The Power and Proof of a Real Church "IF We Love One Another"

"IF We Love One Another": The Power and Proof of a Real Church

Aron Osborne

8/17/2025

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 Introduction: The Power of IF

Growing up, there was a small word in my house that held a lot of power—"if."

IF your room is clean... IF your chores are done... IF I check your homework...

That little word shaped everything about how the day would go. It created either freedom or frustration, joy or delay. And it still does.

Because Jesus gives us a command that turns on the same word:

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, IF you love one another.” (John 13:35)

That “if” is doing a lot of work.

It means our witness is not automatic. It’s conditional.

It’s not just about what we believe—it’s about how we love.

The world will know Jesus is truly our Master and Teacher (not only Savior)... IF we love one another.

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Why This Message?

Now I’ll be honest—this message might feel basic. Like Christianity 101.

But sometimes the most important truths are the ones we stop noticing. Not because they aren’t true anymore, but because we assume we’ve already mastered them.

Jesus said love is not just our duty—it’s our evidence. Not:

• If you go to church,
• If you know good doctrine,
• If you love God (as vital as that is),

But IF you love one another.

Let’s look deeper at this foundational command.

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A New Command for a New People

This moment in John 13 is sacred. Jesus has just washed the disciples’ feet. Judas has left to betray Him. He’s preparing His closest followers for life without His physical presence.  A few points of theological significance before the “new” command:

“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” – John 13:1

• After 12 chapters of narrating Jesus’ public ministry, John begins in chapter 13 to narrate the final events of Jesus’ earthly life.
• The mention of the Passover reveals the significance of Jesus’ death as the final Passover lamb.

John understood who Jesus was and what Jesus came to do, having declared in John 1:29 and 36 that Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

• Secondly, John tells us that Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father.  Although Jesus allowed Himself to be killed by a conspiracy of Roman and Jewish authorities, He was not at the mercy of those who wanted Him dead. He was sovereign over His own death and even the timing of His crucifixion.  In John 10:18 Jesus said, “…I lay down my life that I may take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.  I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.  This charge I have received from my Father.”
• The verses that precede the one verse we will focus on are crucial in seeing the big idea here, which is how Jesus loves us and the command He has given us to do likewise.
• Jesus both fully loved his disciples every single day of his earthly AND to the end!.  His crucifixion is the ultimate expression of the depth of His love for us.  If this isn’t Blessed Assurance of God’s love for us, I don’t know what else could be.

Then He says:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Love wasn’t new. The Old Testament taught it. But the standard was new:

"As I have loved you."

Not based on what we deserve. Not when it's easy. Not when we agree.

But with sacrificial, servant-hearted, unconditional love.

Jesus modeled this:

• In the towel (washing their feet).
• In the cross (laying down His life).

And He says: This is how they’ll know you belong to Me—IF you love one another.

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The Church's Love Problem

Imagine walking into a restaurant with five-star reviews, sleek branding, and a mouthwatering menu. But when you eat there, the food is cold, the staff is rude, and no one seems to care. Would you go back?

Now imagine someone stepping into a church that’s known for great music, programs, and sermons—but what they experience is gossip, division, pride, and cliques.

Would they stay?

Would they experience Jesus?

The problem isn’t that people don’t want Jesus. It’s that they often don’t see Jesus in us.  Why?  If we say that we love God, why do we struggle so profoundly to love one another? 

Friends, our talk is cheap! We easily love people who love us, please us, and are low maintenance kind of people.  But the kind of love Jesus is calling us to is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person.  Just like you!  Just like me!

Jesus said:

"By this all people will know you are My disciples, IF you love one another."

And the world will know Jesus is really transforming us (continual, progressively)... IF we love one another.

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Why Is Love Lacking?

1. Pride and Rivalry
   James 3:16 warns us: "Where you have bitter rivalry and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil practice."
2. Judgmentalism and Hypocrisy
   Matthew 7:3 reminds us: "Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye, but not the log in your own?"
3. Immaturity and a Lack of the Spirit
   Galatians 6:1 tells us to restore others "in a spirit of gentleness." Too often, the church shoots its wounded instead of healing them.

“Where the Spirit of God is, there must be love, and if I have none, I may question whether the Spirit of God dwelleth in me at all.”
— Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 9: 1863

These problems are not new:

• Joseph’s brothers sold him out of jealousy.
• Israel grumbled constantly.
• The disciples argued over who was greatest.
• Corinth was full of division.

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The Ephesian Church: A Case Study

• Acts 18–20: Paul plants the church and warns them about pride and division.
• Ephesians: Paul emphasizes love, humility, and unity.
• Revelation 2: Jesus says, "You have forsaken your first love... If you do not repent, I will remove your lampstand."

They had truth but lacked love.

They were doctrinally sound but relationally cold.

And the world will only know Jesus is real... IF we love one another.

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So What Does It Mean to Love One Another?

• Sacrifice (John 13:34)
• Forgiveness (Col. 3:13)
• Unity (Eph. 4:3)
• Humility (Phil. 2:3)
• Truth in gentleness (Eph. 4:15)

Love without truth becomes hollow. Truth without love becomes harsh. We need both.

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The Bible Is Clear:

• Love builds up (1 Cor. 8:1)
• Love is greater than knowledge (1 Cor. 13:2)
• God is love (1 John 4:8)
• Love fulfills the law (Rom. 13:10)
• Jesus said the greatest command is love (Matt. 22:37–40)

Knowledge informs us. But love transforms us.

And the world will see Jesus is real... IF we love one another.

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Implications for the Church

• Recommit to humility and teachability
• Guard against spiritual pride
• Practice visible, tangible acts of love
• Be quick to forgive and slow to take offense
• Model grace in disagreement
• Prioritize relationships over programs

Let us not assume maturity means arrival. Let us not let wounds or pride keep us from love.

Let love be our witness.

Because the world will not believe our message until they see our love.

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Final Invitation

Let’s not just attend church.

Let’s be the church the world can’t ignore.

A church that makes the gospel believable.

A church that looks like Jesus in its relationships.

A church that lives out this truth:

“Do not waste time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.” – C.S. Lewis
— Mere Christianity

The world will know Jesus is real... IF we love one another.