“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:10-11)

The apex of Paul’s emphasis of that which is eternal is the theme of 1 Corinthians chapter thirteen. In the list of the three it is the final and overarching idea: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) It is the reason that God shielded Adam and Eve from the “Tree of Life” in the garden. It is why God established His covenants with Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David. It is the reason for God’s promise of a Messiah, a Christ. It is why Jesus, God in the flesh, came to dwell with us. It is spelled out in the most known passage of Scripture John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV)

Too often we view God as one who seeks judgment upon us for whatever we do that is wrong. Following John 3:16, we find a different story. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17) The problem is that we are all sinners. “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:22-23) Through God’s love, Jesus came to pay for our sin and because of His love, offers to us the gift of life.

When we come by faith to Jesus Christ, He begins to pour His love into our lives. Receiving His love, we are to show this love to all around us. Paul describes this love. “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. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a) This is the love we receive; this is also the love that we are to demonstrate through our lives.

Jesus demonstrates this love to the disciples on the night He is betrayed. He takes the job of the lowest servant and washes the disciples’ feet. On that same night, He would teach the disciples a new command for those who would come to faith in Jesus. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) Jesus had demonstrated His Love for them by serving them. They were to show this love to each other, and this would be the evidence they were Jesus’ disciples. Jesus was on His way to show the greatest act of love. He would die for their sins and the sins of all mankind.

When Scripture tells us “God is Love,” (1 John 4:8,16) it is because of the love between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. At Jesus’ Baptism, “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22) The love of God flows through Jesus to us, in order for His love to flow through us. This is to be what is shown to the world as we love each other as Jesus loved us. Which is the heart of Paul’s prayer for the Church.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:14-21)

Paul’s prayer is that we would be “rooted and established in love.” (Ephesians 3:17) This is the soil where we find our growth in our relationship with God. It is God’s love in us, demonstrating to those around us that God loves them. This is why Jesus came that the world would know the love of God.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block