Luke chapter 6. I want to bring
you a message today from verse 27 of Luke 6 down through verse
38. Luke chapter 6 verse 27. I'm entitling the message from
what our Lord says and is teaching in verse 27. He says, but I say
unto you, which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which
hate you." Again he says in verse 35 of Luke 6, but love your enemies
and do them good. So we could entitle this message,
Love Your Enemies Or we could say, the way of love. The way of love. This is exactly
what the Lord has done for us. He loved. Whom did He love? He loved the unlovely, didn't
He? He laid down His life for us when we were yet sinners,
and we are told in bold, clear words to do likewise. Now hold your place there and
find Romans chapter 5. Let me make good on that statement.
How the Lord loved those who were ungodly, were unlovely. Romans chapter 5, turn there,
verse 6. For when we were yet without
strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for righteous men
will one die yet for adventure. For a good man, some would even
dare to die. But God commended his love toward
us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than being now justified
by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if
when we were enemies, We were enemies. We were reconciled to
God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we
shall be saved by His life. Now you turn back to Luke chapter
6, and I'll read this verse to you over here in 1 John 3 verse
16. The way of love. Hereby perceive we the love of
God, because he laid down his life for us, we ought to also
lay down our lives for the brethren." So we could rightly call this
message the way of love. But I have another title. Or
we could use this title, the way of grace. The way of grace. Notice verse 32 of Luke chapter
6. For if you love them which love
you, what thank have you? As I pointed out in the reading,
that word there is the exact same word that's given to other
places, grace. What grace have you? For sinners
also love those that love them. And if you do good to them which
do good to you, what grace have you? For sinners also do the
same. And if you lend to them of whom
you hope to receive, Grace have you. So we could also title this
message of our blessed Savior, The Way of Grace. The Way of
Grace. The Way of Grace. God saves sinners
by his sovereign, powerful, almighty, electing grace. Or we could use
this title. We could use this title, The
Way of Mercy. The Way of Love. The way of grace
and the way of mercy. Look at verse 36. Be ye therefore
merciful as your Father, your Heavenly Father. Notice that's
capital. Capital. Father also is merciful. So we could entitle the message
of our Lord here, the way of mercy, the way of mercy. Those
who enjoy the mercy of God and have experienced the mercy of
God in their heart also delight to show mercy to others, do they
not? So if we put all three together,
we see the essence of the gospel of Christ. It's the way of love. Here it is love, not that we
love God, but that He loved us, and that He laid down His life
for us. The way of grace, justified freely by His grace, the redemption
that is in the Lord Jesus Christ, and then the way of mercy. Not
by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to
His mercy. Mercy He has saved us, freely given to who? Undeserving sinners, such as
you, such as me. You see, the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ freely gives us all things. He freely blesses
us. We're justified freely by His
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. He spared
not His Son, but delivered Him up for us all. How shall He not
with Him also? Freely give us all things. God freely blesses us. Now, look at this word right
here in verse 27 in Luke chapter 6. But I say unto you which hear,
which hear the word of God. What a blessing it is to have
ears to hear the word of truth. Not only to hear it, but to receive
it, and to believe it, and to be obedient unto it, to hear
the word of God. Our Lord said in Matthew 13,
blessed are your eyes for they see. What do we see? What does
the eye of faith see? We see Christ. Blessed are your
ears for they hear. What do they hear? They hear
of Him who is altogether lovely. Now, again the Lord is not teaching
how sinners are justified. Now did you get that? He is not
teaching us here how sinners are justified. He is not teaching
us how to earn or merit salvation by our doing. That would be totally
contrary by the deed that the law shall no flesh be justified
in his sight. But rather he is showing us and
teaching us how those who were justified by His grace, made
new creatures in the Lord Jesus Christ, desire in their heart
to live among men for the glory of God, for the furtherance of
the gospel. You see, this love of Christ
that's manifested in our heart by God the Holy Spirit, this
love of Christ that's given unto us in the new birth, and in regeneration. It compels us, it constrains
us, it motivates the believer to obedience to the Word of God.
