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John 13:34
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"A new command I give you: Love one
another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
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What are your initial thoughts when you
read this verse?
Let’s take a look now at the context.
John 13:33-38
Why the illustration of Peter’s
willingness to lay down his life, and then Christ’s response in
verse 38? Does this fit with the one another?
What does loving one another involve?
What does it really mean?
Is this an option or a suggested part of
being a Christian? What part does Jesus have in our fulfilling His
commandment?
What important element of the Christian
life is presented in v.35?
Is this the primary identifier of a true
Christian? Why or why not?
What does this passage have to do with
me? How should it impact my life?
Am I living up to it? Why or why not?
How can we accomplish this?
Jesus as always is looking for a living
faith, an active faith. He has no interest in an empty shelled,
hollow belief system. If your Christianity is not impacting and
changing your life, perhaps you should evaluate to see if you are
for real. (Please don’t take my words as unkind, but rather realize
we are dealing here with matters of eternity and can’t afford to
tread softly.)
Christianity is much more than a creed.
It is life. Creeds help us stay focused on Christ, but the way to
growth and faithfulness is through experiencing the living,
resurrected Christ.
The Word guides us, so we don’t fall
into false beliefs and practices, but then we must act upon the
Word. It is not real to us until we step out in faith and obey.
The kind of faith obedience God expects of us is usually the stuff
that seems impossible. Just take the first step in obedience and
don’t stop. You will be surprised at the end to see where He has
brought you.
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