![\"Unconditional](\"http:\/\/www.all-creatures.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/lambleft.jpg\")
<\/a>A Sermon Delivered to
\nThe Compassion Internet Church<\/p>\n
10 May 2015<\/p>\n
Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor<\/p>\n
Scripture References:<\/p>\n
Matthew 23:37
\nJohn 15:9-17
\nActs 10:44-48
\n1 John 5:1-6<\/p>\n
Unconditional love and Mother\u2019s Day spiritually tie together, for the true connection is united in the unconditional love that comes from heaven.<\/p>\n
At birth, or perhaps even before, God has instilled in each and every one of us the ability to receive and share His unconditional love, and this is particularly true when it comes to a mother\u2019s love for her baby.<\/p>\n
And, we see this same kind of love in animals, which is one of the reasons that Jesus used the example of a mother hen in Matthew 23:37\u2026<\/p>\n
37. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
\nNASB<\/p>\n
This example shows the unconditional love of a mother hen for her children, but Jesus is telling us that this same kind of love is to be expressed toward God and the whole of creation (humans, animals, and the environment in which we all live).<\/p>\n
In John 15:9-17, Jesus tells us how this unconditional love ties together with following the Lord\u2019s teachings and commandments.<\/p>\n
9. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.<\/p>\n
If we truly abide in God\u2019s love, then our own love will extend to the whole of creation, and we will do every peaceful thing we can do to eliminate all human caused pain, suffering, and death that is inflicted upon millions of human beings and billions of animals every year.<\/p>\n
Simply put, this means that we will no longer eat, wear, or use any animal products, and we will lovingly and peacefully encourage other people to do the same thing.<\/p>\n
10. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.<\/p>\n
It is very important for all of us to understand that Jesus considers keeping and acting upon His commandments to be part of His love for us, and our love for Him and the whole of creation.<\/p>\n
We cannot separate following Jesus\u2019 teachings from heavenly unconditional love.<\/p>\n
11. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.<\/p>\n
Jesus is telling us that when we have unconditional love and follow His teachings, we will have the joy of the Lord within us.<\/p>\n
12. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.<\/p>\n
13. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.<\/p>\n
And, we are to include every human being and animal to be our friends in this context.<\/p>\n
We are to help free creation from its present corruption and restore God\u2019s peace and joy to this world.<\/p>\n
14. “You are My friends, if you do what I command you.<\/p>\n
Note the way Jesus considers friendship with us to be conditioned upon our following His teachings and commandments.<\/p>\n
We cannot have friendship with Jesus even if we say we believe, and still live in the corrupt ways of this world with all its pain, suffering, bloodshed, and death.<\/p>\n
Following Jesus means that we must turn away from the corrupt and evil ways of the world, and live in the heavenly will of God.<\/p>\n
15. “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.<\/p>\n
We should also remember that people like Francis of Assisi also referred to animals as his friends and brothers and sisters.<\/p>\n
16. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.<\/p>\n
17. “This I command you, that you love one another.
\nNASB<\/p>\n
Unconditional love will free us from the corrupt and evil ways of this world and usher us into the kingdom of heaven.<\/p>\n
This same kind of unconditional love is expressed in Acts 10:44-48 in the way God sends forth His Holy Spirit to help us separate ourselves from the corrupt ways of this world.<\/p>\n
44. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.<\/p>\n
45. And all the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also.<\/p>\n
\u201cCircumcised believers\u201d is a Biblical way of saying Jewish believers.<\/p>\n
This also shows that God is reaching out to every single person in the whole world, and not just Christians and Jews.<\/p>\n
The Lord wants everyone to repent and come to the glory of God.<\/p>\n
46. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,<\/p>\n
47. “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”<\/p>\n
This shows us that we cannot consider our religious rituals as only belonging to us; they are there to encourage others in the world around us.<\/p>\n
48. And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
\nNASB<\/p>\n
In 1 John 5:1-6, we see even more about the connection between unconditional love and following the commandments and teachings of the Lord.<\/p>\n
1. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.<\/p>\n
2. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.<\/p>\n
Note how John is tying unconditional love and following God\u2019s commandments together.<\/p>\n
3. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.<\/p>\n
When we are truly filled with God\u2019s unconditional love, following His commandments and the teachings of Jesus is really a joy.<\/p>\n
4. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world \u2014 our faith.<\/p>\n
Note carefully what we are told here: that if we are born of God or born again, then we will also have overcome the ungodly ways of this world with all its human caused pain, suffering and death.<\/p>\n
This should happen naturally if we allow it, instead of giving into the peer pressure of those who say they believe but still live in the ways of the world, and this includes members of the clergy.<\/p>\n
5. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?<\/p>\n
This is correct, but we cannot forget that we are also told that this includes following His teachings and commandments, for it is all part of the unconditional love we receive from heaven, and that we are to extend to every other living being.<\/p>\n
6. This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.
\nNASB<\/p>\n
In other words, Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit and His human mother, Mary.<\/p>\n
Mary\u2019s love for her Son is another example of God\u2019s heavenly and unconditional love.<\/p>\n
This is another example of how unconditional love and Mother\u2019s Day tie together, and it should be an encouragement to all of us to fill ourselves with this unconditional love and share it with the world around us.<\/p>\n
Sharing God\u2019s unconditional love is something we can never run out of, for the more we share it, the more we seem to receive.<\/p>\n
Love one another, whether human or animal, as the Lord loves us.<\/p>\n
Amen.<\/p>\n
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