GOD IS LOVE Devotion 12 of 34 "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 John 4:11) ONE ANOTHER It will be profitable to briefly consider the significance of loving "one another." This is a family term, applying to members of the "household of faith" (Gal 6:10). The admonition to "love one another" is never addressed to those outside of Christ. Also, it is never used to admonish unbelievers concerning their relationship with unbelievers. During Christ's discourse with His disciples on the evening of His betrayal, He thrice mentioned their love for one another. He declared this was a "new commandment," in that they were to "love another" as He had loved them (John 13:34). Twice, He commanded them to "love one another" (John 15:12,17). – Tomorrow:
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love . . . God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:8,16)
The reasoning of the Spirit is undeniably strong. If God "so loved us" that He sent His Son to be the Propitiation for our sins, ought not we, the beneficiaries of such great love, reciprocate by loving one another? If not, we are choosing to disdain those God loves, thereby confirming we do not have His nature.
Our obligation to love one another is twofold. First, as the "offspring of God," we are in His "image." We are therefore morally obligated to love one another. Second, we are a new creation in Christ Jesus, and are make "partakers of the Divine nature." For this reason, we will find the greatest benefit and fullest expression of that nature in loving others who also have been made "partakers of Christ" (Heb 3:14).
When we consider the "manner" (3:1) in which God "loved us," what possible reason can be adduced for failing to love the brethren? God loved us WHEN we were "dead in sins," "enemies," "without hope," and "carried away" by our iniquities. His love was not a response to our kindness to Him.
Nothing has shed as much light on God's view of man as the mission and work of His only begotten Son. The investment is so staggering we simply cannot take it all in. No matter how long and extensively we ponder God's love for us, it seems we have only touched the hem of its garment. Our love for one another, while not in the same measure as that of our God, is to be of the same kind or manner. Thus we are admonished, "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma" (Eph 5:1,2, NKJV).
It is the manner of the Spirit to reason with us in this way. God and Christ are to be our considerations when thinking about loving one another. This is contrasted with the approach of Law, which simply imposes the matter of love upon men: i.e., "Thou SHALT love . . . " In Christ more powerful incentives are brought to bear upon the soul. When those incentives are taken seriously, it becomes totally UNreasonable to NOT love the brethren. Thus it is written, "Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God" (Rom 15:7).
The word "ought" must be considered from Mount Zion, not Mount Sinai. By that, I mean it must not be viewed as a mere obligation that goes against our nature, but must be done anyway. That is the manner of Law, but grace reasons differently. While the word "ought" does carry the idea of obligation or necessity, its emphasis is unique. The obligation is owing to the nature of life in Christ. In the New Covenant, it is utterly unreasonable to act contrary to what we "ought" to do. To put it another way, it is not possible to conduct ourselves in contradiction of the commands of God if we are living by faith. Spiritual life cannot be expressed unspiritually, or in violation of the Divine nature. Such expressions are always of the flesh, and never of the Spirit.
By saying "we ought to love one another," the Spirit is saying there really is no room for any other response. God Himself has shown us the manner of Divine love. What is more, He has given us His own nature (Col 3:10), which cannot act in contradiction of Him. This is nothing less than a summons to "walk in the Spirit" and live "by faith" (Gal 6:16,25; Rom 1:17). Spiritual life cannot be sustained in any other way.
The Epistles also strongly admonish believers to love one another, and to do so "fervently" (Rom 12:10; 13:8; 1 Pet 1:22). This is evidenced through "all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Eph 4:2). It is also made exhibited in "serving one another" (Gal 5:13), "preferring" one another (Rom 15:10), and "considering" one another" (Heb 10:24). There are few expressions among the sons of men that bring such remarkable benefits as those in Christ loving one another "with a pure heart fervently" (1 Pet 1:22).
PRAYER POINT: Father, I ask You in the name of Jesus to help me love Your people in the same way You have loved me.