Genuine Love, pt. 5

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.

John 15:13 (ESV)

Here we find ourselves once again at the notion that genuine love means laying down our life, not for ourselves but for others. In part 3 of this series, we looked at 1 John 3:16. That verse showed us where our knowledge of love and our ability to love come from, the fact that Jesus laid down His life for us and by that we now know love.

Laying down our lives does not necessarily result in laying down our lives unto death, but that might be the result of laying it down. For what purpose are we laying down our lives? The gospel of Jesus Christ, whether that means sharing it or making sure others live lives worthy of it.

What does it look like to lay down a life?

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Luke 9:23-26 (ESV)

Laying down our lives for our friends means that we:

1. Deny ourselves.
2. Take up our cross and follow Jesus.
3. Die to the world and not pursue any of its wealth (not just money).
4. Are not ashamed of the gospel.

No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

Luke 9:62 (ESV)

Like Paul in Philippians 3, we must strain and press on towards the goal. We must press on by dying to ourselves and laying down our lives for the gospel. If we do this (seek the gospel and its futherance) for the sake of others, we cannot have a greater (or more genuine) love for them.