Don’t Fake Love

An old rock song says, “I didn’t know what else to say, so I said ‘I love you’.”  Unfortunately, in modern society many people use those same words with no more sincerity than the song writer.   They use the same words about a food they like or a style of music, a clothing fad or any number of other things, when, in reality they mean they just think it is attractive at the moment.  Sadly this often carries over into our attitudes toward other Christians.   Godly spiritual love goes much deeper than just the words, as I John 3:11-12 makes very clear.  “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.” 

Abel had done what God commanded while Cain did not.  Cain got jealous because God blessed his obedience, and did not do the same for Cain.  Rather than admit it was his own fault God did not bless him, Cain hated and murdered Abel.  We frequently see that same attitude, with people running down someone else’s accomplishments rather than admitting they have not earned the same rewards.  Had he loved Abel, he would have been pleased that God blessed him, rather than jealous.   Cain’s attitude is rather typical of the unsaved world, as I John 3:13-15 tells us.  “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” 

That attitude of competition and hating those who outdo us is a satanic attitude.  When a person is willing to destroy someone who is trying to do right, they are not walking in the Spirit.  In fact they are living as if they didn’t know God at all.  As we saw in 2:8-11, the lack of love for other Christians clearly indicates a person is not saved.  That we love other Christians indicates we have the Holy Spirit in us, and are saved.  That the world hates Christians demonstrates that they do not know God.    

God is love, and Christ demonstrated it by giving his life for us.  If we have that same attitude of love, wo ought to willing to do the same for others, as I John 3:16-18 explains.  “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”  If we are not willing to share the things we have with others, it clearly indicates we do not have God’s love in our hearts.   Godly love requires more than just words. 

The fact that we have a deep concern for other’s welfare should reassure us of our own salvation.  I John 3:19-22 advises, “And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” Sometimes we don’t feel like we are able to do as much as we should or aren’t good enough.  When we feel that way, we need to remember God is far more powerful than our feelings and knows we are still his child.  Those feelings do not change the fact.  When we feel good about our relationship with God, we have the confidence to pray, trusting God to supply what we ask because we love and obey him. 

God’s commands are actually fairly simple, as I John 3:23-24 tells us.  “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”   He simply asks that we place our trust in Jesus Christ as savior, and that we love other people.  If we will do so, the Holy Spirit will be obvious in our lives, giving us the assurance of our salvation.  Romans 8:16-17 tells us, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”  When we accept Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to take control, he provides all the assurance we will ever need that we have been saved.   Sincere love will be a natural part of our life.