Love - Christ's love

The only way that we are every able to love one another completely is by being filled with Christ's love. So I just want to spend some time in describing, as much as possible, Christ's love, and how He has made that manifest to us.

You and I are both totally underserving of God's love. With our forefathers Adam and Eve in Paradise, we fell into sin. Through our own disobedience we deliberately disobeyed God and as a consequence of this, we sinful. We are all conceived and born in sin. There is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). The point I want to emphasise here is that MAN sinned. God did not make man sin; He is not the author of sin. But MAN by his own actions, sinned, and He has to bear the punishment.

God, however, is just and righteous; He cannot allow sin to go unpunished - that is why, of ourselves, we are worthy of death. We deserve to go to hell and endure God's eternal wrath against us. For we have sinned. We sinned with Adam in Paradise, and we also sin daily. Our sins are so great and they continually increase the debt that we have to pay. And what is more, we can never even begin to pay this debt ourselves. Why? Because we are sinful, and God HATES sin.

But has God left us in this miserable state? Has He left us alone in our sins? For He very well could say: "Well you sinned, now you have to bear the consequences." And He could just leave it at that. But He didn't, and that is the wonderful message of His LOVE.

While He could have left us in our sins, He chose us to everlasting righteousness. He said: "I want to save you from that sinful state; I want to call you my child, that you may know Me and glorify Me."

Yet there is more to God's love.

God could not leave sin unpunished; His justice and righteousness requires that our sin needs to be paid for. But we cannot pay for our sins, for we are not righteous. One who himself is a sinner cannot pay for his sins, or that of another (HC Ld 5 q/a 14). Therefore, the only candidate to pay for sins, is Jesus Christ.

And so, God sent His only begotten Son into this world, to assume our flesh and blood, and so pay for the sins that we have committed. For He (that is: God) made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (1 Corinthians 5:21)

Isn't that the amazing love of God. Because He wanted to save us from our sins, He sent His beloved Son into this world, that He might endure the hellish agony of God's wrath against the sin of the whole human race. Christ endured mockings, scorgings, abandonment (by God His Father and His disciples), and so much more suffering, all that you, and that I, may have eternal life; that God may say to you: "Come My child, and I will give you rest."

And there is still more to God's love.

After Christ ascended into heaven, and His work was completed here on earth, He sent His Spirit to live in our hearts. God lives within us! And that is just wonderful when you think about it. God is so near to you. He comforts you, encourages you, strengthens you, and gives you what you need to live as a covenant child of God.

God's love is indeed amazing.

And if He has done all this for you, how much more do you want to go and love your neighbour?

Fruit of the Spirit - Love

How is it that we often fail to show true love to ALL our neighbours? It's easy to love our friends, and family; its easy to love those close to us, those who we get along with. But it's not so easy to love others - those who annoy us, those who make us frustrated, those who you just simply can't get along with, and those who hurt you.

But God has given us the command to 'love your neighbour as yourself' already in Lev 19:18. And it is a command, meaning, we have to do it. But how? How can you love someone when all they do is hurt you and frustrate you?

Well, I'll try to explain using the only basis I know that will truly teach me how to love: God's Word.

I have taken I Cor 13:4-7, providing the text and also my interpretation of it. This passage is a perfect practical guide on how to love, and it is so perfect because it is based on the character of the love of Christ. And when looking at this passage it becomes clear that love is not merely a feeling (no matter how much we often base it on feelings) but it is an action:

Love suffers long and is kind; 
Love does not envy; 
Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 
Does not behave rudely, 
Does not seek its own, 
Is not provoked, 
Thinks no evil; 
Does not rejoice in iniquity; 
But rejoices in the truth;
Bears all things, 
Believes all things, 
Hopes all things, 
Endures all things. 
Love never fails. 

Love is patient, she does not easily give up on others; she is merciful and kind.

Love is not jealous or bitter; she does not hold a grudge against another.

Love is not proud or arrogant, she does not brag.

Love is not rude, disrespectful or ill-mannered.

Love is self-less, she seeks the well-being of others first.

Love is not irritable or resentful

Love does not focus her attention on the wrongs that others do to her. 

Love does not rejoice in what is wrong,

Instead, Love delights in what is right. 

When Love bears all things,

She is not suspicious, but trustful, she thinks the best of things and so protects one's reputation. 

And so, love hopes the best of all things.

Love perseveres under all circumstances. 

Love is not a passing feeling or desire; it is not fleeting and will not pass away. Love has no end.

So, how do we put this love into action? How do you get going? It's such a list, and admittedly its quite overwhelming. 

Well, firstly, we need to understand the love of Christ. Know fully and completely what He has done for you, and be filled with that love. Let His love fill your heart and mind. Let it fill your senses so that all you want to do is show that same love in return. The more you know God and His love through His Son Jesus Christ, the more you will also be able to show love to your neighbour. 

So, KNOW WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU!!! (that'll be the topic of my next post)