We love Him because He first loved us. Now this is the same
lesson that is taught in the book of Romans and in many other
places in the Word of God. I want you to hold your place
here and find Romans chapter 12. Now there's not a stronger
book in all the Word of God that teaches that sinners are justified
by grace in Christ alone, in the book of Romans. But notice
in Romans chapter 12, he almost word for word repeats the sermon
that the Lord here preaches to his disciples. Romans chapter
12, look at verse 9. with brotherly love, in honor
preferring one another, not slothful in business, fervent in spirit,
serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,
continuing instant in prayer, distributing to the necessity
of the saints, giving to hospitality." Now look at verse 14. Isn't this
saying the exact same words? You see, it's from the exact
same Lord. Bless them which persecute you,
bless and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice,
and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind toward one
another. Mind not the high thing, but
condescend. Get off your high horse to men
of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits,
your own thoughts. Reckon with no man evil for evil. Now that's what the old nature
wants to do. The old nature wants to strike
back. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest
in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as
life within you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved,
avenge not yourself, but rather give place unto wrath. For as
written, vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay. Therefore,
if your enemy hunger, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink.
Now we can look at this naturally and spiritually too. If he's
hungry, give him the gospel, give him the bread of life. For
in so doing so, for in doing so, thou shalt heap coals of
fire upon his head. Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with that which is good, that which is right. Love, back to Luke 6. Love your
enemies. Love is one of the identifying
marks of a believer. Turn to John chapter 13. By this
shall all men know that you're my disciples, that you love one
another. In John 13, 34. A new commandment I give unto
you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye
love also one another. By this shall all men know that
you are my disciples." John says in another place, we know we
pass from death unto life because we love the brethren. As we just
read in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, without this love, the love
of God that's manifested in our heart, Without this love manifested
in our heart, we are nothing before God. Notice these words
that I read earlier, and I'll just read them to you again,
1 Corinthians 13. Though I speak with the tongue
of men of angels and have not love, I'm nothing. Though I have
the gift of all prophecy and understand all mysteries, though
I have all faith, so I could remove mountains and have not
love, I'm nothing. And though I bestow all my goods
to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and
have not love, it profits me nothing." You see, the man without
this love of God manifest and given to his heart is a man without
Christ in his heart. Love suffereth long in his kind. Love beareth all things. Love
never fails. Now, look back to Luke chapter
6. The first thing I want to point
out in verse 27 down to verse 30 of Luke 6, here we see the
character of love, or the manner of love, or we could put it this
way, the rule of love. You want a rule to live by? Okay,
here it is. But I say unto you, which here
love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them
that curse you, pray for them which despitefully use you, and
to him that would smite you on the cheek, offer also the other, and him
that taketh away your cloak, forbid not to let him
have your coat. Give to every man that asketh
of thee, and him that taketh away thy goods, Ask them not
again. This is the character of love. Now this love that's talked about
here can only be expected from those that have the love of God
given to them in the new birth and in regeneration. For the
fruit of the Spirit is what? Remember Galatians chapter 5? The fruit of the Spirit is Love,
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, kindness, faith. That's the fruit of the Spirit.
