Grace Fellowship Grace Fellowship ChurchChurch

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Thursday, Thursday, August 5, 2010August 5, 2010

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

DoxologyDoxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Amen.Amen.

Memory VerseMemory Verse

John 15:13, John 15:13, “Greater love has no one “Greater love has no one

than this, that one lay down than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”his life for his friends.”

John 15:12-14John 15:12-14

Impersonal Love Impersonal Love Motivates Divine Good Motivates Divine Good

Production!Production!

The Doctrine of Laying The Doctrine of Laying Down your Life for your Down your Life for your

Friends.Friends.

1 John 4:7-12, 18-21; 5:1-31 John 4:7-12, 18-21; 5:1-3

1. Definition:1. Definition:Jesus is comparing all realms Jesus is comparing all realms of love to the love that is self of love to the love that is self sacrificial for the benefit of sacrificial for the benefit of

our fellow believers our fellow believers (whether they are current or (whether they are current or

future believers). future believers).

There is no greater love in There is no greater love in the entire universe than the entire universe than that AGAPE love which that AGAPE love which

puts others first and puts others first and ourselves second.ourselves second.

1 John 3:16, 1 John 3:16, “We know love by this, “We know love by this,

that He laid down His life that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay for us; and we ought to lay

down our lives for the down our lives for the brethren.”brethren.”

a. “Laying down your life” a. “Laying down your life” is in the Aorist tense, is in the Aorist tense,

which views the entirety of which views the entirety of the action.the action.

b. Therefore, it means b. Therefore, it means suffering martyrdom for suffering martyrdom for

the sake of fellow the sake of fellow believers, as one aspect. believers, as one aspect.

Rev 6:9; 20:4Rev 6:9; 20:4

c. It is also the day to day c. It is also the day to day carrying of your Cross for carrying of your Cross for

the benefit of others.the benefit of others.

Luke 9:23-24; Gal 5:24-25Luke 9:23-24; Gal 5:24-25

Gal 5:24-25, Gal 5:24-25, “Now those who belong to “Now those who belong to

Christ Jesus have crucified the Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the desires. If we live by the

Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”Spirit.”

d. It is the day to day self d. It is the day to day self sacrificial AGAPE love for sacrificial AGAPE love for

the benefit of loved ones the benefit of loved ones (fellow believers current (fellow believers current

and future).and future).

e. Whether we are e. Whether we are witnessing the gospel or witnessing the gospel or

serving our fellow believers, serving our fellow believers, we are laying down our lives we are laying down our lives

for their spiritual benefit, for their spiritual benefit, whatever it may be. whatever it may be.

Gal 6:9-10Gal 6:9-10

2. Believers have received 2. Believers have received at least one spiritual gift at least one spiritual gift

at the moment of our at the moment of our salvation, which should salvation, which should be applied in the service be applied in the service

of God every day. of God every day.

As you learn what your gift As you learn what your gift is and apply it on a is and apply it on a

consistent basis, you are consistent basis, you are fulfilling the command of fulfilling the command of

John 15:12-14.John 15:12-14.

a. How so? a. How so?

a. How so?a. How so?

Because there are many Because there are many other things you could be other things you could be

doing with your life. doing with your life.

When you put those things When you put those things aside to serve God, you are aside to serve God, you are

sacrificing those “other sacrificing those “other things” of your life, you are things” of your life, you are

sacrificing your life. sacrificing your life. 1 Cor 12:4-7, 12-21; 13:1-7; 1 Cor 12:4-7, 12-21; 13:1-7;

Gal 5:22-23Gal 5:22-23

Gal 5:22, Gal 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things control; against such things

there is no law.there is no law.

3. Scripture provides 3. Scripture provides detail as to what “laying detail as to what “laying down your life” entails. down your life” entails.

There are two aspectsThere are two aspects, , a) your mental attitude, and a) your mental attitude, and

b) your actions:b) your actions:

1 John 3:23, 1 John 3:23, “This is His commandment, “This is His commandment, that we believe in the name that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He love one another, just as He

commanded us.”commanded us.”

1 John 3:18, 1 John 3:18, “Little children, let us not “Little children, let us not

love with word or with love with word or with tongue, but in deed and tongue, but in deed and

truth (Bible doctrine truth (Bible doctrine resident in your soul).”resident in your soul).”

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

Thursday, August 5, 2010Thursday, August 5, 2010

Tape # 10-084Tape # 10-084

Impersonal Love Motivates Impersonal Love Motivates Divine Good ProductionDivine Good Production

Upper Room Discourse, Part 398Upper Room Discourse, Part 398

John 15:13-14; Rom 13:8-14; 1 Peter 3:8-12 John 15:13-14; Rom 13:8-14; 1 Peter 3:8-12 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010