01 Aug The Command to Love, Part 2

Last week I concluded with the following question. If we loved one another like Christ loved us, what effect would this have on our Christian witness, and the world around us?

To me it is obvious that if the Lord gives an instruction there is a very good reason for it, and it should not be considered a suggestion. When we ignore the instruction of the Lord we do so at our own peril (there is ample evidence of this in the Old Testament, and that was when God spoke by His Holy Prophets).

Hebrews 1:1-2 states that, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son…”. I mentioned in last week’s blog the timing of Christ’s command. Let’s consider some other things Christ said in this discourse. In John chapter 14 Jesus states 3 times that if we love Him we will obey His commands (v15, 21 and 23). All of these then have associated precious promises attached to them. The giving of the Holy Spirit (16-17), being loved by God and Christ and Him being revealed to us (21), His abiding presence (23).

I mentioned last week that Jesus said, “He only said what He heard the Father saying”. But He also testified, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of the one who sent me”. Hebrews 1:3 tells us, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word”.

So God has revealed Himself to mankind in a Father and Son relationship. And Jesus came to earth perfectly representing the Father to mankind, and calling us to not just follow Him, but to become like Him. Not only that but we are called sons of God, and according to scripture we are coheirs with Christ (an amazing truth that needs to be explored and understood much better). In 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul says, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us”.

We cannot represent our Lord appropriately if we neglect the very heart of Christianity and our precious salvation (John 3:16), which is God’s love for us.

The Apostle John in his first epistle wrote this, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. 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. 1 John 5:1-3a).