“And this is Love!”

“And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.” (2 John 5-6) (ESV)

Remember, this Apostle whom Jesus loved was so overwhelmed by the love of God the Father that was shown through God the Son that every writing we have from him talks about love. In John, the word love or beloved appears some 50 times in these three short letters. Love was a big deal to John. The Greek word that John uses and that we translate as “love” is agape’ and means “selfless, sacrificial and unconditional love.”

English is a tough language; we use “love” to mean so many different things. We say, “I love that scarf,” and “I love my children,” but they mean two completely different things. So, when we read the word “love” in our English Bibles, we need to be very careful. When we read that “God is love” (1 John 4:16), we conjure up many pictures in our minds, and usually they are wrong. Many think that because “God is Love,” He forgives everyone of everything and just wants us to “do our best.” They believe that everybody is a child of God, and therefore, as their father, God has an unconditional love for them. They can do whatever they wish, live however they wish, and believe whatever they wish, and because “God is Love,” He is OK with it all.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone who breathes is not a child of God; they are creations of God; you only become his child once you believe in His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s love is not unconditional, with the idea that God loves everyone no matter what. God does love the world and sent His Son into this world to redeem any and all who will call upon His name and believe that the Father and Son are one. Receiving God’s love and salvation is unconditional, as far as our having to work to get or keep it. No strings are attached; therefore, God’s love concerning salvation is unconditional. Now, once we change our minds (repent) about how we can receive salvation, admit we were wrong in trying to earn eternal life, and now accept eternal life as a gift from God, we can indeed be saved and only then become a child of God.

So, we need to recalibrate our minds to stop thinking of the American English word “Love” and start thinking of the Biblical meaning of Love. You see, God’s love is not something that is an emotion or feeling; God’s love is a demonstration of His concern and benevolence for us. God’s love is an act of compassion, seeing humans as utterly incapable of saving ourselves, and only by His grace did He give something that was priceless, His Son, to pay the price for our salvation and restore the fellowship we could have with Him. 

John says, “Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.” (2 John 3).  This is a love that is directed outward, not something that makes Him feel better, but something that changes our lives. Grace (receiving what we don’t deserve), Mercy (Not receiving what we do deserve), and Peace (to make us whole) are how God shows His love. That’s God’s love, and that’s what is meant by John when he says, “And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.” And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.” (2 John 5-6). You see, the commandment of Jesus is that we demonstrate God’s love for others by showing them God’s love by extending to them the grace, mercy, and peace that God has extended to us.

So, when we get confused by the English word “love,” we need to stop and read 2 John again to find out just what God's love really is. When we do, we will find that God’s love is Jesus!

 "Living in Grace is not about what I can do, but about what Jesus has already done!"