Now these things they're talking about here in these verses, these
things are totally contrary to the way of the flesh. The way
of the flesh doesn't want to forgive the enemy. The way of
the flesh doesn't want to love or pray for your enemy. The way
of the flesh was to strike back and to get even. But our love
toward others should always be like our Lord's love toward us. Unselfish, impartial, expecting
nothing in return, long-suffering, gentle, kind toward those who
are undeserving and those who are unlovely. And I give you
the example of our blessed Lord. Turn to this scripture, 1 Peter
chapter 2. When the Lord was arrested before
His crucifixion, and He went through those trials of cruel
mocking, when they hit Him upon the face and plucked out His
beard, did He strike back? No, He submitted patiently unto
that. Notice in 1 Peter chapter 2,
now this is a way of love, this is a way of grace, this is a
way of mercy. For what glory is it if you be
buffeted for your faults, First Peter 2.20, you shall take it
patiently, but if when you do well and suffer for it and take
it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even here unto
were you called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving
us an example, that you should follow his steps. When they crucified
him upon the cross, you remember what he prayed? Father, forgive
them. who did no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, reviled not again
when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to
him that judged it righteously, who his own self bare our sins
and his own body on the tree, that being dead to sin we should
live unto righteousness by whose stripes you were healed, Well,
we were a sheep going astray, but now are returned unto the
shepherd and bishop of our soul. Why? Because he loved us, and
because he came to seek and to save that which is lost. Love beareth all things, believeth
all things, hopeth all things. Love is kind, and love never
fails. Now, this love is not a condition
to be met. Now listen carefully. This love
is not a condition to be met in order to receive salvation,
but rather is the result of God's saving grace freely given unto
us. This love is the sure mark and
evidence of saving union with Christ, for Christ in you is
the hope of glory. This love is the gift of God
given unto His people. Where this love is absent, Grace
is absent. The Holy Spirit is absent. Those
born of God have this ruling principle in their heart. Turn to 1 John chapter 5. 1 John
chapter 5. Now, don't be discouraged. We
don't have this gift of His love in perfection. This sinner falls so far short
of loving anybody but myself. But our Lord says here, to love
one another. Notice in 1st John chapter 5,
it is the fruit of the new birth, the fruit of the Spirit, whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone
that loveth him that beget loveth him also that is begotten of
him. Beloved, look back at 1st John
4, Verse 7, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God.
And everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that
loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love. And this was manifested in the
love of God toward us. because that God sent his only
begotten son into the world that we might live through him. Here
is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us, sent his
son to be the propitiation, the sacrifice for our sin. Beloved,
if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. That is the blessed rule of love. Of all the gifts that are given
in salvation, this is the greatest. Now think with me. We read that
a moment ago. Of all the gifts that are given, this is the greatest.
Other gifts will end. All other graces will cease. Faith will end in sight. Hope
will end in reality. But love will go on forever and
ever. That's why he said, The greatest
of these, faith, hope, and love, the greatest of these is love. Love just grows on and on and
on throughout all eternity. That is the manner of this kind
of love. And it is totally contrary to
the way of the flesh. Totally contrary. Now here's
the second thing. The blessed rule of grace. Now, in Luke chapter 6, Luke
verse 31, this is known as the golden rule. All of you have
heard that, the golden rule. But as you would that men should
do unto you, do you also unto them. This is the rule of grace. For if you love them that love
you, what grace have you? For sinners
also love those that love them. And if you do good to them which
do good to you, what grace have you? For sinners also do the
same. And if you lend to them of whom
you hope to receive, what grace have you? For sinners also lend
to sinners which receive much again. Now the golden rule of
grace is not the rule of this ungodly world. This ungodly world
is to get even while you have time. That is, do unto them before
they do unto you, rather than do unto them as you would have
them do unto you. But the golden rule of grace,
the golden rule of God's love, is to love one another and to
be gracious to one another. This is what the Apostle James
called the royal law of love. Loving our neighbors as ourselves. Now work on that in a while.
Apart from His mighty grace and apart from His love, absolutely
impossible. And we don't do these things
to perfection, but the Lord instructs us by His grace to love one another. This is attitude of God's grace
manifested in the heart as the Lord has been gracious to us.
