1 John 4:7-8 - "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Jesus Christ founded the Christian faith on the principle of love. Near the end of his life, John, a disciple of Jesus wrote these words: "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16)
The word 'love' means different things to different people, some varieties are; adore, care, admire. Due to the broad meaning of the word, it is difficult to find a consistent definition of love. It would be fitting if there was one particular alternative word that could be used when describing the love of God and our love of God.
Many religious people embrace the idea of loving others as themselves but remain blissfully unaware of how the Bible defines love. As a result, they do not understand the necessity of putting into practice the biblical principles that determine the success or failure of their relationships.
The Ten Commandments define love in an accurate and understood way. This is the purpose of God's Law. Jesus defined the purpose of God's Law as teaching us how to apply the two great principles of loving God and loving each other. He made this clear when someone asked Him, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus replied by quoting from the Old Testament passages: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." and "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." Jesus explained that all the Law and the Prophets hang on these commandments.
Love is the centrepiece of all the Scriptures in the whole Bible. Many people are amazed when they read of or hear of Jesus quoting the Old Testament. Every commandment was written for our own good. In God's eyes, obeying the commandments and practising love are extricable linked. This is because the commandments define the love that is the foundation for all godly relationships.
From the very beginning, God's interaction with human beings has been motivated by His love for us. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)
There is no doubt that God wants us all to live forever, ie to receive eternal life. However, first we must learn how to love one another and the Ten Commandments play a key role in this.
God will not allow present resentments, jealousies, hostilities and selfish desires to carry forward into eternity. We need to learn the real meaning of love or we cannot receive eternal life. And without love and respect, peace and harmony are impossible. "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren," (1 John 3:14)
So, what is love? John gives us the answer "This is love, that we walk according to His commandments." (2 John 1:6) The apostle Paul tells us that "love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10) James wrote in James 2, showing us clearly that God's royal law of love specifically includes the Ten Commandments.
Love in a truly godly way with all your heart and eternity will be yours!!!
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