LOVE YOUR "NEIGHBOR"          	Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  2-11-01  P.M.    		Mark 12:28-31   		 
	Love, Love, Love, that's what the world needs!  The Bible teaches us to Love God with our 
ALL.. and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  Love is the ultimate answer to the problems of
living.  Learning to love is the goal of our preaching and teaching... 1 Tim 1:5 Now the end of the 
commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: (KJV) 
	And.. Love your neighbor as yourself.... 
I.  GOD KNOWS WE LOVE OURSELVES... 
  A. In fact.. our society is infected with a terrible case of "self love" 
    1. It is "me", "mine", "I", etc. 
    2. My rights... and if I don't get them... look out for me! 
  B. God's instructions for daily living in Lev.19... 
    1. We wouldn't defraud ourselves... don't defraud neighbors.. vs.13 
    2. We wouldn't gossip about ourselves.. don't gossip about others.. vs.16 
    3. We wouldn't hate ourselves... don't hate a "brother".. 17 
	- Some do seem to "hate" themselves... but self deprecation is usually a "fishing" expedition 
	   for personal affirmation
	- God says.. Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth
	   it, even as the Lord the church: (KJV) 
    4. We wouldn't bear a grudge or seek revenge on ourselves.. don't... 
	- We usually give ourselves every benefit of the doubt.. 
	- We protect ourselves, guard, spare ourselves.. 
II. GOD SAYS TO LOVE OTHERS..
 ** Treat others as you treat yourself... 
  A. What God Says... 
    1. You don't cheat yourself.. or do you? ..  Love your neighbor 
    2. You don't gossip about yourself.. or do you?..  Love your neighbor 
    3. You don't hate yourself.. or do you? .. Love your neighbor 
    4. You don't bear grudges against yourself.. or do you?  Love your neighbor 
    5. You don't reveal all your faults.. your love of self tends to cover them... So.. Love your neighbor.. 
  B. What God Means... 
    1. Loving others means we get the "beam" out of our eye first... Mt.7:3-5 
    2. Loving others means we have a higher standard than "Hollywood" 
	- Theirs is "getting", "using", "manipulating", "self-gratifying", "perverting" 
    3. Loving others means we are guided by Biblical principles... 
	- Love with a "giving" attitude rather than "getting" 
	- Love with "action" as well as "feeling" 
    4. Loving others means practical things...  Ro.12:9 Let your love be without dissimulation.... (hypocrisy) 
	- Distribute to the necessity of the saints... vs.13 
	- Bless them which persecute you..  vs.14 
	- Rejoice and weep appropriately... vs.15 
	- Work toward harmony, condescend to men of low estate..  vs.16 
	- Recompense no man evil for evil... be honest...  vs.17 
	- Live peaceably with all men... if possible... vs.18 
	- Avenge not yourself.. vengeance belongs to God..  vs.19 
	- Provide for the physical needs of your enemy.. vs.20 
	- Overcome evil with good.. don't be overcome of evil.. vs.21 
  C. What God Demonstrates... 
    1. God so loved the world that He gave... Jn.3:16 
    2. Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it..  Eph.5:25 
    3. Christ loved "me" and gave Himself for "me"..  Gal.2:20 
III.  GOD TELLS US HOW...  Who is able to live and love like this ??? 
  A. We Must Become One of God's Children.. ..  John 1:11,12; 3:3-7
    1. Our Position... regenerated by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5); forgiven (1Jn.2:12); sealed by the 
	Spirit (Eph.1:13); destined to an eternal inheritance (1Pet.1:3-5) 
	- Is This Your Position? 
    2. Our Practice... it is life long....  (Col.2:6) 
  B. We Must Draw Upon God's Resources.. 
    1. We are "complete in Him"..  Col.2:9,10 .. Are You ???
    2. We are "being filled with the Spirit"  Gal.5:22,23  ... Aren’t We ???
  C. We Must Obey God's Command.. ..  Loving by Faith !!
    1. We must Love others as we love ourselves... or if necessary.. more than we love ourselves! 
	- We then will experience security... and satisfaction... or fulfillment like we have never 
	   known before !! 

LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR "HEART"... AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF
   YOU DO WANT TO BEGIN NOW... DON’T YOU ???!!!
       WHAT A DIFFERENCE THIS MAKES... IN HOME, COMMUNITY, CHURCH,  & WORLD!