Now here's what He's teaching. As the Lord has been gracious
unto us, Let us likewise be gracious unto others. God has given us
of His grace, of His love. How can we be mean, harsh, and
cruel to others when God has blessed us so abundantly? Well,
someone might say this, well, that bird, that jaybird, he sure
didn't deserve grace. Did you ever deserve grace? No,
sir. God shows grace to those who
were ungodly. None of us deserve any grace
at all from the hand of God, yet He shows us grace. As the Lord has been gracious
to us, our desire in our heart should be gracious and to be
gracious toward others. As the Lord has blessed us, it's
our desire in our heart to bless and to be gracious to others. We read in 1 Peter chapter 5,
that the God of all grace had given us all things. And you
know what? The God of all grace causes us
in our heart to be gracious unto others in our heart. Now look
at verse 35. Again, he says in Luke 6, 35,
love your enemies. Do good and lend, hoping for
nothing again, and your reward, again it's singular, shall be
great. For you shall be the children of the Highest, for He is kind
unto the unthankful and unto those who are evil." Now, hold
your place there and find Matthew chapter 5. He is kind and gracious
to those who are unthankful. and to those who are evil. It
says over here in Matthew chapter 5 verse 43. Matthew 5 verse 43. You have
heard that it had been said thou shalt love thy neighbor, but
hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Verse 44,
love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, pray for them which despitefully use you and
that would persecute you, that you may be the children of your
father, which is in heaven. For he maketh his son to rise
on the evil and the good. He sends rain upon the just and
the unjust. For if you love them which love
you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans the
same? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more
than others? Do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven
is perfect. Now I know the reality of that
is only in Christ. perfect, complete. In Him dwells
all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in Christ you stand
complete. He says here, your reward shall
be great, in verse 35. The Lord Jesus Christ is our
exceeding great reward, and again, it's not the reward of merit,
but rather the reward of grace. Love and grace are a reward in themselves, for
it is more blessed to give than to receive." Look back at Luke
6, 23, talking about the reward we have in Christ. Rejoice in that day, and leap
for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in like
manner did their fathers unto the prophets. You shall be called
children of the highest, For He is kind unto the unthankful
and unto wicked men. The Lord sends rain from heaven
upon the crops of the believers and upon the unbelievers. And you shall be called or manifested
as children of the highest. You remember from our study in
1 John 3, Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed
upon us, that we should be called sons of God It's only by His
grace. Now here's the third rule, verse
36. Talked about the blessed rule
of love, the blessed rule of grace. Now here's the blessed
rule of mercy, verse 36. Be ye therefore merciful, as
your Father in heaven is merciful. Be ye merciful, be ye merciful. Now His mercy toward us, is unlimited,
so let ours likewise be unlimited. The God of all mercy has merciful
children, as the God of all grace has gracious children. Now again,
this is not what we have by nature, but by His grace. He makes us
gracious and kind to others and merciful to others. By the grace of God, we are what
we are. Now be ye therefore merciful,
as your Father is also merciful. Now look at verse 37. Luke 6,
verse 37. Judge not, and you shall not
be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not
be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. Forgive. Judge not, and you shall
not be judged." Now, the Lord uses the same language over in
Matthew chapter 7. Now, does this mean that we're
to make no judgments at all? No, not at all, because we read
in John 7.24, He said, "...judge not according to appearance,
but judge rather a righteous judgment." Now, we better make
some judgments according... But here's what he's saying.
The standard of judgment is not ourselves. We are not the standard
of judgment. In other words, let us not set
ourselves as a standard of judgment, as a standard of righteousness.
That's exactly what the Pharisee did in the temple, didn't he?
Lord, I thank You I'm not like other men are. And He condemned
and judged everyone else based upon how good He thought He was. Let us never have that judgmental
spirit. Let us always be kind and generous
and let us think the best. But rather let us judge all things
by the Word of the Lord and submit unto the Judge of all the earth. You remember what Abraham said,
shall not the judge of all the earth do right? So judge not. You see, it's not our business
in regard to judge who is saved or who is lost. Turn over here
to, God will take care of those things in due time. Turn to the
book of Hebrews chapter 10. Here's what I'm trying to teach you, the Lord
is the ultimate judge of all things. Hebrews chapter 10, look at verse
30, For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto
me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, the Lord
shall judge his people. Now do I need to sit in judgment
on you? and condemn you because I think I'm somebody special?
Absolutely not. The Lord shall judge his people.
It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living
God. Now turn to John chapter 5. John chapter 5. You see, all
judgment has been committed unto the Son. John chapter 5. That's
what he says. We don't need to be going about
judging people. the Lord will take care of those
things. Now the judgment that we do make according to the Word
of the Lord and things that are contrary to the Word of the Lord,
we are to make a judgment there. John chapter 5, look at verse
21, for as the Father raises up the dead and quickeneth them,
even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. The Father judges no
man, but have committed all judgment unto the Son, that all men should
honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth
not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him."
