“Wherefore all theology, when separated from Christ, is not only vain and confused, but is also mad, deceitful, and spurious; for, though the philosophers sometimes utter excellent sayings, yet they have nothing but what is short-lived, and even mixed up with wicked and erroneous sentiments.”

John Calvin

The definition of love is described as attachment to, regard for, or affection for another seen in actions for their benefit. God’s description of love is shown in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. His love is known because of what He was willing to do on behalf of those who were at one time His enemies. Paul gives God’s definition of love in his letter to the Corinthians. It is interesting that he begins by describing hypothetical situations of service, appearing to be motivated by love, but are without love. He says such service to another without true love is worthless. This tells us that there is not only counterfeit love, but also that true love can only be expressed and exemplified by someone who is renewed in Christ. Love as defined by God is therefore the peculiar quality of a person who is born from above. This is exactly what is stated by John, “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We can also understand from this that we cannot love in the manner that God requires and commands unless He grants us His spirit of love.

Love is immensely important. We know that love is the chief of all commandments, which when implemented covers all the other commandments. We are to, “Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Matt. 22:36ff). This encompasses far more than a surface appearance of love. It necessitates a change of heart that places God foremost above anything or anyone, including self. This can only be possible from a new nature, as all people are born self-centered in sin and contrary to the nature of God (Rom. 3:10-18). We are informed of the source of our love, that for those born of God, “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts” (Rom. 5:5).  A Christian therefore is commanded to exercise the love that God has implanted. Love for God and for others is profoundly seen by the encounter of Christ with Peter following Peter’s denial of our Lord at the time of His crucifixion. Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love Me?” When Peter says yes to all three questions he is told to “Feed My sheep” (John 21). Peter was commanded to express His love to God and use his God given ability as a leader to love others by feeding them God’s truth.

By extension how is our Christian love exercised? We are told that love, “Does not rejoice in unrighteousness” or that which is wrong, but “rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6). Yet we see in our culture among many that we show love for others best when we do not tell them the truth. Problems arise not so much from truth but from faulty opinions. Certainly, wisdom should be shown in how we approach others. This is seen by the beautiful proverb, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word spoken at the proper time” (Prov. 25:11). The word spoken at the proper time is God’s truth. God’s truth is always the essential in any conversation or setting.  The edifying and necessary truth of God is always of the greatest value. It is never to be compromised. We are to “Speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Our fallen world is dominated by lies and deceit. As a result, many people live in a kind of fantasy world where love and truth are either unknown entities, or they are blurred amidst a sea of ideas in mixed confusion. A Christian is far different. We are set apart to God in essentials of love and truth. In fact, Christians will love truth and hate falsehood. And by this, the Christian is in the position of bringing the truth to others, and not in a debating tone or arrogant manner but bathed in the concern of true love.

The Bible speaks of the spiritual sphere of light as a metaphor for Christians and by contrast the spiritual sphere of darkness for unbelievers. References to the sphere of light include truth and love. Truth and love are inseparable to Christians. Living in the light is another way of expressing being filled with love and truth. We gather on Sundays to express our love to God and love for God’s truth. And out of our love for others we rejoice to give them God’s truth. Because love of others means having their well-being in our heart and what is best for them as a goal, the church serves as an oasis of light filled with truth and love. The greatest need and blessing for all who will listen is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we truly love others, we will be compelled to prayerfully give them the truth expressed in the sincerest attitude of God’s love. We, in Christ, as the recipients of God’s love have the privilege and the responsibility of expressing that love by blessing others with the truth found only in Jesus Christ.  No other gift of love has such significance.