Pastor A

Undoubtedly the most beautiful prose ever written about love is found in the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians. This chapter reveals the majesty, power, and influence of love; it compares love with two other virtues: faith and hope. The chapter concludes that though faith and hope are important, still “the greatest of all is love.”

Love is the mark of the Christian. Imagine the scene: the disciples are solemn and puzzled as they listen to Jesus’ final instructions before His arrest, trial and death. For more than three years these twelve men have been with Him, and still they are not ready for all that is going to happen. He speaks words of comfort and encouragement to them. One thing He says to these twelve men is: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35

Jesus did not say that the world would know them as disciples because of their eloquent sermons, Bible knowledge or church activities. Instead, they would be known by their love for one another. The true test was in their personal relationships.

Down through the centuries, Christians have tried to identify themselves in many unusual ways. They have worn special clothing and jewelry. Some have even distinguished themselves by certain kinds of haircuts. Perhaps God has led some Christians to do such things. But the one identifying mark of the Christian which fits every generation is the one Jesus singled out: genuine love.

Love is even mentioned as the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” These nine qualities are evidences which show up in a life controlled by the Holy Spirit. Some Bible scholars suggest that the fruit of the Spirit is love and the other eight qualities are by-products of this love. Regardless, the emphasis is placed on love.

Matthew 22:34-40 relates an experience in Jesus’ ministry in which He presented a new perspective of the Ten Commandments. A brilliant Jewish lawyer had tried to put Jesus on the spot by asking Him this profound question: “Which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus silenced this young attorney by saying in verses 37-40,

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.“

Jesus answered the question by summarizing the Ten Commandments in two commandments. Then He added a “P.S.” to His answer: “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” In other words obedience to these two is the same as obedience to all ten!   

Much to the disappointment of many Christians, the Law of Liberty was not the only law given. And to make things even harder, the second principle, the Law of Love, supersedes the Law of Liberty! The Law of Love applies to the Christian’s responsibility to other Christians. Consider Romans 14:13-15, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.“

Even a brand-new believer knows that some Christians do things that other Christians would never dream of doing. In Romans 14, Paul singled out one particular problem which was creating a lot of dissension between Christians of that day. In that day, worshippers of the pagan gods had the practice of presenting meat as an offering to their idols. After hanging within the temple shrines for a certain period, this meat would then be taken to the marketplace and sold at a “discount” price.

Some Christians had openly purchased this meat. This created a stir within the church about whether or not it was right for Christians to buy and eat the meat. Those who bought and ate the meat vehemently defended their liberty to do so. Other Christians, just as vehemently, accused them of violating the bounds of their liberty. Paul was very direct in what he had to say about the situation.

Paul said this: 1) It was wrong for the Christians involved to judge one another; 2) the problem was a stumbling block in the path of weaker Christians; 3) there was nothing wrong with the meat, even though it had been offered to idols; BUT 4) if eating the meat on the part of some Christians would cause a weaker Christian to eat the meat without a clear conscience, then the practice was wrong.

Of course, this principle applies to all problems which occur in relationships between Christians. The important thing to remember is that anytime debatable issues divide Christians, the Law of Love has been broken.