That Ye Love One Another

John 15:13,17-27

Scripture Reference

John 15:13, 17-27

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

“These things I command you, That ye love one another.” (John 15:17)

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own. But because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:19)

“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:20)

“But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” (John 15:21)

“If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.” (John 15:22)

“He that hateth me hateth my Father also.” (John 15:23)

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:26-27)

Introduction

Title: “That Ye Love One Another” — Dr. Terry LeQuieu brings this clear, pastoral message from John chapter 15 to a congregation that includes many first responders. The passage ties together Christ’s command to love, the cost of sacrificial love, and the reality of a world that hates Christ and those who represent Him. Dr. LeQuieu frames the sermon by honoring first responders as earthly pictures of sacrificial love while making clear the spiritual root of society’s problems: sin. This sermon calls believers to understand the hostility of the world, the revealing purpose of hardship, and the only true hope — the Comforter and the person of Jesus Christ.

“Ever seen in the world that it didn’t matter how wicked someone was, it didn’t matter what they had done, he was still going to do it, even if we were the only one.”

Quote from Preacher

Dr. LeQuieu opens with an image familiar to many: those who run into danger for the sake of another. He uses that image to point to Christ’s supreme example and to the command He gives us: love one another.

Outline

The Command to Love
1. Christ’s Explicit Command
  Jesus does not present love as optional; He commands it. “These things I command you, That ye love one another” (John 15:17). Love among believers is a mark of discipleship and obedience.
2. Love Defined by Sacrifice
  Greater love is sacrificial: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). True Christian love follows the pattern of Christ — self-giving, costly, and purposeful.
The Hatred of the World
1. Hatred Rooted in Rejection of Christ
  “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). The hostility believers meet is not ultimately personal — it is spiritual. The world’s enmity is aimed at the One who sent us.
2. Not a Mere Social Problem but a Sin Problem
  Dr. LeQuieu emphasizes that America’s problems are spiritual. Laws and systems may be broken, yet the root cause is sin. Jesus’ coming exposed sin by making the law and God’s standard known (see John 15:22; Romans 3:23).
The Harassment and Persecution Believers Face
1. Persecution as Imitation of Christ
  “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Persecution follows believers because they represent Christ. This may take the form of slander, hostility, or even legal restrictions.
2. Why Authorities Are to Be Honored
  Using Romans 13, Dr. LeQuieu explains that governmental authority is ordained by God. Good citizens — and Christian first responders — honor lawful authority while recognizing that persecution from the world is often a response to rejection of God’s authority.
The Hardships That Reveal Sin
1. Hardship as Diagnostic
  “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin” (John 15:22). Jesus’ ministry exposed sin for what it is; hardships often unveil the consequences of sin in people’s lives — addiction, violence, and brokenness.
2. No Cloak for Sin
  The phrase “they have no cloak for their sin” points to the removal of excuses when God’s truth is made known. Hardship can reveal the state of a heart and point people to their need for a Savior.
The Proof and Purpose of Hostility
1. They Hated Christ and the Father
  “He that hateth me hateth my Father also” (John 15:23). The hatred toward Christ is a hatred toward God’s authority and person. Seeing Jesus’ sinless life only intensified their rejection because it exposed their guilt.
2. Fulfillment of Scripture
  Jesus explains that the hatred fulfills what was written: “They hated me without a cause” (John 15:25). The world’s rejection does not thwart God’s plan; it brings the prophetic Scriptures to pass.
The Hope: The Comforter and the Witness
1. The Coming of the Holy Spirit
  “But when the Comforter is come, … even the Spirit of truth … he shall testify of me” (John 15:26). Though the world hates, God provides the Holy Spirit as Comforter, convictor, and witness to Christ.
2. Believers as Witnesses
  “And ye also shall bear witness” (John 15:27). The hope of the world is not politicians, policies, or programs — it is the gospel. Believers are commissioned to share the saving message of Jesus Christ.
Gospel Clarity: Sin, Judgment, and Salvation
1. The Universality of Sin
  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). No one reaches God’s standard by self-effort; all stand in need of the Savior.
2. The Penalty and the Gift
  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The legal consequence of sin is death; the free gift for those who trust Christ is eternal life.
3. How to Trust Christ
  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9-10). Salvation is personal, verbal, and rooted in faith in the finished work of Christ.

Summary

Dr. Terry LeQuieu anchors the congregation in John 15: Christ’s command to love one another is both a privilege and a mandate for believers. The sermon lays out a clear biblical diagnosis: the world’s hostility stems from sin and a rejection of God’s authority. That hatred produces harassment and hardship, but God’s plan provides purpose and promise — the revelation of sin, fulfillment of Scripture, and the coming Comforter. The only lasting hope for individuals and society is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Practical compassion and sacrificial love identify His people; the Holy Spirit empowers them to testify and to call others to Christ.

“You can’t take and pick and choose who we share the gospel with. We’ve got to go and share it with everybody.”

Quote to Ponder

Dr. LeQuieu insists that love is not selective; if the love of Christ dwells in us, it compels us to reach everyone with the gospel — not because they deserve it, but because we have been shown mercy.

Application for the Week

This week, move from hearing to doing. The sermon centers on loving as Christ loved, witnessing the hope of the gospel, and honoring God‑ordained authority. Below are practical steps tailored for young adults and every believer to grow in obedience.

Pray Specifically for First Responders
Set aside three short times this week (morning, noon, night) to ask God to protect and encourage those who serve. Pray Scripture back to God: thank Him that first responders reflect sacrificial love and ask God to use them for gospel opportunities.
Practice Sacrificial Love
1. One Intentional Act
  Choose one person this week to serve without expectation — bring a meal, send an encouraging note, or volunteer your time. Let it be anonymous if you can; true Christian compassion expects no return.
2. Sacrifice Time for Presence
  Put down your phone and invest one hour in a conversation with someone who needs to be heard. Presence is love in action.
Share the Gospel Clearly and Kindly
1. Memorize Two Verses
  Learn Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23. Use them as a simple bridge to explain why people need Christ and what Christ offers.
2. Ask for Opportunities
  Each day, ask God to give you one conversational opening to talk about Christ. If you get a chance, use Romans 10:9-13 to explain how to be saved.
Honor God‑Ordained Authority
Demonstrate respect for lawful authority in word and action. If you encounter policies or leaders who are wrong, respond biblically — pray, seek godly counsel, and act in ways that reflect a Christlike witness.
Engage in Bible Study and Fellowship
Join a small group or Sunday school class to study John 15 and Romans 13 this month. Growth comes from regular study and accountability. Let this be the season you move from sentiment to steady obedience.
Give a Gospel Invitation
If you sense someone is ready, invite them to your next service or a church event. Use the invitation as a loving step to help them hear the gospel in community.

Remember: Love is commanded and empowered. The world may hate, harass, and harden hearts, but the Spirit comforts, convicts, and equips believers to bear witness. Walk this week in sacrificial love, clear gospel witness, and reverent submission to the authorities God has placed in your life.

If you desire prayer, repentance, or to trust Christ for the first time, speak to your pastor or another believer this week. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”