Growing in Christian Love

GOLDEN TEXT: “Above all … things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” —Colossians 3:14

MATTHEW 5:43-48; I JOHN 4:11-19

CHARITY, or love, according to our Golden text, is the all-embracing quality of Christian character, the “bond of perfectness.” The Greek word here translated “bond” means a “joint tie,” or “uniting principle.” All other elements of Christian character would be of little value unless co-ordinated and held together by the “uniting principle of love.”

But love is more than a platitude, more than a beautiful thesis for discussion by the brethren. It is a controlling principle in the life of the Christian which sets him apart from the selfish course of this present evil world and brings about in him a renewing of the mind as he seeks to know and practice the perfect will of God.

Jesus expressed the traditional concept of love as being a quality which caused one to be favorably disposed toward friends, yet permitted him to hate his enemies. But in correction of this viewpoint he said that we should “love our enemies,” and that we should “do good” to those who despitefully use us and persecute us. He said that those who are able thus to love their enemies are like unto their Father which is in heaven.

The Heavenly Father, he explains, bestows the common blessings of sunshine and rain upon both the just and unjust, that in these things he is no respecter of persons. Coupled with this reminder of the Father’s love toward all his creatures, righteous and sinners alike, Jesus admonished, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

The Greek word here translated “perfect” literally means “complete.” We cannot be perfect as God is perfect in the sense of being absolutely righteous, or sinless, but we can be “complete” in the sense that Jesus uses the expression in this lesson; for he has explained that God bestows his blessings upon all, that he does not show partiality. Thus we can be complete, or all-comprehensive in the bestowal of our blessings upon friend and enemy alike, and so follow the example of our Father which is in heaven.

If we love only those who love us, then we are no different, or better, than the world—the “publicans,” Jesus said. It is true, of course, that our love for the brethren is mingled with affection and appreciation of their goodness, but we should be just as unselfish toward our enemies as we are toward the brethren. Jesus laid down his life for the brethren, but he also laid down his life for the sin-cursed and dying human race as a whole, even for those who hated him and cried “Crucify him, crucify him.” (Luke 23:21) True love will prompt us to do the same, as opportunity affords.

One manner in which we can demonstrate our love for those not now our brethren is to “shower” the truth upon them, and through the truth, help them to appreciate the “sunshine” of God’s love. Some who hear the message may turn out to be our brethren, and then we can continue laying down our lives for them.

John continues the same line of thought when he writes that because God loves us we ought to love one another, and the more affectionately so as we see more and more of the characteristics of God manifested in our brethren. “No man hath seen God at any time,” John writes. We see him only through his Word, and as his characteristics are manifested in his people.

John was one who heard Jesus say, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” (John 14:9) It is clear that John did not understand this to mean that Jesus was the Father, else he would not have later written that no man hath seen the Father. He understood it as Jesus intended—that Jesus was a perfect human image of the Father, one in whom the characteristics of God were abundantly manifested.

A perfect manifestation of Christian love is to have “boldness in the day of judgment,” John writes. The Greek text reads “outspokenness in the day of trial.” The trial, or judgment day, of the Christian is during the present life. If love fills our hearts we will be fearless and outspoken in the declaration of the truth, regardless of the consequences to ourselves, for, as John adds, “There is no fear in love.”

“As he (Christ) is, so are we in this world,” John adds. Jesus was bold in proclaiming unpopular truth, and in exposing popular error. It was love which impelled him to do this. It ultimately led to his crucifixion. If we are growing in Christian love, we also will be bold in witnessing for the truth, and thus follow in the footsteps of Jesus who loved friend and foe alike, steadfastly unto the end.

QUESTIONS

In what way is love a uniting principle in the Christian life?

How are we like unto our Father in heaven when we love our enemies?

In what sense does this make us “perfect,” as he is “perfect”?

How did Jesus manifest perfect love?

How did John understand Jesus’ statement, “He who hath seen me hath seen the Father”?

What does it mean to have “boldness” in the day of judgment, and how does this prove that there is no fear in love?

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