Let us love one another

In this present cold age where the love of many seems to be waning away, much like the older times and darker ancient ages before there was light, Jesus, the light of the world, taught his disciples to love one another.

One of Jesus twelve disciples John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, wrote not only the Gospel of John and is credited by many with the book of Revelation, but also wrote three letters for the Church.

In his first letter to the Church, we find John’s eloquent portrayal of the love of God and how we should love one another.

John begins his letter by recalling to the Church Jesus’ commandment to love one another and comparing those in the light of Jesus Christ and those living in darkness.

1st John 1:7-11
¶ Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

John states that he who loves his brother abides in the light, but he who hates his brother is walking in darkness and is blinded by the darkness.

Next John teaches the Church not to love the things of the world.

1st John 1:12-17 ¶ I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

If one loves the world, or worldly things, John writes the love of the Father, YHWH, is not in that person. All that is in the world, John sums up in three key things or ideas, the lust, or desires, of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and pride of life, are not of the Father, but of the world.

We are not to love the things of the world, but keep our focus on God, and the things of God.

In the third chapter of John’s letter to the Church, John writes of the comparison of the children of God to that of the children of the devil.

1st John 3:10-16
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11 ¶ For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 ¶ We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

John writes that he who does not work righteousness is of the devil and not of God. He also states that he, the one of the devil and not of God, is one who also does not love his brother.

The children of God obey the commandment of their Lord to love one another.

John uses Cain, who was evil and slew his bother Abel as an example.

John writes for the Church to not marvel if the world hates them.

John states that the children of God through Christ have passed from death to life because they love their brethren, yet those who hate, or love not their brother, abide in death.

John expounds on this by writing that he who hates his brother is a murderer. John writes that no murderer has the gift of eternal life of God.

Lastly John states of God's sacrifice, that as God loved us and laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

In the same letter to the Church in John’s fourth chapter, John begins to expound on the love of God.

1st John 4:7-21
¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 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. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 ¶ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 ¶ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

John writes that we should love one another because God is love, and he who loves his brother is born of God, and knows God. He who loves not, knows not God, for God is love.

John writes that God loves us and showed his love for us by sending his only Son to die for our sins that we might live through Christ in his work on the cross.

God shows his love, not that we loved him, but he loved us, and sent his only Son to be a sacrificial atonement for our sins. John writes if God loved us so, we ought to love one another.

John writes although no man has seen God, we know God dwells inside of us, if we love one another, and God’s love is perfected in us.

We know we have the love of God in us by the presence of God’s Holy Spirit indwelling in us.

John writes of the testimony of Jesus, that we who believe that God the Father sent his Son Jesus into the world to save us, or whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in that person, and that person in God.

John writes we have known and believed the love that God had toward us, because God is love, and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.

John explains that our love is hereby made perfect, that we may have a boldness in the day of God’s judgment, because as God is, in love, so are we in this world before we face God's judgments.

He states that there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment, and he who fears God is not made perfect in love.

John says we love God, because God first loved us.

If a man says, I love God, and yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For he that loves not his brother whom he has seen in this world, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment have we from Jesus, that he who loves God loves his brother also.

Jesus said this to his disciples before he died on the cross for the sins of the world.

John 15:9-12
¶ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

It is clear those of the children of God who through belief in Jesus Christ are those who love one another and love their brother. In those who love, is found the love of God and the indwelling of the Spirit of the God of love.

It is clear those who walk contrary to loving their neighbor and hate their brother, or despise their fellow man, they are not of God and are of the devil, doing his bidding being blinded in the darkness they walk in.

In this cold and uncaring world of darkness there exists a shining light, Jesus the Christ, and Son of God who in love showed us the love of God in his blood sacrifice for our sins and the sin of the world.

John testified of Jesus in his gospel.

John 3:16-21
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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Are you walking today in darkness?

Do you love your brother and fellow man?

or

Do you hate and despise your fellow man?

Will you come to the light, come to Jesus today?

Do you know Jesus?

He shed his blood for you and died for your sins.

Are you covered by that blood of Jesus, the atoning blood of the lamb?

Won’t you repent of your hatred and sins against God?

And be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus?