If one is going to grow into maturity in Christ then he needs to interact with other Christians. “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another,” Christ told His disciples as recorded{1} in John 13:35.
Now, the world would have us to think that this love is one that permits just about everything, that it is a warm feeling we have toward those in Christ, makes every effort not to make anyone angry, and so on. That is how we can love someone to death — the second death which is eternal damnation.
In a previous article{2} we examined John 14:21 to see what Jesus said as to how we are to have love for Him: We do His commandments, we obey Him. That same principle applies in a passage that instructs us to love our fellow disciples, 1 John 5:1-5 along with three other facts about the love we are to have for not only God, but for those in Christ.
I. Its Vitality 1
”Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.”
Rewriting the above to not only make the wording more understandable for our time, but more importantly to show the some of the meanings of the ancient language, we have the following:
“Whoever is trusting that Jesus is the Messiah is born of God. And everyone that agape loves Him Who gives this new birth also agape loves whomever was birthed by Him.”
In the New Testament there are two words that can be translated as “love.” This particular one is agape which means, in part, an unconditional, sacrificial, selfless love that has its source in our will. We choose to love the object of our love though that object might be undeserving of any love from us. That is precisely how God graciously loves each person.
Verse 1 speaks of the new birth that only Christ can give. We become born again when we, by the grace of God, surrender our life to Christ, trusting Him not only for our salvation but for His guidance throughout our sojourn on earth. However we see from the Greek that the word for “believes” is a participle. So, it is not a one time act of faith, but a daily, moment by moment one.
Naturally when we become born again we then love God, because He loved us first (1 Jn. 4:19). But the Holy Spirit through the Apostle also points out in this epistle that if we agape love God we will agape love our sisters and brothers in Christ.
II. Its Validation 2-3a
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:”
This is the same proof that indicates whether or not we love God (John 14:21). Again, keeping Christ’s commandments means that we do them.
It is written in John 15:8-10, “Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
If we disobey Christ, we are not only hurting ourselves, but we are hurting our fellow Christians.
III. Its Virtue 3b
“…and his commandments are not grievous.”
”…and His commands are not burdensome;” – Young’s Literal Translation
To understand this, consider what happened to us when we were outside of Christ. We sinned and kept on sinning, heaping more guilt and trouble upon ourselves. A principle (law) regarding sin is that it brings about spiritual death.
In Romans 8:2 we read, “For the law (principle) of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law (principle) of sin and death.
Over the course of time of walking with Christ I learned that when He wanted me to do something I did not want to but I obeyed anyhow, and I kept doing this each time I did not want to obey, my desire not to obey became less over time. The Spirit’s fruit of goodness is developed in us as we walk in Christ and obey more willingly over the years. As we mature in Him, it is more difficult for us to purposely sin (1 John 3:9). As we sin less, we bring less spiritual harm to others in the Body of Christ.
IV. Its Victory 4-5
”For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes (trusts, lives according to the fact) that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Christ completed His course without ever giving in to sin. We will never be able to conquer sin in our strength. We must do so by His Holy Spirit when we permit Christ to dwell within us.
Fellow disciples, let us strive toward being abundant in the fruit of goodness.
Friend, if you are not surrendered to Christ I invite you to do so. Ask Him to forgive you of your sin, cleanse you, and to be your King now, and every day.
Notes:
{1} Holy Scripture throughout this article is from the 1769 Authorized Version, but modified in some cases to update the language (e.g., “believes” was “believeth”).
{2} Triond had not published that article at the time I was submitting this one. If and when they do, I will post the link in the comments area below.
This article is a form of a message (sermon) outline. God willing, you will find links to the actual message (sermon) sometime hopefully by March 1, 2013 at http://www.sapphirestreams.com/life/audioM.html#M234.
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Thanks for the guidance.