INTRO: Tonight we will look at a 8 verse passage in John’s Gospel that is rich enough to get 3 messages from it. But it also allows for a single 3 point message that supplies straightforward lessons for all disciples of Jesus Christ.
I. LESSON 1: HOW TO GLORIFY GOD AND BE GLORIFIED.
A. READ JN. 13:31-32. Let me offer two (2) truths Jesus offered by this statement.
1.) Jesus’ life brought God glory.
1 Pet. 4:11, “If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; If anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified trough Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belongs the glory and the power forever and ever, Amen.”
2.) Because Jesus glorified God, God glorified Him. vs. 32? “If God is glorified in [Jesus], God will also glorify {Jesus] in Himself and will glorify Him at once.” What does He mean when He adds, “[God] will glorify [Jesus] at once?”
B. Jesus was talking about Himself, but He was also teaching an important principle that applies to all disciples. If we, like Him, live our lives in obedience to the will of God, we will receive glory from the Father, as well. Are you familiar with the terminology of 3 parts of salvation:salvation. It is set forth in three (3) parts: regeneration (being born again), sanctification (process of being molded into the image of Christ, and glorification (when we come before the Father in heaven.)
If we, as followers of Christ, live as He lived, obeying God and bringing Him glory, we will receive glory before Him!
II. THE DISTINCT MARK OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLES IS LOVE FOR OTHERS.
A. READ vs. 34-35.
“ a new commandment,” in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “love your enemies.” Luke 10:27, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus wanted His followers to love all people. But here, the Lord is saying, “all people (saved and unsaved) will know (recognize) that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” He is commanding that believers are to love each other so clearly it impacts the world.
1 John 3:10-11, “Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother.”
B. North African theologian Tertullian wrote about how pagans recognized Christians, saying, “Look how they love one another (for they themselves (pagans)hate each other) and how they are ready to die for one another (for they themselves (pagans) are readier to kill each other.”(Internet) Christians were, and should be, for each other.
III. SATAN’S POWER IS GREATER THAN PRIDEFUL SELF-CONFIDENCE.
A. READ 13:36-38. Simon Peter was growing in the faith by leaps and bounds, but he was holding on to a faulty idea of faith. He saw himself as the devoted ally of Christ rather than a fully dependent servant of the Lord. As a result, Peter came to have a false pride.
Lk. 22:31-32, where Jesus predicts Simon Peter’s denial, it says, “Simon, Simon, look out! Satan has asked to sift you like wheat.”
B. The only way we can stand for the faith is to cast ourselves completely on the power of Christ through the Holy Spirit working in us.
CONCLUSION
These three lessons can be very helpful to us as we check our own growth