“We know
that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who
does not love abides in death” (I John 3:14).
We display
God’s transforming work through Christ by how we as Christians love each other
in a gospel community. The evidence the Apostle John wants us to see played out
in our life is “love the brethren;” that is, love the church. Love is not a
mere feeling or words to say. In short, love works its way into the life of the
church by honoring and living in harmony with one another (Romans 12:10-16),
instructing one another (Romans 15:14), having equal concern for one another (ICorinthians 12:25), serving one another (Galatians 5:13), carrying each other’s
burdens (Galatians 6:2), forgiving each other (Ephesians 4:32), singing praises
to God with one another (Ephesians 5:19), encouraging one another daily (Hebrews3:13), gathering regularly for worship (Hebrews 10:25), confessing sins to one
another (James 5:16), praying with one another (James 5:16), and having each other
in our homes regularly (I Peter 4:9). This is not even half of the commands of
love in the local church, but this gives us a glimpse of how love plays out in
the lives of followers of Jesus.
Does this
sound like you? Do you want to love and be loved like this? Jesus told us, “By
this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Are you a disciple of Jesus?
Have you left death into life and express love in the church? Love is dirty and
it gets into everybody’s business and everybody’s in yours. But God’s love
forgives and transforms. God did not save you to face this world as a lone
ranger. The Christian life cannot be lived solo, but is played out in the life
of a loving gospel community.
Church, let
us love one another. Let us be forgiving, confessing sins, praying,
instructing, encouraging, building each other up, and live as a loving gospel
community for the good of the brethren to the glory of God.
