How One Should Prove Oneself in Love

Sermons by Eli Hofer
03/14/01
08/22/01
08/11/02

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How One Should Prove Oneself in Love
(A Hutterite Sermon Preface)

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he that loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law (Romans 13:8). For the whole law is fulfilled in the word, Love thy neighbor. “And above all these put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Col 3:14)

The prophet Micah teaches us what is the right and true service to God: “With what shall I come before the Lord? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:6-8)

What can a man give? Not a material sacrifice because everything belongs to God. He has no need of anything we can bring. He would not be appeased even if a human being were sacrificed. He has not commanded this and it is an abomination to Him; serving only to insult the one and only sacrifice of atonement offered by Jesus Christ, whom God had ordained to bear the sins of the world.

The true and proper service to God is a pure faith; that is, to keep the word of God, and to walk before Him in love, mercy, and humility. This true service to God proceeds from the heart. It proceeds from faith in love and humility. God can be truly served with those things which He himself brings about in our hearts, for to serve God is nothing else than to serve one’s neighbor with love and deed.

“For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, When did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’

“And the King will answer them, ‘Tru1y, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” (Mt 25:35-40).

Therefore love is a glorious virtue comprehending all other virtues, and is the fulfillment of the law. Now because it is a glorious virtue, we want to speak about it. John says in the fourth chapter: “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:16)

Who would not gladly have God dwelling in him? Or to the contrary, who would gladly desire Satan to be in him or he in Satan? But this happens when love is pushed out by enmity, hatred and envy. Satan is an enemy of mankind, but God is love.

“Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.” (I John 4:7)

Dear brothers and sisters, that is how things are. Whosoever has no love in his heart and who is pleased when his neighbor is in distress, plainly does not know God, who is pure love, for just in this, can one recognize who is, or is not, a child of God. Wherever there is brotherly love, it shall not be barren or unfruitful. (2 Peter 1:7)

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:25) It is not sufficient to give oneself the name of a Christian, and to confess Him with the mouth alone; one must believe in Him, love Him, fellow Him, and be obedient. Whoever has not the love of Christ in his heart does not belong to Him, and has no part in Him. Just as one recognizes an apple tree by its fruit or a flower by its scent, so a Christian is recognized by love.

Paul says: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not love, I am like a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.” (1 Cor 13) All great gifts, without love, are nothing. To speak many languages, to do marvels, to know many mysteries, these do not make a Christian. Only faith which is active in love does.

“If a man says ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, that he who loves God, loves his brother also.” (1 John 4:9-21)

Love to God without love to one’s neighbor cannot exist. Whoever does not love his neighbor is an enemy of God. Why? Because God is love.

The glorious fruits that grow from love are spoken of by Paul: Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good. (Rom 12:9)

“So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” (Mt 7:12)

“For if we only do good to those who do good to us, do not the unbelievers do the same?” (Mt 5:47)

Therefore it is right to put our carnal nature into subjection, to control our flesh and blood and to overcome evil with goodness and virtue. That, dear brothers and sisters, is Christian. For through Moses, God commanded: “If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it, you shall help him to lift it up.’ (Ex 23:5)

No one should do anything to harm another, not even to an enemy, but we should do good, for if we do not love our neighbor or do good to him or wish him all that is good, then we are not children of God. John says: “Whoever does not love his brother abides in death.” (1 John 3:14)

Therefore let everyone be diligent to dwell in love, for if love is there, then peace and unity are there too. And where there is peace, there is the God of peace. And where there is the God of peace, there the Lord has promised blessing and life for ever and in eternity.

Amen.

Psalm 133: "For there [in brotherly community] the Lord has commanded the blessing, life for evermore."

Hutterite Sermon Prefaces:

     #1-1: Concerning the Great Profit and Blessing of the Word of God
     #1-4:    Concerning the Correct Use of Grace and Prudence
     #1-18: Concerning How We must Follow Jesus Obediently
     #1-24: About the true discipleship of Christ
     #1-25: About True Christian Life
     #2-3:    Concerning Heavenly Wisdom and Grace
     #2-17: How One should prove oneself in love
     #2-23: Concerning Our Whole Life and Conduct

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(This page was last updated on 06/20/2008.)