In the previous two bulletin articles, we have considered what John, the "apostle of love," has had to say about love; namely, God"s love for us and our love for God. In this week"s article, we shall study our love for one another.

Loving One Another Is Commanded
Jesus plainly declared, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.... 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another" (Jn. 15:12, 17 cf. 1 Jn. 3:23; 4:21). Loving each other is a necessary condition of our salvation. We noted in the article about our love for God, that Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15).

Furthermore, Jesus said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (Jn. 13:34-35). The newness of this commandment is that it is patterned after Christ"s love for us. Remember, the love about which Jesus speaks is agape love, seeking the highest good for the one whom we love. Jesus showed us this love in the ultimate way—suffering on Calvary"s cross! He loved us enough to die, even while we were sinners (Rom. 5:8). When we have this kind of love for one another, others will know that we are Jesus" disciples.

Loving One Another Is Natural
In the physical world, there are laws of nature (cf. Gen. 1:11). Spiritually, there are also "laws of nature." If we truly belong to God, we will be like Him, to a limited degree (1 Pet. 1:15-16). This truth is no less sure when it comes to love. John said, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God" (1 Jn. 4:7). Since God is love (1 Jn. 4:8, 16) and since God loves others (Jn. 3:16), His children should also love others, especially one another. When we seek the highest good for others, we are being like God. When we do not love others, we cannot be the faithful offspring of God. Our love, or lack thereof, reveals our true parentage. Listen again to John: "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother"s righteous" (1 Jn. 3:10-12). Cain was not of God because he did not love his brother.

When we love one another, we will naturally keep God"s commandments: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments" (1 Jn. 5:1-2). If we do not love one another, we are not keeping God"s commandments, and we are thus displeasing to God. "He that loveth not knoweth not God....20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" (1 Jn. 4:8, 20). Loving one another is serious business!

Loving One Another and Loving the Truth
When we love and appreciate the truth, we will love and appreciate others who do the same. Note John"s love of two individuals. First, "The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2For the truth"s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever" (2 Jn. 1-2). Here, John declared not only his love for this lady, but the love that all those who love the truth also had for her. People who love the truth love those who also love the truth! Second, "The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (3 Jn. 1-2). Here, John again declared his love for an individual in the truth. Note also that his request for Gaius involves seeking his highest good. Prospering materially by itself is not necessarily good, but John wanted Gaius to prosper as his soul prospered, showing the importance of the soul"s prosperity.

May the Lord help us to love one another. Loving others naturally flows from those who are His children. Are we His faithful children? Do we love the truth and those who labor in it? If not, why not begin today? Why not obey His will now?