1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God thus loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Ἀγαπητοί, εἰ οὕτως ὁ θεὸς ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἡμεῖς ὀφείλομεν ἀλλήλους ἀγαπᾶν.
God’s love does something in us and to us. First, it changes our hearts of stone, hardened and resistant, to hearts of flesh, open and pliable. Second, our love changes from self to others. We become engaged in our world, especially with those in need (physical, emotional, spiritual). Our basis for service is not our own motivation or strength, however good these may be. We serve because we are compelled by the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14). God’s love obligates us to love others. We have a debt of love (Romans 13:8). The debt part comes because of what God’s grace does for us in salvation. Yet, our debt to God can be repaid by loving others with God’s love. As we love others, we are also expressing our love for God. The links is significant: God loves us, therefore, we love one another. God’s love in us is not fulfilled until we love one another.
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