All judgments committed unto the Son. Now look back to the
text. Luke chapter 6. Condemn not, and you shall not
be condemned. There is in Christ right now
for every believer resting in Him, no condemnation to those
who are in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us not condemn
one another, but rather let us pray for one another, forgive
one another, help one another. And then he says here lastly
in that verse, forgive and you shall be forgiven. Forgive and
you shall be forgiven. Now listen carefully. We do not
merit forgiveness from God by forgiving others, we only have
forgiveness by the blood and righteousness of Christ. But
those who are forgiven delight to forgive others who have sinned
against us. Our Lord says this in Ephesians
chapter 4, we are to love one another and to forgive one another,
even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven us. Our Lord says
this in Matthew 6, But if you forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Now what is
that teaching? That means that man who has such
a harsh, hard spirit that is unforgiving, is only demonstrating
that He has not been forgiven Himself. Now, we don't merit
forgiveness from God by forgiving, but those who are forgiven by
the blood atonement of Christ, they are forgiving of others
who have sinned against us. Now, think about this. How often
should we forgive others? Peter said this. Turn to Matthew
18. Peter asked this question, Lord,
how often should I forgive my brother that would sin against
me? And he said, well, I'm going
to be generous. I'm going to forgive my brother
seven times. Well, that's pretty generous,
Peter. Matthew 18, verse 21. Then came Peter to him and said,
Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive
him? Tell seven times? What did the Lord say? But I
say unto thee, until seven times, not unto thee seven times, but
until seventy times seven. That is, as often as he sins
against you, forgive him, forgive him. The Apostle Paul put it
this way, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in fault, you which
are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering
thyself, lest you also be tempted, bearing one another's burden,
and so fulfill the law of Christ, to love one another and to forgive
one another. Give, it says, look back to the
text, verse 38, Give and it shall be given to you, good measure,
pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall men give
into your bosom. For with the same measure that
you meet, it shall be measured to you again. Remember, it is
more blessed to give than to receive, as the Lord has so freely
and abundantly given unto us all spiritual blessings, Likewise,
let us be generous and giving to others. The Lord loveth a
cheerful giver. Now, oh, may God give us grace
in our hearts to love one another and to forgive one another, to
be merciful to one another, to be long-suffering toward one
another. May he cause us to grow in faith,
in love, to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ. And may all this, may all this
be done unto the honor and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now I want you to find in closing
these things we know, turn to Ephesians chapter 4. What the
Lord is teaching us here is the same lesson that the Apostle
Paul is teaching here, given by the same Spirit of God. With
men these things are impossible, but with God all things are possible. Notice, if you will, Ephesians
chapter 4 verse 21. Two more readings and I'll be
through. Ephesians 4.21, but I want you to see these things.
If so, be that you've heard Him and have been taught by Him,
as the truth is in the Lord Jesus Christ, put off concerning the
former conversation, that old man, that old corrupt nature,
which is corrupt according to the deceitful lot, and be renewed
in the spirit of your mind. that ye put on the new man, which
after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore,
putting away lying, speak every man the truth with his neighbor,
for we are members one another. Be ye angry, sin not. Let not the sun go down upon
your wrath, neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole
steal no more, but rather let him labor with his hands the
things which are good, working with his hands, that he may have
to give to him that is in need. Now, one other reading, I want
you to see this one. Colossians chapter 3, put off
the old man with his deeds. And this is what the lesson is
here. In Colossians chapter 3, notice verse 8, but now, Colossians
3, 8, But now you also put up all these anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one
to another, since you put off the old man with his deeds."
We have to keep putting him off, starve him out. "...and have
put on a new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image
of him that created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew,
circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian nor scythian, bond
nor free, but Christ is all and in all, put on therefore as the
elect of God, holy, beloved bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness
of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, forgiving
one another. If any man have a quarrel against
any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. Above all these things put on
love, which is the bond of perfectness. Let the peace of God rule in
your heart, to which you also call in one body, and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom, teaching, admonishing one another
with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in
your hearts to the Lord. Verse 17, and whatsoever you
do in word or deed, do all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
giving thanks to God and the Father by Him, by Him. God help us to put off this old
man with his deeds and to indeed forgive one another, to love
one another, to be merciful to one another, not to earn salvation. but rather because you've been
given salvation in Christ Jesus. Okay.