Love: How is it that we demonstrate ours for God?
It seems to me that the answer to this question was made plain by our Lord Jesus Christ during the time of His earthly ministry.
John 14:15
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. [Emphasis added]
Even though I’ve taken this verse out of its context, it nevertheless answers our question. Our attitude and our actions as they relate to the Scriptures express our love [or lack of it] and appreciation for God. It is Paul’s words in the Bible that are God the Son’s words to us today.
1 Corinthians 14:37
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I [the apostle Paul] write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. [Emphasis added]
The one but very important thing we all must realize is that it is God’s Word as given to us by the apostle Paul that we must follow.
1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Be ye followers of me [Paul], even as I also am of Christ. [Emphasis added]
This is true even of the gospel message that Paul was commissioned to preach. Peter’s gospel, the gospel of the circumcision, was not the same as Paul’s gospel, the gospel of the uncircumcision.
Galatians 2:7
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; [Emphasis added]
Be aware that this is a verse that is mistranslated in many Bibles. I have an article on this website that explains and lists the MANY differences in Paul’s and Peter’s messages, including even the gospel they presented—
Peter and Paul: Was their message the same?
Please never be so foolish as to believe that Peter and Paul preached the same message. As per the Galatians 2:7 verse, even what people then had to believe to gain salvation was different from what it is today. We are even told that it is in accordance with our proclamation of Paul’s gospel that we’ll be judged. So, again, beware of getting this extremely important truth wrong.
Romans 2:16
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. [Emphasis added]
And what exactly was Paul’s gospel? Despite all the confusion and misunderstanding there is today about it, he clearly tells us—
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
He says it this way to differentiate it from the gospel Peter preached. But these Corinthians had gained salvation through Paul’s gospel.
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
Additional important details about Paul’s gospel are found in this passage—
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
He did this because we were all God’s enemies before we were saved [Romans 5:10].
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
To differentiate this from Peter’s gospel, Paul even calls it “my gospel” numerous times. If they were to grow in their relationship with God, it was Paul’s gospel and his teaching by which that was to be accomplished. Nothing has changed about this. It is Paul’s gospel that is ours today.
Romans 16:25
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to MY gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, [Emphasis added]
If you want more information about Paul’s gospel, please see my articles about all this—
Gospel: Which gospel did the 12 apostles preach after the ascension?
Peter & Paul: Was their message the same?
Gospel: Where did the apostle Paul get the one he preached?
We are even told that we’re to separate ourselves from those who are determined to teach a different gospel message from what Paul taught.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. [Emphasis added]
It is through God’s Word as it is taught by the apostle Paul that we manifest our love for God and for our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 16:22
22 If any man love [PHILEO = A personal friendship or rapport type love] not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. [Emphasis added]
That means we’re to “keep our distance” from these people lest we be influenced by them. This tells us we’re to separate ourselves from those who don’t love Him. He speaks of this often, accentuating its importance to our spiritual health.
The simple but practical statement my dad often made about this is—“If you sleep with the dogs you’re bound to have fleas.” One of the best decisions we’ll ever make is to affiliate ourselves with and make friends with other believers who understand and appreciate the teachings of the apostle Paul for as you’ll see in this study and in others on this website, he is OUR apostle with God’s message to us today.
The controversy comes when we express exactly how it is that we’re to express our love for God today. There was a time when one’s obedience to the Mosaic Law and that of the prophets of old had much to do with this. But today it is manifested by our love for the Bible, but especially that portion of it that is specifically addressed to us today. And the Mosaic Law is not a part of that.
Romans 6:13-15
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. [Emphasis added]
Therefore, we’re not to be a “lawless” people but we are under this principle called grace that speaks of the information found in the thirteen Pauline epistles. As Paul gave special attention to the message our Lord revealed to him, we are to do likewise. When we do this, we certainly express our love for God and the One who provided for our salvation.
Romans 11:13
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify [MEGALUNO = make large or “make a big deal over”] mine office: [Emphasis added]
Please realize that if you don’t recognize the extreme importance of the gospel and the teaching of the apostle Paul, you’ll never advance to spiritual maturity. This is THAT important!
A passage that immediately comes to my mind concerning our love for our Lord is one where the apostle Peter was once asked about this. Let’s look at it—
John 21:4-19
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved [John] saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [AGAPAO = mental attitude impersonal love] thou me more than these [Apparently He was referring to the fish and their trade of catching and selling them]? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [PHILEO = a personal friendship or rapport type love] thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Please note that Jesus used a completely different word for love, having a very different meaning. One would never know this important truth apart from an understanding of the original Greek text.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest[AGAPAO = mental attitude impersonal love] thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love[PHILEO = a personal friendship or rapport type love] thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
In what I call “personal” love there’s an intimate and full knowledge and appreciation for the virtues of the object of one’s love but in “impersonal” love there is not that knowledge.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [PHILEO = a personal friendship or rapport type love] thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest [PHILEO = a personal friendship or rapport type love] thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love [PHILEO = A personal friendship or rapport type love] thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
The difference in words used for “love” is not trite or unimportant. It is extremely important and something we’d never see apart from an understanding of the Greek text. It is important for us because it shows us something about the kind of “love” we’re to develop for God and our Lord. A new and immature believe can and will normally have AGAPE [the noun form] or AGAPAO [the verb form] love for God. But it is the mature believer and only the mature believer who has come to know and love Him intimately who has grown enough spiritually in his knowledge of Him to have PHILEO love for God and for our Lord. It is THIS kind of love every believer is to work at developing through his faithfulness to study [not just read] the Scriptures.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
Yes, Jesus is letting Peter know that he’s going to live a long life.
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. [Emphasis added]
Isn’t that what we’re all supposed to do? BUT how is it that we’re to “follow” Him today? This can only be done by learning and applying the teachings of the apostle Paul.
Again, 1 Corinthians 14:37
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I [the apostle Paul] write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. [Emphasis added]
There are things you’ll find in Paul’s writings that are not found anywhere else in the Bible. Today, when people truly love [PHILEO] God, they pay special attention to the writings of the apostle Paul. He clearly tells us we’re to let the words of God that were given to us through Christ and the apostle Paul to “dwell richly” in us.
Colossians 3:16
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. [Emphasis added]
Apart from our faithful compliance with this, we’ll never grow up spiritually so as to know and enjoy the rich blessings God has designed for us. As I often mention on this website, please note the last recorded words we have of the apostle Peter. The “church” at large has almost completely ignored this—
2 Peter 3:15-18
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [STREBLOO = twist or pervert], as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Please note that even Peter had trouble understanding Paul’s important teachings that are now directed to us today. But also notice the consequences for any believer who fails to take the time and effort to learn it and apply these things. One of the hardest things for believers to do today is to buck all the incorrect traditional teachings that dominate Christendom. Much of it may be biblical, but not Pauline and directed to us for our application.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness [STERIGMOS = firm support].
Always realize that the most evil people in the world are “religious” but unregenerate for it was the “religious” scribes and Pharisees who led in the demands for the crucifixion of Christ because of His teaching.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. [Emphasis added]
To be obedient to this command you are directed to the Pauline epistles. Only by this will you gain the understanding necessary for reaching spiritual maturity. Please let that be a priority for every day of your life.
