In three words, I would like to describe God’s relationship with us. “I love you.” In two words, I would like to describe God’s desired relationship with us. “Love Me.” In three words, I would like to describe the relationship God desires us to have. “Love one another.” Does that sound too simple? Yes. Then why can’t we live that way? We seem to want to make rules about what it means to love God and to love one another. We also seem to want to make rules that must be followed before God loves us. We seem to want to make law where there is no law and condemnation where there is no condemnation.

The scriptures tell us that, “God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). Isaiah said, “Unto us a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus referred to Himself as the “Son of Man.” “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11). God has given unto us a Son. The Son of God and the Son of Man. “Unless one is born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). The water birth is from women (Son of Man) and the Spirit birth is from God (Son of God). “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven” (John 3:13). God so loved us that he gave us a Son, His Son.

God’s command to us is to believe in the One that He gave and to love one another. “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” (1 John 3:23). God’s desire is that we love Him. Jesus said “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Where there is love there is no need for a command. Can you love what you do not believe in? Can you love God and not love one another? “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?’ (1 John 4:20). “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:9).

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). “The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him” (1 John 2:27). “You yourselves are taught by God to love one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:9). Is there then no doubt that you must be bone of Spirit to enter the kingdom of God? ” Just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” How are you taught? “The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you . . . the same anointing teaches you.” What are we taught? “You yourselves are taught by God to love one another.” ” The same anointing teaches you concerning all things.”

God’s love is why Jesus Christ came into this world. God did that (not because of who we are but) because of who He is. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world” (John 3:17). We are not condemned by the love of God. We are commanded to love one another. If we love God we love one another, because He dwells with us and teaches us to love one another. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). That is not a commandment , but a fact. If we love Him, we keep His commandments. “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” (1 John 3:23). In three words, I would like to describe God’s relationship with us. “I love you.” In two words, I would like to describe God’s desired relationship with us. “Love Me.” In three words, I would like to describe the relationship God desires us to have. “Love one another.”

© 2006, Tim D. Coulter Sr.