We didn't have life before. We were cut off from God, dead in sin, and we followed the world. We didn't know holiness, righteousness, and love. We were motivated by self, rather than God's glory. We were ruled by Satan, under the masquerade of self autonomy. We were slaves of sin.

Now, we are free. Now, we have life. Now, we are people who love. 1 John 4:7 - "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." We know God through forgiveness, and we know peace by the Spirit. We know what it's like to talk to God and walk with him. We know the truth, and deny ourselves.

All of this is because of Christ. He took the wages of sin, and rendered the obedience that makes us blessed. Romans 5:19 - "For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous." Ours is a life of faith. Trusting the Son, we receive peace with God and power over sin. He helps us obey and live for God's glory by forgiving one another, and being gracious. Ephesians 4:32 - "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." He gives us humility - not slavish fear and unbelief - and he makes us serve others sincerely. He conforms us into Christ's image, and we walk as sons, going about to do good, because God is with us.

Thank God for this grace, and live this new life fully. Do not draw back or be ashamed. We have nothing to fear. We choose righteousness. Do not be ashamed. Choose truth and love.

Many cannot understand, but I never see Jesus seeking human approval. He did his Father's will and pleased God. By him, we have this good relationship with the Father, and spiritual life. He will work in us. Let us trust him, seek his will, and live upon his strength. He is our constant power source to do what is right. Live, because you have life. Do good, because God loves you. Christ has taken away your sins, and you are like him now. Increasingly grow into the life that's in you.

Secondly, love each other. 1 John 4:11, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Too much of our life is using people. We want them to serve us - to meet our need for glory and to cover our shame.

We must recognize that Christ's atonement gives us peace with God. 1 John 4:10 - "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." He's removed the nakedness. We are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, the love of God, and God's favor is upon us. He sees us through the Son, and loves us immensely. There's no lack in our total acceptance.

Therefore, love, because you have all things. John 13:3-5, "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him." Do good, because God's goodness comes to you. Your Father sees your good works, and you have fellowship with him who supplies your needs. We're free from using people. We can serve, love, and thank God for others. We don't need to be better than someone else to be content: we have Christ and peace ourselves. We are free! Galatians 5:13 - "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Do you want to enjoy the Spirit's power? Love people. Do them good, as led by the Scriptures and the Spirit. Do what is best for others.

Selflessness is rewarded. Kindness is noted. Gentleness is strong, and forgiveness is ennobling! We have a new life to live where self is not the center; it's blessed by God and honoring to us. It's the way that Jesus lived - the Most Beautiful Person in the world, and the greatest Do Gooder. This life has nothing to be ashamed of, so let’s embrace it!

Thirdly, stay in love. 1 John 4:16, “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

This is the key of the Christian life - this new life that we have received, this abundant life that Jesus promised us: Keep on believing that God loves you, and love people.

Flee from every need to prove yourself before the Father. Colossians 2:10 - "and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." You're accepted by faith in Christ putting away sin and his love for you… His complete sufficiency for every spiritual and eternal blessing. Christ's completeness secures you. There can be no deficiency before the Father, unless Christ is insufficient, and that cannot be! He gave up his life upon the cross, suffered God's hatred of sin and punishment, so that we could be blessed. This fulfilled the obligations of the covenant. It is finished, God is satisfied, and we lack nothing to be fully blessed. Christ's work is enough, and the Father's attitude towards us is love!

Likewise, keep on loving others. Go to the Father for strength. Arise from the ashes of self service. Cleanse the dung of using people. Replace insincerity with genuineness. Confess your faults humbly. Know that God loves to help us love people. He'll meet us here by his Spirit, and bless us in our deeds. James 1:25 - "But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Put away the, “I'm saved to serve me,” mentality. Bring others to Jesus. This is the greatest thing we can do - love people, so they can know Christ. It's more than “evangelism and preaching.” It's love based, rather than self serving activity and adding numbers. It's a heart like Jesus Christ.