Love Authentic?

Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 

1. Authentic love is rooted in truth.  

Jesus is talking about personal behavior not civil law. The teachers of Jesus's day wanted to hate their enemies; therefore, they added it to their teachings.  

44 But I (Jesus) say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 

2. Authentic love is radically different.  

The test of authentic love is when it's not returned.  Therefore, to love our neighbor, we must love our neighbor because our enemy and our neighbor might be the same person.  We must love people that we do not like.  

45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 

3. Authentic love goes beyond expectations.  

We must serve our enemies, pray for them, and die for them.  We do it to be like our Father in heaven and to be different from the world.  

Romans 5:10 (ESV)

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 

47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 

48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

4. Authentic love is only possible through Jesus.  

You can't do it by yourself.  

Galatians 2:20  (ESV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Darryl Craft, Whitesburg Baptist Church

http://www.whitesburgbaptist.org/connect/messages/authentic-love/