Series: Hebrews

Passing the Test of Christian Love, Pt. 1

April 19, 2020 | Jeff Crotts

Passage: Hebrews 13:1-3

Hebrews 13:1-6 Passing test of Christian love

 

It has been said of Christians:

 

  • “You can be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.”
  • This can easily be reversed to, “You are so earthly minded that you are no heavenly good.”

 

Both ideas are true.  Heaven’s message lived down on earth. 

 

 “How lofty Hebrews 12?” 

 

  • On the home stretch, this chapter compares Israel’s trembling at Sinai with heaven’s grace through Christ’s blood.

 

  • Law versus Grace.

 

  • The finish?
    • God’s going to shake this world.
    • What is shakable versus what is not shakable.

 

  • What is left?
    • Everything not corrupted by sin.
    • You who are part of God’s kingdom.

 

“You are part of an unshakable kingdom, so what now?”

 

  • How are you supposed to live?
  • “Is this too pie in the sky?”

 

Chapter 13 takes a dramatic turn toward the practical.  Nowhere else in the NT shifts more dramatically.

 

“Let brotherly love continue” (v. 1). 

 

  • Love will always mark the Christian life.
  • Essential to Christian experience.

 

  • Christian love is essential, so we must know what it is.
    • Love is a fruit of the Spirit and without “love” we have “nothing” (cff. Gal. 5:22; 1 Cor. 13:1).
    • w/o Love, you have “Zero.”

 

Remember the message of 1 John? 

 

  • Love all based in sacrifice.
    • We are touched that God first loved us.
    • There is no greater love.

 

ESV  John 15:11-13 These things I have spoken to you, athat my joy may be in you, and that byour joy may be full. 12 a"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

13 aGreater love has no one than this, bthat someone lay down his life for his friends.

 

ESV  1 John 2:15-16 aDo not love the world or the things in the world. bIf anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16 For all that is in the world--athe desires of the flesh and bthe desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.17 And athe world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

 

 

ESV  1 John 4:7-12 Beloved, alet us love one another, for love is from God, and bwhoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 aAnyone who does not love does not know God, because bGod is love.

9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that aGod sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.10 In this is love, anot that we have loved God zbut that he loved us and sent his Son to be cthe propitiation for our sins.11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12 aNo one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and bhis love is perfected in us.

 

 

Our media world deeply influences how you think!  There is a violent and aggressive assault against Christian love.  A misconstrual of love.  Reshaped like puddy. 

 

  • Christian love cannot be reduced to lust.
  • Serendipity.  An experience. 
  • Happenstance. Personality meshing. 
  • Sacrifice.  Accommodation. 
  • Egalitarianism.  Pain-free living. Looking the other way. 

 

Love is based in truth.  We are called to speak truth in love.

 

  • Telling people the truth can hurt people.
  • Cause them to choose an exclusive path.

 

So we love people, we especially resonate with other believers.

 

  • This love is shed abroad in every believer’s heart (cf. Rom. 5:5).

 

Scripture has two primary loves.

  • Agape, an act of the will and sacrifice.
  • Philew, friendship based on affection.
  • Classical Greek, eros (romance); storge (empathy).

 

Verse 1 commands believers to “Let Philadelphia continue” - “Continue brotherly loving” (v. 1). 

  • Or, keep going. 
    • Here again is the application of the entire book (cf. Heb. 12:1-2).
    • Keeping running is synonymous to keep loving.

 

Love should always characterize Christians and God’s church. 

 

  • This was the case for the Thessalonians.

 

ESV  1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 Now concerning abrotherly love byou have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been ctaught by God dto love one another, 10 for that indeed is what ayou are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to bdo this more and more,

 

Most, relegate being loving to personality. 

 

  • Some are more naturally loving and others not.
  • It is actually not that simple.
    • Love is spiritual affection translating into action.
    • Love is like faith. Faith without works is dead. 

 

The author of Hebrews makes things utterly practical. 

 

“How do you know if you have this kind of love?” 

 

  • Four practical tests.
    • By specific actions.
    • Four pass/fail categories.
    • A cautionary

 

Love is the epitome of selflessness. 

 

Culture cries, “Be selfish!”  Christians fight to pass the test of love. 

Four actions of true affection 

 

Four ways love is tested

 

  1. Living the Mission

 

This first point might not appear obvious.  Understanding the timing of when this was written makes this straightforward.

