The Call to Love
The High Calling of Love: The Christian's True Uniform
In our Dial In Ministries series on The Church, we explored the powerful truth that Christ is building His church and that the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. We delved into the roles of pastors and elders, understanding their responsibility to shepherd, feed, and lead the flock through the teaching of God’s Word. We also examined every believer’s role as described in Romans 12, where we are called to be living sacrifices, wholly devoted to God and His kingdom.
In laying our lives on the altar, we acknowledge that each Christian is endowed with a unique spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit, meant for the building up of the body so that we might all mature in Christ. Today, we will focus on a fundamental truth that applies to all of us within the body of Christ, regardless of our gifting: love.
The Defining Characteristic of a Christian
The attribute that defines a Christian and binds us together is love. Love is the uniform Christ has given us to wear in front of a watching world. In this blog, we will examine our high calling to love one another, as instructed in God’s Word, beginning with the words of John in his first epistle.
Assurance and Joy in Christ
John’s first epistle is written so that genuine Christians may have assurance of their salvation. He states in 1 John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” At the beginning of his letter, he also writes, “These things we write so that our joy may be made complete” (1 John 1:4). Joy in Christ is tied to the assurance of belonging to Him. John seeks to provide fullness of joy by giving assurance of salvation.
Marks of True Believers
John outlines the trademarks of those truly born again. First, it’s crucial to understand that we contribute nothing to our salvation. We are saved by grace, through faith, in Christ. Romans 10:9 states, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
However, belief alone is not enough. James 2:19 warns, “Even the demons believe and shudder.” Demons acknowledge the identity and work of Christ, yet they will spend eternity in hell (Matthew 25:41). Thus, mere intellectual assent is insufficient; true saving faith involves a genuine love and relationship with God.
Two Tests of True Faith
John provides two primary tests for those who claim faith:
Obedience: 1 John 2:4 states, “The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Obedience to God’s commands is a sign of true faith.
Love for Others: Scripture elevates love as the highest virtue in our relationship with God and others. 1 John 3:10 combines these tests: “Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”
The Call to Love
The call to love is foundational. 1 John 3:11 states, “For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” This command is not new but ancient, rooted in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 command us to love God and our neighbor.
Jesus reiterates this in Matthew 22:37-40, emphasizing that love for God and neighbor encompasses all the law and the prophets. This call to love is the basic principle of Christianity, a fundamental truth since the beginning, both in chronology and priority.
Enabled to Love
As believers, we are commanded and privileged to love one another, and we are enabled to do so through the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5 says, “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” This divine enablement ensures that genuine faith is always accompanied by love. J.C. Ryle noted that faith and love are as inseparable as sun and light or fire and heat.
The Quality of Love
Our love for others must reflect the love of Christ. Jesus commands in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.” This command is new in magnitude and degree, calling us to love to the fullest extent, just as Jesus loved us.
Final Words
Our next blog post, we will explore the practical expressions of Christ-like love. For now, reflect on the high calling to love as Christ loved. Examine your heart and actions. Do you love others, even those who are difficult to love? This is the true test of our faith and the evidence of God’s transformative work in us. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into living out this divine love in our daily lives.
