Recently, God has been teaching something to me about the incredible relationship between love and belief. And how true, deep love essentially stems from belief.
Now, this analysis may be a bit dense, but bear with me, because I feel like it holds some foundational truths and insight about what it means to love God in light of what is portrayed in the Gospel, and what that looks like in regard to our day-to-day life. And though I apologize for the density of this blog beforehand, I promise not all blogs will be like this! So don’t let this one be a turn-off! Nonetheless, the truths to be gained in Scripture — in general — cost much more than the amount of time and energy it costs us to expend on further understanding the amazingness of God’s love and how it relates to our lives. In any case regarding God’s Word, the ends more than justify the means.
But let’s cut to the chase:
In this blog I will particularly discuss 1 John 2:3-5, and will aim to give insight pertaining to why and how we can love God, and how Jesus’ relationship with the Father is significant in that it not only models a healthy dynamic of our relationship with the Father, but also reveals a great deal of God’s faithful character, and how we should see Him rightly. Indeed, our love for God can only be as far as our knowledge of Him. And real love responds as an outgrowth for who He really is.
+++
The first mention of love in 1 John significantly references a key association between obedience and God’s love. It reads, “but if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him” (2:5). In addition, the context of the passage also implies the factor of belief in the equation of God’s love and obedience; it states, “we know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands” (2:3). Therefore, a key conclusion can be made in light of these principles: obedience to God results only from a preceding knowledge of God, which completes the love of God (2:3-5). In simpler terms, obedience to God stems from the seed of the knowledge of God, and completes the essence of God’s love. Therefore, it is important to note that obedience to God is the byproduct of knowledge of God. A right knowledge of God imparts the capacity and strength and desire to obey God; and it is one’s obedience to God that completes God’s love in the individual (2:5).
A prime example of this relationship between belief, knowledge, obedience, the essence of God’s love, and the completion of God’s love is most fully manifested in the life of Jesus. Indeed, Jesus knew God the Father perfectly and fully, and argued that knowing the Father led to loving the Father, and that loving the Father is proven by obedience to the Father (John 14:7-23). Jesus’ knowledge of God lovingly compelled him towards a strong belief in God that was demonstrated upon obedience and submission to God’s will. And though God’s redemptive plan required Jesus to suffer and die, Jesus nevertheless lived in complete submission by faithfully believing in the ultimate premise of God’s love. And Jesus’ obedience to God completed the love of God – God’s ultimate redeeming love was made complete and fully manifest in Christ’s obedience, and it was demonstrated in the resurrection, where God’s love claimed victory over sin, life over death, and grace over judgment. In sum,
*Jesus’ knowledge of God compelled a love for God, which was demonstrated in an obedience that believed upon the will of God to complete the love of God.
Therefore, Jesus’ example provides much insight to the Biblical definition of love. It is evident through the following passages that knowledge, obedience, and belief are indispensible components – seemingly inseparably linked – that constitute the essence, sincerity, and completeness of love in terms with our relationship with God. A right knowledge of God for who He truly is – that which is awakened by the Holy Spirit – establishes a firm foundation that defines our beliefs about Him. A right knowledge of God is best depicted in the Gospel and in the life of Jesus: understanding that God desires the ultimate benefit of the individual within the context of His ultimately loving will for humanity (Rom. 8:28). [Meaning, we should see God in light of His work on our behalf, because of His great love.] And so, a correct perspective of God is colored by an understanding of God in the redeeming, loving, and joyful respects of the Gospel.
Moreover, an accurate, foundational knowledge of God naturally inclines a stronger belief in God through faith. In other words, if we really knew God for who He truly is, we would have an easier time and a greater sense of peace in placing our faith in Him. Thereby, we should obey Him in light of who He says He is, and we should love Him because we realize His statutes are ultimately loving to us anyways. Thereby, a right knowledge of God is fundamental because it allows us to see that God’s will and character revolves around love, redemption, and grace. Therefore, a belief rooted in the reality that God’s will is ultimately and sovereignly loving compels and leads to obedience – despite whether current circumstances are for better or for worse.
In fact, disbelief of God’s love as portrayed in the Gospel, along with its broad and profound implications, is the very essence of sin. A disbelief in what the Gospel implies might be demonstrated in one’s trying to find love, acceptance, self-worth, or joy in anything but God; indeed, he does not believe what the Gospel implies, or simply chooses to not value that enough – that God’s love is overwhelming beautiful and full in grace, more than sufficient to satisfy our hearts. *Therefore, obedience to God indicates a faithful belief in the love of God revealed in the Gospel, and is enacted in profound levels that parallel the profound implications of the Gospel.
Finally, a knowledge and belief in the love of God that leads to an obedience to God definitively demonstrates a love response to God. Indeed, love for God mirrors Jesus’ relationship with God – a humble, empowered, and joyful life that believed upon the ultimate love of God and obeyed according to that foundational knowledge of God – a recognition that God is a loving, sovereign Father: infinitely abounding with power, compassion, love, grace, and strength. “But if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:3-5).
This verse is huge because it highlights the core of love for God. Jesus loved God because He knew God (that He is good and always purposes ultimate good), and obeyed God accordingly. And despite suffering, He counted God as His treasure and believed that God was using all things to His good, pleasing, perfect purpose (if God was not, then it would not be in His good character). Similarly therefore, we know we are “in Him” when we “walk as Jesus did”: when we know God rightly, obey Him in light of who He says He is, count Him as our most valuable treasure, and believe that He is constantly working to bring good for the glory of His name and for the utmost joy of all peoples. And this is called love.
Therefore, we best learn what love truly is and how to love God and others when we look at the Gospel – how Jesus’ love for God trusted the love of God to complete the ultimate well-being and ultimate joy for others through His overarching will. In the same way, as Christians, we should love God out of a deep and right response to the Gospel; and the love relationship we have with God should empower our joyful endeavor to bring ultimate joy to all peoples. Namely, that they may know Jesus. And all that comes with being with Him.
———————————————————————————————————
I hope and pray this blog was helpful and/or insightful in whatever way possible as we discussed the significance of loving God in light of the Gospel, and what is inferred in the passage, 1 John 2:3-5.