 

“Hospitality” is the command not to neglect to show hospitality to strangers

 

  • This is ministry to people you may not have a prior relationship in need of a place to stay.
  • “Hospitality” in early church was missions.

 

More than just sharing resources.  When the church is persecuted, housing a believer invites persecution.  Someone being pursued?

 

Paul gives the same command in the application section of Romans. 

 

ESV  Romans 12:13 aContribute to the needs of the saints and bseek to show hospitality.

 

  • This too in the context of mission and specifically persecution.

 

My brother ministering in China.  Ping Pong set up while Secret Service was close by.  When gone the table became a Bible study.

 

It was being an open home to people that you take in to refresh them as they do God’s work.

 

  • In the Old Testament Rahab (cf. Hebrews 11:31) by faith gave a “friendly welcome to the spies.”
    • Common and need-based.
    • Lodging was expensive.

 

  • The environment is dangerous for Christians.

 

Modern hospitality sometimes called “southern hospitality” is opening your home for a visit.

  • Sharing your time and resources.
  • Friendship with people we know.

 

This is a step more.

 

  • Housing people who you often did not know.
  • “Strangers” trusted based on being part of Gospel work.

 

I do not assume a family should unwisely take people into their homes.

 

  • Placing their family, perhaps children at risk.
  • At the same time, the blessing comes when the home is used as a mission post.
  • A respite and refilling station.

 

Many of you regularly use your home or extra living quarters to bless missionaries. 

 

  • Doing so opens up new relationships; hearing stories connections.
    • Instead of this putting your children at risk, housing someone from different gospel outpost significantly broadens a child’s outlook.
    • Influence digs deep inside.

 

BTW – “World missions have not stopped – not been put on hold!”  Different for now – but not stopped.” 

 

3 John describes this:

 

ESV  3 John 1:5-8 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for athese brothers, bstrangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner aworthy of God.7 For they have gone out for the sake of athe name, baccepting nothing from the Gentiles.8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

 

 

“How is this Christian love?” 

 

  • You have to be tuned in to kingdom work.
  • The Holy Spirit shows you ways you are supposed to contribute to his mission.
  • “You see the need and meet the need.”

 

“Hospitality” is a mark of godly character. 

 

A qualification of an elder.

 

ESV  1 Timothy 3:2 Therefore aan overseer1 must be above reproach, bthe husband of one wife,2 csober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, dhospitable, eable to teach

 

ESV  Titus 1:7-8 For an overseer,1 aas God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not bbe arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent cor greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, aand disciplined.

 

A qualification of a “widow indeed” (cf. 1 Tim. 5:9-10).

 

ESV  1 Timothy 5:9-10 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been athe wife of one husband,1 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has ashown hospitality, bhas washed the feet of the saints, has ccared for the afflicted, and has ddevoted herself to every good work.

 

In this case, “hospitality” had to have happened proving godly character. 

 

  • “Washing feet” and “caring for the afflicted” are like categories.
    • Not going through the motions or obligatory work.
    • “devoted to every good work” (1 Tim. 5:10).

 

  • Opposite of self-indulgence, being carried away by your own passions.
  • Instead, this is a mindset on mission.

 

“What is this supposed to mean that ‘some have entertained angels unawares?” (v. 2). 

  • Affectionate, Christian love, will not let itself out the mission.

 

  • The connection of housing and feeding someone might seem non-experiential, non-sensational, in terms of God’s unshakable kingdom.

 

  • The author reminds of when Abraham and Lot showed hospitality.

 

Abraham and Sarah entertain angels in Genesis 18. 

Lot entertained angels in Genesis 19. 

 

  • Both of these accounts are very unique.

 

  • In both accounts, Abraham and Lot knew they were in the presence of something more than simple “strangers.”

 

ESV  Genesis 18:1-3 And the LORD appeared to him by the aoaks1 of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. aWhen he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth

3 and said, "O Lord,1 if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.

 

ESV  Genesis 19:1-3 The atwo angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth2 and said, "My lords, aplease turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night band wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way." They said, c"No; we will spend the night in the town square."3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

 

  • When you house someone: “You do not know how far-reaching the mission might be.”

 

Angels in the Bible when engaging people always took a male form, and always spoke in understandable language. 

 

  • [GRK] Aggelous means messenger.
    • As a child, I was taught this verse meant we might be talking to angels who are undercover.
    • Scripture does not convey angels as undercover but known.

