5.
The Agape love of the Lord is very practical as it is displayed in the life of those who are His very own. It is of great strength and has very definite requirements. To make the statement that we love the Lord but at the same time have hatred toward our brother places one in the category of a liar. This declaration of the Apostle John is very specific and to the point. It is a situation where there is no compromise. To love the Lord is to love our brother in Christ, regardless of their displeasing actions toward us. Not an easy task but love overcomes all adverse attitudes. 1 John 4:20 Heavenly love has its roots on earth. If we cannot love that which we see, how can we possible love the unseen Lord?
To add to the strength of this state of affairs John proclaimed it to be a commandment. Jesus said that it was the second commandment and was connected to the first, through a love for the Lord and an exact emotion of love for our neighbor, to the same degree as we exercise love for ourselves. Mt. 22:39 May the Lord impress upon us how extremely important this facet of our Christian experience is to our own well being, not only spiritually but physical as well. Lets follow John as he takes this thought one step farther. A love for all who are in the household of faith assures us that we have passed form death unto life. Dead in trespasses and sins but now made alive in Christ Jesus. However, when we do not love our brother, we are situated in the same category as the old man, the man of the past. The sentence of death is upon us. Notice that John stated that when we do not love, we are relegated to a place as being one of those who have the sentence of death upon them. He did not say that we had to dislike them or even hate them but just not to love them, for whatever reason. 1 John 3:14.
What stronger emotions do we face in life other than love and hate. Attitudes which are diametrically opposite one to the other. They are the extremes of human emotion and are manifest in every human being to some degree. Love makes no room for the hatred of our brethren. As a matter of fact, just to allow hatred to take over our heart, is in the sight of the Lord as murder. Hatred will destroy all hope of eternal life. A hard, hard saying but it is the Word. 1 John 3:15 The reaction of the one who loves, is not to destroy, but is willing to go so far as to lay down their own life for the brethren. A commitment which may only be accomplished because of that Godlike, Agape love. Love is not exercised unless the Lord of love is ruling and reigning in the heart. 1 John 3:16.:END: