Seeing the Unseen ChristSeeing the Unseen ChristHow His Presence How His Presence

Transforms LifeTransforms Life  

Part 2: Part 2: Lavish His love on others.Lavish His love on others.

Scott RaleyScott RaleySummit View ChurchSummit View Church

February 26, 2012February 26, 2012

In the first few centuries after the earthly life of In the first few centuries after the earthly life of Christ, those called by His name literally Christ, those called by His name literally

changed the world. By A.D. 391, Christianity changed the world. By A.D. 391, Christianity had become so significant as to be proclaimed had become so significant as to be proclaimed

as the official religion of the Roman Empire.as the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Only a few thousand people--in a huge empire of Only a few thousand people--in a huge empire of millions--mostly outcasts, religiously millions--mostly outcasts, religiously

condemned, with virtually no political power, condemned, with virtually no political power, and using only ancient methods of and using only ancient methods of

communication, brought about this incredible communication, brought about this incredible historical feat.historical feat.

How did they do this in such a short time?How did they do this in such a short time?

Rome was a patriarchal society, and it’s people Rome was a patriarchal society, and it’s people did not hold life to be very precious. did not hold life to be very precious.

So, if a child was born who was not male, or not So, if a child was born who was not male, or not the first born, and who was unwanted by the the first born, and who was unwanted by the parents, the unfortunate and usually deadly parents, the unfortunate and usually deadly

truth was that they took those unwanted truth was that they took those unwanted children out to the city dump and “threw” them children out to the city dump and “threw” them

away to die.away to die.

The early Christians, The early Christians,

taking Christ’s gift of life very seriously, taking Christ’s gift of life very seriously,

went out and found as many ofwent out and found as many of

those children that they could, and brought those children that they could, and brought

them in and gave them a home. But, these them in and gave them a home. But, these

children were already on record as natural-born children were already on record as natural-born

Roman citizens, and many of them grew up to Roman citizens, and many of them grew up to

become leaders in their society.become leaders in their society.

And they never forgot the love of Christ And they never forgot the love of Christ

that gave them a chance to live.that gave them a chance to live.

So, with that love, they changed the world.So, with that love, they changed the world.

LoveLove

vrsvrs

HateHate

We are hard pressed on every side, We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not but not crushed; perplexed, but not

in despair; in despair; 99 persecuted, but not persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not abandoned; struck down, but not

destroyed. destroyed. 1010 We always carry around We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be that the life of Jesus may also be

revealed in our body. revealed in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (NIV)2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (NIV)

Love for EnemiesLove for Enemies

        4343 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 4444 But I But I

tell you, love your enemies and pray for those tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, who persecute you, 4545 that you may be that you may be

children of your Father in heaven. He causes children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and

sends rain on the righteous and the sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. unrighteous.

Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV)Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV)

        4646 If you love those who love you, what reward If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? doing that? 4747 And if you greet only your own And if you greet only your own

people, what are you doing more than people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? others? Do not even pagans do that?

4848 Be perfect, therefore, Be perfect, therefore,

as your heavenly Father is perfect. as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:46-48 (NIV)Matthew 5:46-48 (NIV)

Giving to the NeedyGiving to the Needy

  “  “Be careful not to practice your Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.    your Father in heaven.    22 “So when you give “So when you give

to the needy, do not announce it with to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be synagogues and on the streets, to be

honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.received their reward in full.

Matthew 6:1-2 (NIV)Matthew 6:1-2 (NIV)

But when you give to the needy, do not let But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is your left hand know what your right hand is doing, doing, 44 so that your giving may be in secret. so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in Then your Father, who sees what is done in

secret, will reward you. secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:3-4 (NIV)Matthew 6:3-4 (NIV)

Love for EnemiesLove for Enemies

        4343 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 4444 But I But I

tell you, love your enemies and pray for those tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, who persecute you, 4545 that you may be that you may be

children of your Father in heaven. He causes children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and

sends rain on the righteous and the sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. unrighteous.

Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV)Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV)

Action Step 2:Action Step 2:

Show Christ’s love through secret acts Show Christ’s love through secret acts

1 Corinthians 131 Corinthians 13

  11 If I speak in the tongues of men or of If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a angels, but do not have love, I am only a

resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 22 If I If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not faith that can move mountains, but do not

have love, I am nothing. have love, I am nothing. 33 If I give all I possess If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to to the poor and give over my body to

hardship that I may boast, but do not have hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. love, I gain nothing.

(vv. 1-3, NIV)(vv. 1-3, NIV)

  

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envyenvy, , it does not boast, it is not proud. it does not boast, it is not proud. 55 It does It does

not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. wrongs. 66 Love does not delight in Love does not delight in evilevil but but rejoices with the truth. rejoices with the truth. 77 It always It always protectsprotects, ,

always trusts, always hopes, always trusts, always hopes,

always perseveres. always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)

  

Love never fails. But where there are Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is tongues, they will be stilled; where there is

knowledge, it will pass away. knowledge, it will pass away. 99 For we know in For we know in part and we prophesy in part, part and we prophesy in part, 1010 but when but when

completeness comes, what is in part completeness comes, what is in part disappears. disappears.

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (NIV)1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (NIV)

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man, I put the ways of When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. childhood behind me. 1212 For now we see only For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to faceface to face. Now I know in part; then I shall . Now I know in part; then I shall

know fully, even as I am fully known. know fully, even as I am fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NIV)1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NIV)

   And now these three And now these three remain: remain:

faith, hope and lovefaith, hope and love. . . but the greatest of . . . but the greatest of

these is love.these is love.

Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

  

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envyenvy, , it does not boast, it is not proud. it does not boast, it is not proud. 55 It does It does

not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. wrongs. 66 Love does not delight in Love does not delight in evilevil but but rejoices with the truth. rejoices with the truth. 77 It always It always protectsprotects, ,

always trusts, always hopes, always trusts, always hopes,

always perseveres. always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man, I put the ways of When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. childhood behind me. 1212 For now we see only For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to faceface to face. Now I know in part; then I shall . Now I know in part; then I shall

know fully, even as I am fully known. know fully, even as I am fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NIV)1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NIV)

Hebrew:Hebrew:

dōd

‘‘ahab, ‘ahabahahab, ‘ahabah

raracchamhamcchesedhesed

Biblical Words for love:Biblical Words for love:

Greek:Greek:eroseros

phileōphileōstorgēstorgē

agapē, agapeōagapē, agapeō

Hebrew words from the Old Hebrew words from the Old Testament:Testament:

dōd – erotic love, lustdōd – erotic love, lust

‘‘ahab, ‘ahabah – romantic, ahab, ‘ahabah – romantic, spontaneous, impulsive lovespontaneous, impulsive love

raraccham – compassion, pityham – compassion, pitycchesed – deliberate choice, hesed – deliberate choice,

covenant lovecovenant love

Greek words from the New Testament:Greek words from the New Testament:

eros – sensual, sexual, implusiveeros – sensual, sexual, implusive

phileō – affection, kindnessphileō – affection, kindness

storgē – loyalty, like cherishing kindredstorgē – loyalty, like cherishing kindred

agapē, agapeō* -- unconditional love, like agapē, agapeō* -- unconditional love, like God’s loveGod’s love

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------*This word was also used over 300 times in the Greek *This word was also used over 300 times in the Greek

translation of the Old Testament known as the translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint (LXX).Septuagint (LXX).

   Some concluding remarks Some concluding remarks about God’s love “about God’s love “agapēagapē””

  . . . but the greatest of . . . but the greatest of these is these is

love.love.