We Should Love One Another

If you’ve been to the store lately you’ve likely noticed lots of heart-shaped products. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and vendors beckon consumers to purchase products for their loved ones. Whether or not you delight in or dread this Hallmark holiday, I think every believer can agree that true love is something to celebrate, particularly God’s love. If we’re honest, when we think about love, it’s easier to talk about or sing about than to actually carry out in word and deed. Thankfully the Bible does not leave us without help in understanding what it means to love God and one another well.

               Jesus told His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). Of course, this commandment was not completely new (see Lev. 19:18), but it was new in the sense that Jesus deepened what it meant to love God and to love one’s neighbor (see 1 John 2:7-8).                                   In 1 John 3:11-24 the apostle John, who loved Jesus and whom Jesus loved, writes about the importance of our love for one another flowing from our love for God. To illustrate his point John reminds his readers of Cain and Abel (vv. 12-15; see also Gen. 4:1-16). In contrast to Cain, who murdered his brother, Abel offered to God an acceptable sacrifice. John used this story to remind believers (represented by Abel) that the world (represented by Cain) hates them. However, instead of growing discouraged, believers can experience assurance of faith as we love one another. Our love for God and our love for each other reveals that we have “eternal life abiding in [us]” (v. 15).

               Such grace is grounded in Christ’s love: “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16). Christ is the seed of the woman sent to crush the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). He is the lamb who was led to the slaughter (Isa. 53:7). He is “the good shepherd [who] lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Therefore, we are to love one another by laying down our lives and sacrificially serving each other.

               John gives us a practical example of what sacrificial love looks like (1 John 3:17). If we have been blessed with the goods of this world, like food, shelter, and clothing, then our hearts should be open, kind, and compassionate whenever we encounter someone lacking these things. The love of God transforms us to love in thought, word, and deed. This is, after all, a reflection of His love for us. 

               However, on this side of glory we won’t do this perfectly. There will be times “our heart condemns us” (1 John 3:20). We will, on many different occasions, fail to love one another well. When this happens we need to repent and rest in the truth that “God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything” (v. 20). Our salvation is not based on our verdict, but on God’s. We have “an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (2:1). When our hearts condemn us we must remember the grace of God. Our confidence is in Christ’s redemptive work—His obedience on our behalf and His atoning death.

               Such confidence should strengthen our prayer life, “whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:22). Prayer is one of the ways that we love one another. We should continually bring one another’s needs before the throne of God.

               Our confidence in Christ’s redemptive work should also strengthen our obedience (1 John 3:23-24). As we abide in God and God in us we are able to keep His commandments by the power of His Spirit. Keeping God’s commandments is also one of the ways we love one another. To do what is good and right not only honors God but also honors our neighbor. 

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               If we are going to love one another we must remember God’s love first and foremost. The more we understand how much God loves us, the more we will grow in our love for God and for one another. Also, we must remember that love is costly. We must be willing to serve others even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient for us to do so. Finally, in order to love one another we must abide in God. As we abide in Him and He abides in us His Spirit enables us to love the Lord and one another.