God's best for them. It's not seeking and desiring what you think is good for them it's actually Surrendering to what God's best for them.

Our best for them is not good enough. It's about God's best for them. What would God want them to have? What would God want them to go through and in order to clearly show how how these commands are so?

Hard it's difficult. Jesus gives us a few illustrations here After all, it is so easy to justify doing the bare minimum or even lie to ourselves that we're truly loving our enemies. When we truly are not.

The first two examples show us loving our enemy means we forfeit our personal right to vengeance. To him who strikes you on the one cheek offer the other also and From him who takes away your cloak. Do not withhold your tunic either to be slapped.

Once and then the offering the other cheek Means to not slap back.

It means it means.

You forfeit your right to vengeance. Normally if someone is slapped The automatic natural response is to slap back. Jesus says no turn the other cheek and Offering your shirt after your outer garment is taken.

Shows that shows the similar concept Love can be painful Love is costly. These verses Show the complete selfless nature of love. To truly love means to not pursue your personal vengeance or your personal agenda.

You might have had a personal agenda for keeping your tunic your shirt not anymore. Now this one thing to note this does not mean to become a personal doormat right. It does not mean You continually get abused continually get oppressed in.

Fact.

The most loving thing to do for the abuser is.

To.

Stop him from sinning against God. By abusing you through the means that God has provided The law enforcement the church your family. That's what other centered means even loving your abuser. Don't let them continue to harm you because every instance is a sin against God.

Find a way for the abuser to stop and In the case the prayer for that enemy who continually hurts you. The best blessing for them might be That they end up in prison for a long time to ponder what they have done so that they may Get to experience the loving presence of God.

But what's important here from turning the other cheek and giving out your clothing is that personal vengeance is not in the picture. Even if you report an oppressor to the police it is not out of your desire to see him in pain.

Because that would be personal vengeance. But your desire for his soul to be right with God No matter how long it could take and wherever he may end up the loving response Focuses not on self but on God and others even when it is painful and costly.

The last illustration points to the costliness of loving your enemies. Give to everyone who asks of you and from him who takes away your goods. Do not ask them back. This shows that love is not transactional.

It is not love if you give expecting something in return. That's a business transaction not love.

If.

Anyone expects you to do something for them because they showed quote-unquote love To you by doing you a favor. That was not out of love. The moment they bring up what they've done on Your behalf to ask you to do something or demand you to do something.

That's not love. That's a business transaction. Comprehensively Jesus summarizes his principle of love in verse 31 and. Just as you want men to do to you. You also do to them likewise. This is often called the golden rule.

Note. That love is not as I've mentioned utilitarian. You're not doing good deeds for the benefit of yourself. Right so that okay. I'm doing something good. Maybe next time you'll do something good back.

You're not showing love to people who hate you so that you may win them over. There's no promise of that. People who hate you might still hate you after you love them. There's no guarantee. Jesus summary statement on love is purely other focused and God driven.

It is for the benefit of the other person with no strings attached. According to God's will. That's love and for Christians. Everything we think we say and we do for others including our enemies must be defined by how God defines love a Deep desire and pursuit for God's best for the other person.

Not my best. My best could look very much different from God's best. My best might look like I want to save this relationship and I'm not gonna tell them they're sinning. But that's not God's best if They're sinning.

Even though it hurts to say it even though it might hurt the relationship. I have to gently and lovingly say that they're sinning against God. That's God's best. God's best is often harder than my best when our family curses at us.

Do we curse back when your co-worker mocks you for your faith. Does her salvation? Make it to your daily prayer list. When that guy who keeps on asking for favor comes back. Do you sigh and roll your eyes?

Or do you willingly help out without asking? Is this the last time? But he's never helped me out. But he doesn't even say thank you. That's the point. Love is not transactional. You're not doing for that.

Thank you. You're not doing it for the repayment. That's the nature of love. It's self-giving now. The question is if we end right here it is a Hard demand. It might sound good after hearing it but in practice.

You can't go on like this without hearing the why. Why do we sacrificially love those who hate us? You got to know the why because you can't love like this because it sounds good. Because surely it's not gonna sound good.

We sacrifice Sacrificially love our enemies because of our identity as children of God. We sacrifice sacrificially love our enemies because of our identity as children of God. From verses 32 through 34 Jesus illustrates the non transactional selfless nature of love through negative examples.

Which parallel the illustrations that we saw earlier from verses 27 to 30? But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you for even sinners love those who love them? The first statement is overarching and it's comprehensive.

If you love if your love is only given to those who love you back. Then it is not special. It is not unique to just Christians. In fact, Jesus rhetorically asked what credit is there right after all that's how sinners love.

You don't have to be specifically Christian to love like that. That's natural. Credit here means favor. Don't be expecting God's favorable response from you to you. Ah, if you love people just the way the world does.

What makes you any different? Even non-christians do that in the end. It's transactional if we love like that you love them because they love you back and Really the end recipient of that love is you.

It's like a boomerang it came back to you. Now the next two verses follow the same format as verse 32 and it actually detailed. What true love is not it goes into the specifics and if you do good to those who do good to you.

What credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. As mentioned above love is not just an internal passive experience. But it wholly covers every part of one's life. Again, Jesus emphasizes how love.

Cannot expect something in return. If you serve someone who will serve you back. Then is that love or a business barter? Right, I'll tutor your kid if you fix my car for me. Is that love. And Verse 34 parallels the example from verse 30 and if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back.

What credit is that to you for even sinners land to sit sinners who to receive as much back? Loaning to those who will loan back to you is not love. That's a love that costs nothing. That's cheap love.

Instead Jesus commends his disciples Verse 35, but love your enemies do good and land hoping for nothing in return. The type of love that Jesus disciples Show is not quid pro quo. True love is not if I scratch your back.

Will you scratch mine? Love does not expect anything in return. Love is not entitled. Love is costly. Love is risky. Love is sacrificial.

Love.

Only considers the other person's well-being before God. Now, why can we love like this? First and your reward will be great. The implication here is that when you love sacrificially and selflessly Ultimately God will be the one repay.

You may not get the repayment or any payment for that matter on this side of heaven, but God will.

Reward.

God is watching. Again there cannot be true love without God in this picture. True love always involves God. We can truly love when our hearts echo God's heart. When our views reflect his views. When our will aligns with his will.

Sure if you love as Jesus commands You will lose a lot. You may lose your friends family and finances. But there is not a moment that God will miss. There is not a loss which God won't repay. All the backstabbings all the insults all the public humiliations That you endured for Christ's sake.

In order to love your enemies God can make it right. God can repay. He's fully capable and He hasn't missed a single moment of it. Second and You will be sons of the Most High. For he is kind to the unthankful and evil.

The second reason for the sacrificial and rather costly love is that we would show our identity as As Sons and daughters of God. When we show love to the least deserved and most dangerous our enemies.

It's because that's who we are it hits that the core of who we are. Now here the doctrine of sonship needs to be explained. In ancient time or even a hundred years ago, I guess even currently in Amish countries Sons grew up to do what their fathers did and daughters grew up to do what their mothers do.

For example, if your dad is a baker The son became a baker you became a baker. If your mark your mom was a milkmaid You became a milkmaid. Sons do what their fathers did and daughters do what their mothers did.

Now what Jesus is saying here is that if you painstakingly love your enemies Even though you don't get anything back you might even it suffer harm and pain. You're actually living your true identity as a child of God.

Right. That is why he commands us. Therefore be merciful just as your father also is merciful showing love to the unthankful showing love to the undeserving evil people. It's precisely what the Heavenly Father does every day.

And Showing mercy to those who did not earn mercy. That's what God does. That's who he is. Mercy is One of God's central characteristics in the Old Testament. God actually discloses that his name is Merciful and gracious the Lord the Lord merciful and gracious.

The term mercy in the Hebrew language has the same three consonantal letters as Mother's womb the type of mercy and compassion that God has towards sinners. It's a type of compassion that a mother has For her child.

And as we are approaching Mother's Day We may even think of our own mother's compassion if we were blessed to have such an experience. Generally. Mothers tend to be more Tenderly loving and gentle toward her kid when a kid cries.

When my kid cries Because he doesn't want to go to bed. I can know I can listen to that for many minutes. Because I know in the end he needs to go to bed. But when my kid cries My wife the mom cannot stand a second of it.

She starts crying. That's the compassion that we think of when we see God's mercy. It's from deep within Other centered carrying that of a mother and that's the mercy that we show to others. Because We're God's children.

Therefore if you are Christians and you show compassion to those who hate you. That's who you are. You're just doing What you would do because that's who you are. You're reflecting whose family you truly belong to for sons and daughters of God through Christ mercy and love flow in your veins.

Compassion and sacrifice are your family business. That's what you're tasked to do. Because that's who you are. And of course the best example of loving his enemies despite the cost and sacrifice For the benefit of others Is shown by the unique Son of God Jesus Christ himself.

The best representation of God the Father's mercy for his children. For sinners his love is His true Son Jesus Christ on the cross. He died for his enemies he faced the wrath of God. So that he could save those who oppose him.

So that he could save those who mock him. So that he could save those who betrayed him. So that he could save those who abandoned him. Jesus didn't just give tunics away. But rather he gave his own life away.

He gave all he had in order to love and show mercy and That's why through Jesus merciful and loving sacrifice You get to Be God's children by believing in what Jesus had done for you you join his family and Looking at what Jesus has done His Merciful and loving death on the cross For those who can never pay him back.

We can selflessly and sacrificially give To whomever No matter what the cost is to love them even though It will cause pain because that's what you do if you belong to the family of Christ. That's who you are.

Let us pray. Father we're thankful that you are so good that you're so merciful and loving that you would save sinners like us who did not deserve it who can who can't ever repay back and who continue to harm and cause pain.

Yet you love us. You gave your son for us. Jesus gave himself for us. That is the abundant grace and mercy and love that we can't ever understand. But father help us to see your son. In order for us to love even though it gets hard in order to love Even though it costs a lot in order to love Even though we'll get hurt.

Help us to be Help us to live as your sons and daughters today in Jesus name. Amen.