If we center ourselves on God, abiding in his giving love, there could be no avenue for the works of the flesh to enter into our lives. For this passage of Scripture, we need to understand the four types of love. There is Agape — unconditional love (godly), Philia — beneficial love (brotherly), Storge — family love, and Eros — romantic love.
Everybody accepts that love is significant, yet we ordinarily consider it an inclination. Love is a decision and an activity (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). God is the wellspring of our affection: he adored us enough to forfeit his Son for us.
Who Is Love?
Jesus is our illustration of loving; all that he did throughout life and death was a remarkable act of love. The Holy Spirit enables us to love; he lives in our souls and makes us increasingly more like Jesus.
God's adoration consistently includes a decision and an activity, and our affection ought to resemble his. How well do we show our affection for God in the decisions that we make and the moves that we make?
John said, "God is love" not "Love is God." The world, with its shallow and narrow-minded perspective of love, has turned these words around and defiled our comprehension of love.
The world thinks love is the thing that causes you to feel better, and it will forfeit moral standards and others' privileges to acquire such love. In any case, which is not genuine love; it is the opposite of love, that of selfishness.
We cannot place upon God the perspective of love engendered by a world that is sinful and evil. Our meaning of adoration should come from God who is perfect, sacred, and just. In addition, if we genuinely know God, we need to learn to love as he does.
We know that love comes from God, and with the love of God in us, we love others. Ever been in a service where the Spirit of God moved from person to person, touching our hearts so much that you did not want the service to end?
Our differences were set aside as God’s love moved, pouring through everyone. We need to keep it that way, especially toward the world. How does, or how will the world know that we have the love of God in us?
They will see it. How did God show his love for humanity? He gave his only begotten Son (John 3:16). He could have sent some other heavenly being, but he gave Jesus.
Who among us could give their only child for someone else? I could not? God did, that is how much he loves his creation.
"His only begotten" implies God's one and only extraordinary Son. While all believers are children of God, Jesus is the only one that lives in this exceptional one-of-a-kind relationship (John 1:18; 3:16).
Love clarifies why God is the creator since he is love, and he created humankind to love. Love clarifies why God cares since he loves and has concern for those who live in sin.
Love clarifies why Christ died since his adoration for us made him look for an answer for the issue of transgression. Love clarifies why we can obtain everlasting life since his affection articulates itself to us for eternity.
Nothing that is evil or sinful can exist in the presence of God because he is consummate goodness. He cannot neglect, overlook, or excuse sin as though it will not ever occur. He cherishes us; however, his adoration does not make him ethically or morally remiss.
Nonetheless, in the event that we trust in Jesus then we do not need to bear the punishment for our wrongdoings (1 Peter 2:24). We can be absolved (Romans 5:18) by his propitiation (sacrifice) (2:2).
Assuming nobody has at any point seen God, then how might we at any point get to know him? In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, John said, "The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father" (John 1:18).
Jesus is the finished articulation of God in human structure, and he has uncovered God to us. When we begin to love each other, the imperceptible God uncovers himself to others through us, and his affection is made "perfected" (complete).
Certain individuals love to be with others. They easily become a close acquaintance with outsiders and are constantly encircled by numerous companions. Others are timid or shy.
They may have a couple of companions; however, they are awkward when chatting with individuals that they do not yet have a harder time in social situations.
Timid individuals do not have to become social butterflies to be able love others. John is not telling us the quantity individuals to love, however, he is telling us the amount of love to individuals that we may already know.
How Do We Love?
Our responsibility is to love the individuals that God has given to us faithfully, regardless of whether there are three or 50 of them.
When God sees that we are prepared to love others, they will be brought to us. Regardless of how bashful we may be, we should not fear the commandment to love. God gives us the ability to do what he inquires (1 Peter 1:22; 3:8).
At the point when we become Christians, the Holy Spirit moves within us. The presence of God in our lives is verification that we truly have a place with him and enables us to love (Romans 5:5, 8:9; 2 Corinthians 1:22).
We are to depend on that power as we contact others. In case we need affirmation of our salvation, we are to pay attention to the Holy Spirit inside us (Romans 8:16).
Are we eyewitnesses? From a spiritual perspective of an interview, if a reporter were to ask us, “Sir, how do you know God is in there?” What would we do and how would we respond? When we profess God’s love, we are eyewitnesses to the truth, and we should show it and tell it with enthusiasm (Hebrews 13:1-3).
The day of judgment is that last day when we will show up before Christ and be held responsible for our activities. With God living in us through Christ, we have no real excuse to dread that day, since we have been saved from discipline.
Given the circumstances, we can anticipate the judgment, since it will mean the finish of all wrongdoing and the start of an up close and personal relationship with Jesus.
If at any point we start to fear the forever, paradise, or God's judgment, we should remember that God loves us impeccably (Romans 8:38-39).
We can resolve our dread by first zeroing in on his incomprehensible love for us, and afterward by permitting him to love others through us. We can be certain of what lies ahead if during this life we have strived to be more like Jesus.
What Does This Mean?
God's adoration is the wellspring of all human love. That love ignites a fire in the hearts of his children so that when they love others, the others are warmed by God's love that has coursed through his children.
On judgment day, will we proclaim Jesus, or hang our heads in shame. I know where my soul will go when my body ceases to exist on this earth. I often wonder how my life will stand, did I do enough, did I proclaim Jesus enough.
I thank God for His Son Jesus, and what He did and has done for me. I cannot repay Him so I must strive to do what I can daily. God’s love is the source of our love.
Being at church on Sunday is good and we need it, but the real test of love is during the week, how we treat others, and how we are doing or not doing for the world (1 Corinthians 16:22).
For further reading:
What Does ‘Love One Another’ Truly Mean?
What Does Agape Love Really Mean in the Bible?
What Is Hesed Love, and What Does it Tell Us about God's Love for Us?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/lilkar
Chris Swanson answered the call into the ministry over 20 years ago. He has served as a Sunday School teacher, a youth director along with his wife, a music director, an associate pastor, and an interim pastor. He is a retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman with over 30 years of combined active and reserve service. You can contact Chris here, and check out his work here.