“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If 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? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” (1 John 4:16-21)
True knowledge of the Love of God transcends natural human understanding. It is only attainable through spiritual understanding which comes by revelation knowledge that the Holy Spirit gives to us as we study and meditate in what the Bible says about the Love of God. In Ephesians 3:19 the Bible says, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Here we see clearly that the Love of God in Christ Jesus cannot be grasped by natural human mind since “it passes (transcends) knowledge.” It is the Holy Spirit Who imparts the revelation of God’s Love to our hearts as we prayerfully meditate in God’s Word regarding the subject. This is why the Bible says, “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:5). It is therefore imperative for every Christian to spend quality time to prayerfully study and meditate in everything that the Bible says about the Love of God. This is because the Christian life cannot be successfully lived if one is ignorant on the subject of God’s Love!
Love and Fullness of God
The Bible says, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19). In other words, knowing and walking in the Love of God will result in you being filled with all the fullness of God! Furthermore, the Bible says that “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). Therefore, having more of the Love of God in your life is equivalent to having more of God in your life!
Love and Faith
The Bible says that “Faith works by Love” (Galatians 5:6). Therefore, the more of the Love of God you have operating in your life, the more effective and productive your personal walk of faith will become! You cannot successfully live and walk by faith if you are not walking in the Love of God!
Love and True Christianity
According to Jesus Christ (Who is the Head of the Church) it is Love that shows forth a true Christian! It is Love that identifies a genuine follower of Christ! He clearly revealed this in the Bible when He said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35).
Love and Fulfillment of God’s Laws
True Christianity is not a religion that is based on a long list of dos and don’ts. Rather it is a calling to live out the Character Nature of God which is Love. Therefore, it is by living and walking in Love that one fulfills all the righteous requirements of the laws of God! This is why the Bible says, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:8-10). Also, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Galatians 5:14).
Love and Boldness in the Day of Judgement
It is Love that will give us boldness before God in the day of judgement! This is why the Bible says, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17).
Love and Fear-free Living
The Bible says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18). This means that walking by Love will help you eliminate all forms of fear from your life! This is because walking by Love will manifest the Glory of God in your life. And where God’s Glory is manifestly present, the devil (who is the author of fear) cannot operate!
How to walk in Love
Walking in true love is not based on human opinions or preferences. It is based on God’s Word. “God is Love” (1 John 4:8) and, according to the Bible, God and His Word are one and the same (John 1:1). Furthermore, the Bible says, “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” (1 John 2:5). Therefore, the way you walk in Love is by obeying God’s Word in your dealings with God and your fellow human beings.
Self-examination
From the foregoing, it is clearly important for each one of us to regularly do a self-examination to ensure that we truly know the Love of God and are walking in it toward God and our fellow human beings. In 1 Corinthians 13 the Bible clearly reveals to us the main characteristics of genuine Love. It says, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) Therefore, each one of us can easily do a self-examination by checking to see whether we are walking in obedience to those revealed characteristics of Love. For example, “Am I really longsuffering (or patient) in my relationship with God and my fellow human beings?” “Am I really kind?” If you find yourself falling short in any area of your Love walk, you should prayerfully study and meditate on the Word of God that deals with that area and ask the Holy Spirit to help you get it right in Jesus’ name.
