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As we have been working through I John for the messages at Sunday morning
worship, we find the Apostle John emphasizing the command to love one another
again and again. Since this command stands out in this book, I have been amazed anew how often the same command is mentioned in every book of the New Testament and often in the Old Testament. It is also one of the key passages in our renewal emphasis and rightly so. For renewal to take place, we have to get this right or we fall short of the goal. John says, “this is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers...And
this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another…” (I John 3:16,23). The reason that this command is so important is that love for one another is the test of our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We
can’t say that we love Jesus and not love our brothers and sisters. We also cannot love one another if Jesus is not central to our lives. The real question is, for us as members of Christ’s Church, how genuine is our faith in Jesus Christ as indicated by our love for one another? Are we showing it? Do they know it? If not, then let us confess and repent of our lack of love and lack of faith in Jesus. Then ask God to enable us to return to our first love (vs. 16 and 23 above). If His love is in our hearts, it will come out and be shared with those about us. This is our first test of
renewal.