Love of God in Christ Jesus!

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” – 1 John 4:11-12 NIV

First of all, we have to know that we have to love one another since God, the Creator and our heavenly Father has loved us first (1 John 4:19). “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:4-5) This means that loving one another creates perfect unity in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:14). In addition to this, all of us are members of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) Because of this, the word of God states, “the human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) In fact, Jesus prayed to God before He was crucified that all of us may become one, as God and Jesus are one (John 17:20-23). Thus, for this reason, loving one another is the law of the Spirit (Romans 13:8-10), due to the fact that it is our call from Jesus that we may become one, just as God and He is. The another reason for this is that God is love (1 John 4:7-8).

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:1-7)

Secondly, loving others can be one of the most effective way to show that God lives in us, just like what 1 John 4:12 says. Therefore, every true believer and follower is called to love one another, for they are meant to be the light of Jesus Christ to the world (Matthew 5:14-16). However, the world prompts us to love others back who has loved us, and hate our enemies and revenge them at some stage. Nonetheless, since God is love, we have to forgive (Colossians 3:13; Matthew 6:14-15) and love our enemies as well. This is because our heavenly Father wants us to be holy, just like Him (1 Peter 1:14-16 NLT). This means that He has still loved us so much, even though we became sinners. This is why Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for us. (1 John 4:9-10).

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)