Love One Another

KEY VERSE: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” —I John 4:11

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: I John 4:7-21

THE Heavenly Father himself defined true love by his own example. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (I John 4:9-11) The characteristic of God’s love toward us and all his creation that is so wonderful is that it is not based on a reciprocal love; because the scripture states that he loved us before we loved him.

Jehovah God’s eternal purpose for man is to establish him in perfection here on the earth. The long period of time since Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden until now has been a time when God has been falsely accused, blasphemed, and reproached by his fallen and depraved creation. (Ps. 69:9) Nevertheless, God, motivated by love for man, has proceeded with his plan of redemption and, at great cost to himself, provided his only begotten Son to redeem man from Adamic condemnation.

Jesus has demonstrated this same kind of unselfish love for us. “Hereby perceive we love, because he laid down his life for us.” (I John 3:16) The Apostle Paul elaborates on what this action on the part of Jesus meant. “Let this disposition be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, though being in God’s form [a great spirit being], yet did not meditate a usurpation to be like God, but divested himself, taking a bondman’s form, having been made in the likeness of men; and being in condition as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:5-8, Diaglott) Jesus, in his pre-human existence, was a glorious spirit being. He was known as the Logos (John 1:1, Diaglott), the first creation of God. He was the instrument God used to create all things in heaven and in earth. Because of his love for the human family, he was willing to leave his position of glory and honor and become a man that he might suffer and die to redeem mankind from sin and death.

With these examples of unselfish love before us, we repeat the Apostle John’s statement that we should have a corresponding love for one another. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (I John 4:10,11) How do we as brethren manifest this kind of love toward one another? We believe that the Apostle Paul, in speaking of his own life and his expression of love toward the brethren, suggests the answer to us “who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake which is the church, whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfill the Word of God.”—Col. 1:24,25

The Apostle Paul literally laid down his life in servicing the interests of the Lord, the truth, and the brethren. In II Corinthians 11:23-28 he gives us a short summary of some of the trials and experiences he suffered in order to fulfill the needs of the brethren. No one forced the apostle to suffer these things, but he endured them as permitted by the Lord and rejoiced that in this way he was able to prove his love for the brethren and the Lord. This same pathway of suffering and self-denial is set before each footstep follower of Jesus that he might by patient endurance develop within himself the fruits and graces of the Spirit and, with unselfish love, serve the Lord, the truth, and the brethren. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”—I Pet. 4:12,13

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