 

  • I think it is far more important to see the supernatural impact of supplying the mission with normal, regular people passing through.     

 

This second pass/fail category might also not seem obvious in terms of Christian love.  Like the first, the bible’s context opens up its meaning.

 

 

  1. Identifying with those Mistreated

 

The point of verse 3 is association.

 

  • The early church was persecuted, though “not to the point of shedding…blood” (Heb. 12:4).

 

  • Two chapters earlier, this church was commended for showing compassion toward fellow believers in prison.

 

  • In Hebrews 10:32 this dynamic was called “…a hard struggle with sufferings” (cf. Heb. 10:32).

 

ESV  Hebrews 10:33-34 sometimes being apublicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For ayou had compassion on those in prison, and byou joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had ca better possession and an abiding one.

 

  • This kind of association is very stressful.

 

  • Believers pushed to the point of “throwing away their confidence” (Heb. 10:35).

 

This is ministry to the persecuted church. 

 

  • This point, like the last, makes this more like a sermon on missions than anything else.

 

Paul associated Timothy with his death sentence. Calling Timothy to a brave faith. 

 

ESV  2 Timothy 1:7…15-17 for God gave us aa spirit not of fear but bof power and love and self-control.

8 Therefore ado not be ashamed of bthe testimony about our Lord, nor of cme his prisoner, but dshare in suffering for the gospel by the power of God

 

  • Some fled this association while Onesiphorus did not.

 

15 You are aware that aall who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.16 May the Lord grant mercy to athe household of Onesiphorus, for he often brefreshed me and was not ashamed of cmy chains,17 but when he arrived in Rome ahe searched for me earnestly and found me--

 

  • Earlier under house arrest, he had friends come and go meeting his needs.
  • I think of Onesimus and Epaphras from the church at Colossae.

 

Then back to Paul’s final imprisonment, 

 

“…Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gon to Thessalonica…Luke alone is with me.  Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry” (2 Tim. 4:10-11). 

 

Visiting someone in prison for their faith is not an everyday thing in our world. 

 

  • Our world has been flipped seemingly overnight.
  • Any identification with Christianity will be increasingly countercultural.

 

Do not miss the motive for this necessary work in verse 3. 

 

  • When someone is in prison for their faith it for you must be “…as though in prison with them” and for anyone else “mistreated” (v. 3).
    • Why? “…since you are also in the body” (v. 3). 
    • You are literally [suvdedemenvoi] “bound together” with them.

 

  • “Love” puts you right in prison with them.
    • When someone is working through an abusive situation perhaps persecuted in their home for their faith.
    • Your heart is inside that home. You are bound to it.  This is what the heart does!

 

“How significant is it to possess this kind of Christian love?” 

 

This is the test of your soul.

 

  • Jesus preached this in his kingdom message from Matthew 25.

 

  • The end of the chapter pictures “the sheep and goat judgment.”

 

  • In the end, the saved and unsaved are divided for eternity.

 

ESV  Matthew 25:31-46 a"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, bthen he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him awill be gathered ball the nations, and che will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates dthe sheep from the goats.33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.34 Then athe King will say to bthose on his right, 'Come, you cwho are blessed by my Father, dinherit ethe kingdom fprepared for you gfrom the foundation of the world.35 For aI was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you bgave me drink, cI was a stranger and you welcomed me,36 aI was naked and you clothed me, dI was sick and you bvisited me, cI was in prison and you came to me.'37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'40 And athe King will answer them, b'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these cmy brothers,1 you did it to me.'41 "Then he will say to those on his left, a'Depart from me, you bcursed, into cthe eternal fire prepared for dthe devil and his angels.42 For aI was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'44 Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, ayou did not do it to me.'46 And these will go away ainto eternal punishment, but the righteous ainto beternal life."

 

  • Prison ministry can be very strategic.

 

  • I have heard of conversions and revivals happening where people devote themselves to full-time ministry and studying God’s Word.

 

  • Seminaries forming!

 

For Paul, prison was a definite theme and strategic for mission work. 

 

The minister was already in jail! 

 

ESV  Philippians 1:12-14 I want you to know, brothers,1 that what has happened to me has really aserved to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard1 and ato all the rest that bmy imprisonment is for Christ.14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold ato speak the word1 without fear.

 

ESV  Philippians 4:22 aAll the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.

 

Your associations are the pass/fail of Christian love – Actions of Affection.

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Series Information

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