CHRIST LIKE LOVE

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What does “love” look like?

The problem with discussions of love in most Christian circles is that “love” is too often undefined.

I would assert that biblical love is Christlike love. Or, as Paul states:

“with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

“For our sake, He (Heavenly Father) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus, of course, demonstrated what this love looks like when He went to the cross. Consequently, a person who is transformed by biblical love is a person that consistently lays down one’s life for others.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,” Philippians 2:5-9

Biblical love surrenders power for the sake of the other

Christ’s display of this kind of love on the cross also demonstrates what true power looks like. Christian power, in other words, is loving the other so much that one is willing and prepared to die for the other.

This means that in the kingdom of God power is manifested in love—self-sacrificing love! This kind of power stands in stark contrast to the way power works in the world.

BIBLICAL LOVE IS AGAPE LOVE

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There are two kinds of love: Eros represents egocentric love, and Agape represents unselfish love. Often, even within Christian circles, love is said to mean something along the lines of feeling good about others and being nice to them. Yet Biblical love is sacrificial, it looks like Jesus on the cross! It is willing to regard others as more important than oneself.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.“ Philippians 2:3

This is why Jesus says that His disciples will be known by others because of their “love for one another” (John 13:35). Yet, at the same time, Jesus defines a disciple as one who denies himself, takes up his cross, and follows Him. (Mark 8:34).

What kind of difference in the world would the church be making if those who profess Christ, by the power of Spirit, were striving to love like this?

How many of our churches look like this? How many of us can say, come to my church and you will see people who are diligently striving to love others as Jesus loves?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lays forth His law of love which includes loving our enemies.

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” Luke 6:27

Luke then, adds, “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38).

The fact that Jesus provides this illustration demonstrates that the love He advocates has application to the marketplace. It is a love that does right within a society: i.e., it is “just and right.” The Bible calls us to imitate Jesus in this regard!

“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

For more see the article by Rob Dalrymple “Justice without Love is not Justice” Jan. 25th 2021 http://www.patheos.com