Saved to Love?

1 John 4:10-12 This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Have you experienced the saving grace of the Almighty? Have you been rescued from the murky depths of sin and iniquity? Are you living anew, freshly born of the Spirit, marveling day after day after the gracious gifts showered upon you by God? Then consider the task for which you have been equipped to perform. You are saved, from the bondage of serving yourself, to start serving God and others in love.

We are raised to a newness of life, a life marked most deeply by Love. Romans 8:8 tells us that loving our fellow-man fulfils the law. Paul places love above all the spiritual gifts we can ever have, reducing them to clanging cymbals and empty gain if they have not love to give them purpose [1Cor13:1-3]. Peter likewise encourages deep brotherly love as the most important teaching of his letter, since love covers a multitude of sins[1Pt 4:8]

Love isnt a profession of affection, nor is it simply the warm fuzzies in the depths of our midrifs, nor is it the stirring of your soul after a God-glorifying time of worship. These could be consequences of the love we have, but biblical love is an action borne of life changing truth and purpose.

The greatest show of love in all of history, is seen at the cross of Calvary. The saviour, emptying himself of heavenly wealth and status, took on the nature of a servant and became obedient to death on a cross. The saviour crucified is a shining beacon displayed for all creation to find motivation and instruction on the definition and practise of love.

Jesus shows a flawless example of love to God. Facing the torment of abandonment and unmatched suffering in the hours preceeeding his crucifixion,he prayed, in anguish, that the cup of suffering be taken away, but {and herein we find the definition} he conceded that the will of his Father triumph, and not his own [Luke 22:42]. Jesus was thereafter led, like a sheep to the slaughter, completely obedient to the fate he had to face for his redemptive death.

Loving God is explicitly expressed by obeying his commands[1John5:3] and John explains that no other love can exist apart from this foundational requirement being met. “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands” [1John 5:2&3].

Love for our fellow man is the sacrificial giving of ourselves for the benefit of others. The first letter of John points us once more to the rugged cross for our definition of this most necessarry way of life. “This is how we know what love is:Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” [1Johnn3:16]. Jesus had a short public ministry, in which he healed the sick, fed the hungry, comforted the weeping and showed love in a myriad of ways, he gave to others what was to their benefit. His public ministry culminated in his most precious gift to humanity, the Atonement. His death served to forgive our sins, and his resurrection to justify us once and for all. [Romans 4:25]. This is how God demonstrated his love for us, dying for us while we were still in our sin [Rom 5:8].

Our lives needs to demonstrate this sort of active, obedient love. The next verse in the previously quoted 1John passage asks “if anyone has material possessions, and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” and furhter urges “dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth”.

This is a challenge unto my life. My motives, actions and daily plans need to be motivated by a love for God through Christ-like obedience of his commands, and by a sacrificial love for others, by tending to their needs. When an opportunity arises to share the Gospel, the greatest, most precious gift of all, I need to make the most of the opportunity [Col 4:5], if none presents itself, I still need to show an active love for people, that they may see Christ in my life, and be attracted to the truth [Titus 2:10].

You are free, but use not your freedom to serve your selfish desires, but to love God in service [1Pt 2:16] and our fellow brothers in service as well [Gal 5:13].

Grace and peace to you all,

May the triune God be praised for ever.

hUNJA