A Lesson in Christ-like Love

In the gospel of King Jesus, we find a profound commandment: to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 13:34-35; Eph. 5:2; 1 John 2:7-8; 3:11, 23; 4:21). This brotherly love is vividly illustrated through the parable of the Good Samaritan, teaching us how to extend love to our neighbors (Luke 10:25-37). Let’s swim into the essence of loving one another.

“As I Have Loved You” (John 13:34-35)

The directive to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18) comes with expectations. For this love to thrive, one must have a healthy self-love. Incorrect views of oneself can distort this love and lead to similar misconduct toward others. Thus, the biblical understanding of self-love is crucial.

Loving one another “as I have loved you” points us to Christ’s love as the model for human behavior. This love is self-sacrificing (Eph. 5:25), altruistic, not seeking personal gain (Luke 14:26), and extended to all (Matt. 5:43-48; Rom. 5:8-10).

Lessons From Jesus’ Love:

1. Aim at Salvation: Jesus’ love seeks the salvation of the lost (Luke 19:10). Our love for others should prioritize their spiritual well-being, demonstrated through our actions and efforts.

2. Demands Repentance: Jesus’ love calls for repentance (John 8:11; Matt. 4:17). A love that overlooks sin is not in line with Jesus’ example.

3. Not Passive: Jesus’ love is not passive; it makes demands on others. He resisted sin and confronted false teachings, showing that love sometimes requires action (John 2:14-15; Matt. 23; Mark 3:1-6).

4. Sacrificial: Jesus’ love sacrifices for others, exemplified in His crucifixion (Eph. 5:25; Rom. 5:6-8). Similarly, we are called to sacrifice personal liberties, wealth, and time for one another (1 Cor. 8:12-13; Acts 2:44-45; 9:36-39; Phil. 2:20-30).

5. Doing What’s Best: Jesus taught doing what is best for others, even in the face of insults and without seeking revenge (Matt. 5:43-48; Matt. 27:39-44; Luke 23:34; Rom. 12:18-21).

6. Justice is Not Excluded: Jesus spoke of judgment, acknowledging the principle of justice, including eternal consequences for disobedience (2 Thess. 1:7-9). Discipline, whether in parenting, civil matters, or within the church, aligns with the principles of justice (Heb. 12:6; Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Cor. 5:1-11).

Loving one another involves a Christ-like love that is sacrificial, active, and seeks the ultimate good of others, including their salvation. May our love reflect the transformative love exemplified by Christ.

‌~PW 🌮🛶