THE KING’S BUSINESS
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sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others. He laid down His life for us. There is no greater love than that possible. Some one may say that it is a greater love to lay down our life for our enemies than it is for our friends. No, it is the same measure of love manifested in another direction, a more remarkable direction, but not greater love. The sacrifice of self is the utmost limit to which love can go, whether it be love for a friend or love for an enemy. Christ did lay down His life for His enemies (Rom. 5: 8 , 10). * OUTLINE What should measure our love? v. 12. How much does Christ love? v. 9. How much does God love Him ? 3 :35. How does love rink as fruit? 1 Cor. 13:13. What is the highest proof of love? v. 13. What is the “fruit of the vine?” Matt. 26:29. What the effect of such wine? v. 11. What promise seals and realizes all? v. 7. What is the condition of “getting things from God?” v. 7. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) The sun ripens the fruit when the leaves are clipped. (2) - There is one and the same life in Vine and branches. (3) No life—no fruit; some life—some fruit; more life—more fruit; abun dant life—much fruit. (4) The cuttings are better off, than on. (5) The branches are useless wood, if fruitless. ( 6 ) The Word is the sword which severs the branch. (7) If we abide in Him, He will provide for us. ( 8 ) The climax of love is the crucifixion of life. (9) The joy of the Lord is the strength of the soul.
vs. 12, 13. "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” The secret of loving one another is abiding in Jesus, for He is love. And as one all-inclusive commandment is that we love one another, His love to us is the standard of measure of our love to one another. This goes beyond the Old Testa ment commandment that we love our neighbors as ourselves, for Jesus loved us more than He loved Himself, He sacri ficed Himself for our sake, and we should LESSON ( 1 ) T he C ulture of th e Branches, vs. 1-3. How do we become branches? Rom. 11:17. How are the branches cultivated? v. 2; 17:17; Luke 13:8; Heb. 12:6. What is the normal development of the branches ? 2 Peter 3 :18. Should the branches resemble the Vine? Phil. 2:5-7. Why are some branches fruitless? 1 John 5 :12. What is the fate of such? 1 Cor. 3:11- 15. (2 ) The Conditions of Bearing, vs. 4-8. What is the vital conditiont 1 John 2:28. What is the pivotal word here? How may we know we abide? 1 John 3:24. . Why does fruit depend on abiding? Col. 3:3. What, primarily, is fruit? Phil. 1:20. What, secondarily, is involved? Gat. 5:22, 23. What, finally, results? Titus 3:8. Are ‘in the church” and “in Me” equiv alent? Phil. 3:18. (3 ) T he Comm andment to th e B rethren, vs. 9-14. What is His commandment? v. 12. Of what is brotherly love a sign ? 1 John 4 :7.
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