We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. 1Jn 4:19-21
Love is the supreme mark of one who is loved by God. We love, because He first loved us. (v.19) Our love is directly related to salvation- Jesus Christ took our sins and died in our place, so that in Him we might receive His righteousness and eternal life by the power of His resurrection. The everlasting spring of God’s love is in Christ, and as believers are sanctified by Holy Spirit to be transformed into His likeness, love overflows into the life of every believer. In this portion of Scripture, Apostle John asserts why Christians should love one another.
We love because God first loved us. Every man is born depraved, utterly lost and separated from God. The world does not know God’s love. Motivated by self-love and lust, man attempts to fabricate his own concept of love, but no philosophy or religion enables him to love others. (Jer 17:9; 1Jn 2:15-17) God first loved us- His love is unprecedented, selfless, and supernatural. When man experiences the love of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ, he is transformed to be able to truly love. (1Jn 4:9-10, 1Pet 2:25-26) Apostle Paul was a staunch Pharisee, set on obliterating the Christian faith. But when He encountered the love of God in the gospel, he was converted to Christ, and was able to love even those who became his persecutors. (Gal 2:20, Rom 9:3) Only God’s love in the gospel has the power to change us from within. Jesus demonstrated His love to us, and He has empowered us to do the same. (Rom 5:8)
Love is the hallmark of salvation. Love is the ultimate standard for Christian life. Without love, nothing can prove your faith is genuine, for the first fruit of the Spirit is love. (Jn 13:35) If a man claims to love God yet fails to love others, he is a liar and a hater. He has not yet seen the love of God in Christ, for God’s prevailing love transforms us to love one another. God has baptized us into one body, and we are members of one another- we cannot remain indifferent towards the church, but we ought to show mercy, grace, and compassion, just as Christ loved us. If our hearts are devoid of love for one another, we must examine our conversion to see if we truly believe and are assured of the love God has for us.
God commands us to love. It is God who commands us to love- we must obey. His commandment is in the present tense- regardless of our current circumstances, we must love one another, because God commands it. In the Bible, men of great faith were characterized by their immediate obedience to God’s Word, no matter the cost. (Gen 22:1-2, 1King 12:24) Our Lord did not delay in facing the terrible agony of His crucifixion, for He submitted to His Father’s Will and His timing. (Matt 21:2-3) Why do we fail to obey? Difficulty in obeying God’s command to love often arises as we read Scripture for knowledge and directives. Our intention in studying the Word must first be to know God. As we encounter God in His Word and grow in the knowledge of and love for Him, His Spirit enables us to obey. Knowing and loving God causes us to love one another. (1Jn 2:5-6)
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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