(9/14/21) Gathered Church - Bible Study

GATHERED CHURCH
1 John 3:16 / Romans 5:7-11

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

What we decide to sacrifice our lives for is often telling where our hearts are at the moment. I know my own heart often reverts to protect what is comfortable and desirable for my benefit. My flesh tells me to protect what I enjoy and let no one trample on my path to gain it. If I can't have what I desire, my life is worth sacrificing to protect it. Much of what people find themselves exerting energy over today is more about protecting their rights and comfortability than the greater good over others. One of the struggles the modern church faces today is where we place the value of our lives. What are we willing to sacrifice our lives for?

1John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

QUESTION: How does this verse make you feel if you're honest?
QUESTION: Have you ever seen a church or context where this verse seems to be applied well?

Rom. 5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom. 5:7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—
Rom. 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom. 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Rom. 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Rom. 5:11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

The United States when to war with terrorism after 9/11. Those who would take the lives of innocent people in such a brutal way became the #1 enemy of our nation. Every culture has its enemies. Those who would be reading Paul's letter to the church of Rome would understand the illustration. Those who had been captured, oppressed, Rome was even killing Christians.

Rom. 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.

Jesus gave his life not to people who deserved it or were innocent, but for those to whom God gave the title as his enemy.
That is to say, Jesus walked across enemy lines, left the Father's presence, love, and fellowship, and looked down the barrel of the gun pointed at you and moved it over to himself. The justice desired by God for your crimes against him, Jesus took those on to himself. Instead of you being killed as the terrorist against the holiness of God, Jesus took your place. We as humans cannot understand this type of sacrifice. It is not logical. For a soldier to set down his gun, walk across to the enemy's side, and then yell at his army…

"Kill me instead! Let them go for what they did and kill me! And then accept my life as theirs from now.
Let them live in my house with my family. Let them live safely without fear and never ask them to pay. Simply let them know, the same love they received, give it to their new family."

That is the kind of love we have received. That is the motivation John gives us to love others. Give the love you have received.

QUESTION: What prevents you from loving others sacrificially?
QUESTION: What do you think loving the church sacrificially looks like?
QUESTION: How can we obey John's instructions and not turn it into legalism or a place of guilt and shame?

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Remember this promise from Christ. To give your life to loving others is where true joy is found. Not in protecting your rights, your money, your time, or your health. Jesus says, when we love others as He has loved us (sacrificially), we will have his joy, and it will be full.

QUESTION: How can we as a group help each other find this joy in the midst of all of the pain and chaos in our world right now?

Praise, Prayer and Confession:
• What can you offer to the Father in praise?
• What is a sin you need to confess?
• What is a burden we can carry?
• What can we take to our Father in prayer?