I JOHN one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34,35). Paul affirms the reality of this when he reminded the Chris tians at Galatia, "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyse lf" (Galatians 5 :14 ). Other verses in his letters carry this same imperative theme (Romans 13:8, 10; I Timothy 1:5). The sum total of man's duty and moral obligation is expressed in one word: love. The law of love is an old com mandment which goes back to the beginning of time. We find this set forth in Leviticus 19:18. With the light of greater knowledge and rev elation we also have an unfolding of the limitless and unfathomable depths of Christ's love. In actuality, the law is old in reference to years but new to the one who finds it for the first time. It is ever fresh. As I personally reflect upon my Lord now that I have come to know Him in a fuller measure since the day of my conversion, my love for Him is new and fresh. Such love is new in proportion as we grow in grace. Twice in I John we read, "God is love" (4:8, 16). This is not merely that God is loving, nor merely that love is a quality the Lord possesses. Rather it predicates the very nature of God Himself. He is the author of all true affection, benevolence, kindness, and compassion. It can only be His nature to be a loving God. It is interesting to note that the word "love," in its various forms, is found 51 times in I John. This is probably more than in any other New Testament book except the Gospel of John. Love was never a
common word in classical Greek literature. The pagan Greeks knew nothing of self-sacrificing love for an enemy. It never has its basis in human personality or in things that are pleasurable to human beings. It only has its roots in God Himself (I John 3:16). How can we know and understand the love of God? The only practical way is by expe rience. This is why no unsaved person can ever truly perceive the love which the Lord has showered upon us. When Christ died on the cross He was reconciling the world to Himself. One must first recog nize his sin, trusting the Saviour for his full sufficiency. It was at Calvary that the love of God was fully exhibited. The phrase "lay down," in ref erence to Christ's atonement, is peculiar to the writings of John (10:17, 18; 15:13). By this volun tary act we can see fully displayed the grace and mercy of the Lord. At no time was there any desire for reconciliation on the part of the sinner. It was not that we loved God, nor was it anything in us that was attractive to cause God to love us (Romans 5:8). While we were enemies, the Lord still loved us. It is no great problem to love people who love and agree with us. Christ did inestimably more than this as He saw our sin and hatred against Him. Yet, He did not turn away in wrath but was moved with com passion and pity. Never has the world seen so lofty an exhibition of Divine love. Without question, Jesus Christ perfectly exemplified and exhibited God's matchless love. Since God in His essential nature is love, and believers become par takers of that nature when they are
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