Some men have to set aside their own lives to protect the lives of others. It’s just how it’s done if the country is going to survive the wilderness.”
–Mel Odom (The Hold Up)
“He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.”
–John 14:24(NASB)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (HCSB)
Today is V-J Day (Victory over Japan) marking the end of World War II; V-E Day had taken place a few months earlier. The war was slaughter, many died or were mangled either in mind or body, because of the fight to end the world of the menace of Fascism. Sacrifice upon sacrifice was given. I didn’t want the day to pass without mentioning the sacrifice of those who lived during that terrible time, and it leads into the verses in 1 John, to study today. I’m using the Holman Bible today rather than the New American Standard.
3:16 — This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers.
3:17 — If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his need–how can God’s love reside in Him?
3:18 — Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action.
One thing I trust you have noticed in our study of how to live in this confused and chaotic world is that doctrine always precedes action. Doctrine first! Then following doctrine is always practice! There must be grounded doctrinal theology before there can be practical theology. If not there can become a problem of practice with no sound doctrine to back it up.
These verses go beyond “liking.” Liking is something natural, something elemental; not the result of effort. Love takes effort and true love if seldom practiced properly because of that. We commonly hear the misuse of the term “love.” People say, “I love those shoes,” “I love ice cream,” “I just love that song.” No, these are love for objects. When we love we must always think in terms of God. Therefore, love is highly intelligent; it is never elemental or instinctive; love goes beyond the superficial and visible. Love overcomes obstacles and excuses. Far too often people are in love with love. They are content with elevated feelings and thoughts. They may become giddy in their emotions.
We are familiar with the writings of Paul in 1 Corinthians the 13th chapter that describe “love,” but we do not take to heart one of the verses, “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.” (verse 11, NASB). A child’s love is sincere, but immature. As we grow in Christ we should never lose the sincerity of love, but we should become mature in our love.
Love is always practical. Love is always active; there is always an expression of some sort. We get into the controversy of legalism–Jesus said if you love Me, keep My commandments. Look at it this way. Doing the commandments without love–that is legalism. Doing the commandments because of love is showing that we love Christ. True love does not look at itself; it is absorbed in the object of its love.
God saw our predicament and He had compassion upon us. He did not think of Himself; He did not think of His rights. He sent His only begotten Son to this sinful world to redeem it and to show God’s love. If we think of our rights we are not loving; if we think of our responsibility we show our love.
“That is the essence of love. It acts, it gives, it expresses itself; it cannot help itself–it must… True love is always active, and there we see it to perfection: God giving Himself for the evil, the perfect for the vile and the condemned.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones