This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
This is Christ's own commandment that his followers love one another with the same self-giving love he has shown them, taking his love as their pattern and measure. That measure reaches beyond loving a neighbor as oneself, calling for heaven-born, unselfish and enduring love that does not depend on praise or affection. Its highest expression is laying down life for friends, as he laid aside his glory, bore betrayal, suffering and crucifixion, and gave his life to save every soul. Keeping this commandment is how believers abide in his love, as he kept his Father's commandments, bearing lasting fruit as branches in the Vine and finding fullness of joy. That love binds believers in oneness, marks them as his disciples before the world, and is proved not by word only but by deeds of compassion, unity without strife, and tender care for the erring and needy.
Words and Historical Setting
This is his own command to love one another as he loved, spoken at the Passover supper in the upper chamber after Judas had left, when he was alone with the eleven shortly before his death and approaching separation. Those words near the close of his earthly ministry were given to give his followers hope, courage and comfort, and to strengthen them for future trials, temptations, disappointment and trial, with the charge to remember his love in all their work and councils. He first directed their thoughts to the great object of his mission kept ever before him, that all his humiliation and suffering would glorify the Father's name, and this was his joy.
It belongs to his words of comfort, counsel and prayer and to his plainly stated will in John 13-17, especially John 14-17 and John 15-16, and to the lesson of the vine and the branches in which anyone by faith and obedience can become such a branch. It is called the new commandment, by which all men know they are his disciples, and it is repeated for emphasis, that his followers will love one another, with the following words explaining that love through laying down life for friends, through friends obeying his commands and being brought into knowledge of what he received from the Father, and through being chosen to bear lasting fruit. It belongs to the encouragement and hope given because he knew the trials that would come to his church through unconverted believers, and it is part of the gospel antidote for sin. Studying it imparts courage to stand fast in the most trying hour, bringing strength and assurance to the true believer as long as time shall last, and ministers are to believe it and live it out before their fellow ministers.
Its wording makes his own love the pattern and measure for love one to another, and this goes beyond loving a neighbor as oneself. It is heaven-born, unselfish, and not dependent on praise, affection or appreciation, shown in purity and self-denial rather than selfishness, respecting the rights of others and hindering evil against them when possible, with anything less falling short of Christianity. It is to be cultivated and expressed in seeking the good of others, and truth remains in the heart through love that works to save those who are perishing.
The disciples did not grasp its depth when it was spoken, and its new part was not understood at the time. Its meaning became clear after they witnessed his agony, betrayal, abuse, trial, suffering and death on Calvary, which showed the depth of this love and revealed that no greater love could be shown, and after his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Especially after the Holy Spirit rested on them at Pentecost was revealed what the love of God comprehended and what love they were to exercise, and they afterward repeated these words to strengthen one another, and they continue to bring comfort, peace and hope.
The command holds both a claim and a promise, and keeping it is how believers abide in his love and have his joy remaining in them with full joy, just as a branch bears fruit only by abiding in the vine. It must be indelibly imprinted on the heart by repeating it, by reading the Word in the light of God's authority, by meditating until the understanding is opened to its requirements and human dependence, by praying until its meaning is fully learned, and by fixing the eye on Christ alone in quiet waiting to hear his voice, while the Holy Spirit as his representative in the world brings his claims to remembrance so they are not forgotten or neglected. Its lessons in John 15 unfold with greater and increased loveliness, giving rays of light to be preserved and imparted to others, and when let to shine in the heart and then to others in clear, distinct rays it brings souls to the light and encourages and blesses those who receive it. It is not bondage to the law but is given by the Master so his followers will be joyful, for his words are spirit and life to be believed and taken at his word by stepping out on faith and serving God with all heart, might, mind and strength, with the privilege of being children of God, bringing precious opportunities to be a light and blessing to others and gathering hope and peace and fullness of joy into the soul to carry that cheerful hope and peace into the lives of all around instead of strengthening unbelief.
Nature of Commanded Love
The love commanded is the same self-giving love Christ has shown, with his own love for his followers as its pattern and measure. Believers are to love one another by his example, taking the love he has exercised toward them as the rule for the love they show.
That love is heaven-born, unselfish, self-denying and self-sacrificing, joined to meekness and lowliness rather than centered on self or on gaining the highest place. It does not depend on praise, affection or appreciation, is sincere and enduring, gives time, attention, patience and sympathy, and works for the salvation of others rather than limiting care to self, family or temporal concerns. It rules out merely tolerating one another and forbids arbitrary, hurtful demands, and it is patient under resistance, opposition, slowness to understand and hurt feelings, purging selfishness. It is quickened by receiving life from Christ and by union with him and the Holy Spirit, so that those who belong to him love others because they are his.
Its highest expression and full demonstration is laying down life for friends, for Christ gave his life to save every soul. He laid aside royal glory and crown to take humanity, and bore temptation, condemnation, betrayal, suffering and crucifixion to pay salvation's price. His love was fully revealed through betrayal, suffering and death, with no greater love possible to be shown, culminating in his declaration that his work was finished to give everlasting life. This love belongs with obedience to his commands and is exemplified by willingness to lay down life for friends even when the world hates and persecutes for his sake.
It is directed toward all people, who belong to God, so no one is to be hated but all are to be helped and lived with in harmony. It extends to the fallen, erring and sinful, so that kindness that helps lift a fallen person and every act of mercy counts as done to Christ. It is directed toward people and seeks their good, not toward their evil works.
It is proved by deeds and obedience, not by word or tongue only, even to laying down life for the brethren and to opening compassion and this world's goods to a brother in need. Its pattern is God giving his only-begotten Son as propitiation that men might live through him unto everlasting life, and Christ laying down his life. So expressed in action it makes his followers increasingly like him, moves them to work for the salvation of others, marks them as his disciples, and shows deep, unselfish love in obedience to his will.
Abiding Obedience and Fruit
Keeping this commandment is how believers abide in Christ's love, just as Christ kept His Father's commandments and abides in His Father's love. This obedient love is the fruit borne by the branch abiding in the Vine, representing Christ's character, glorifying the Father, marking His disciples, and serving as the evidence of love for God and the condition of continuing in His love. It belongs to abiding in Christ as branches abide in the vine, bearing much fruit, receiving answered prayer, and proving friendship with Him by doing whatever He commands, even to the greatest love of laying down life for friends. Practicing it brings Christ's joy to fullness and is given as strength to lay hold upon for deliverance from temptation, peace with Him, and standing on vantage ground upheld by Him.
This obedient abiding keeps Christ's joy remaining in believers and makes their joy full, with peace, light, and power for fruit-bearing. Abiding in Christ with His words abiding within gives faith and power so churches have no excuse to be without them, brings answered prayer for whatever is asked, for without Christ nothing can be done and only His vivifying, sanctifying power enables fruit-bearing. That joy is the joy Christ alone can give, the joy of obedience and cheerful performance of daily duties in perfect obedience, cooperating with Christ in redemption, not mere joking or levity, and it is lived out in precious opportunities to be a light and blessing, gathering hope and peace into the soul by believing what the Lord says and carrying that cheerful hope into the lives of all around. Keeping His commandments shows love for Him, and that love was fully demonstrated in His condemnation, crucifixion, giving His life to save every soul and draw all to Him, culminating in His declaration that His work was finished, while to love God supremely and neighbor as self fulfills the law.
Those who do whatever He commands are His friends, no longer servants, brought into knowledge of what He heard from the Father, chosen and ordained to bear much lasting fruit even when the world hates and persecutes them for His sake. This friendship and fruit glorify the Father, make them known as His disciples, bring answered prayer in His name, and are expressed in practical kindness and care cultivated among believers and given back to God as fruit. The command is given again so that His followers will love one another, and this love is exemplified by His willingness to lay down His life for His friends.
Obeying it is possible through grace as a present abiding Saviour, drawing life from the same Vine and Spirit, with Christ working through those who abide in Him so their lives represent God's love and lead them to labor for sinners' salvation. By receiving Him by faith true believers become partakers of the divine nature, escape the world's corruption, are cleansed from inherent sin and cultivated wrong tendencies, are sanctified through the truth, and gain the victory needed to enter the city of God, revealing Christ's character — divinity joined with humanity — in the believer. Through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit believers are quickened to love one another truly and without pretense, as a living principle and lasting power and sincere enduring love, not a passing emotion or ordinary regard, cherishing this love as the basis of church unity while preserving each believer's individuality in fellowship without requiring uniformity. Following God's promises and working according to the plan of salvation brings Christ's abiding presence, peace, and restfulness, calls for overcoming difficulties between people, practicing Christ's life with childlike willingness, forbids working evil to a brother's interest under excuse of helping God's work, and prepares believers to meet in God's city with unhappy differences gone.
It states God's requirements and plain duty to God and fellow men with deep solemn obligation, leaving churches and individuals without excuse if they miss the way. It is part of the substance of God's covenant and one of the conditions for answered prayer and for being made sons and daughters, members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, with characters it is safe for the Lord to accept. Claiming God's promises while refusing this obedience insults God, dishonors Him, and shows lack of love for Him, while keeping it honors God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, honors Christ as Teacher by believing every word, and bears the divine credentials to the world testifying that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so believers do not perish but have everlasting life. It lays down a duty specified by Christ as Substitute and Surety that must be carefully studied and earnestly practiced rather than neglected for unimportant matters, must be obeyed as every word from the mouth of God and done and not merely professed, and holds large possibilities meaning much to every church and member to be dwelt upon and presented by pen and voice.
Unity and Witness to World
Love for one another grows out of shared connection to Christ the true Vine, for believers draw life from the same source and are sustained by the same Spirit. This oneness with Christ produces oneness with each other through the Holy Spirit, so that walking closely with Christ the center necessarily draws believers close to each other, while walking apart from Him causes dissension and coldness toward His followers. It binds Christians together in fellowship and unites hearts, plans, prayers and efforts in the work entrusted to them, including seeking those for whom Christ died, and leaves no room for opposition or dissension against another child of God, calling them to live as one family redeemed by Christ. The unity is like that of the Father and Son, and it preserves each believer's individuality, joining the branches in fellowship without making them identical or requiring uniformity. It is a decided, positive command to be done and not merely professed, measured by Christ's own love even to laying down life for friends, belonging to those who do whatever He commands and who as friends and not servants receive all things He heard from the Father, having been chosen and ordained to bring forth lasting fruit so that whatever they ask the Father in His name will be given.
This love is the earthward expression and manifestation of God's love, the principle Christ became one with humanity to plant in the human heart to make people children of one family. When believers love the world as Christ loved it, His mission is accomplished in them, heaven is begun on earth, they are fitted for heaven because heaven is in their hearts, and God with them becomes God in them. It marks His disciples, belongs to abiding in Christ and keeping His commandments, bears lasting fruit that glorifies the Father, brings fullness of joy, and is evidence of friendship with God. Christ's love was fully revealed and demonstrated through betrayal, condemnation, suffering, crucifixion and death, culminating in His declaration that His work was finished, and no greater love could be shown, yet obedience to this love is possible. By this unity and love all men know they are Christians, and it shows the world that the Father sent Christ and loves His people as He loved Christ, with Christ in believers and the Father's love for Christ in them.
The command calls for unity among professed Christians and forbids small disputes and self-seeking that divide them, forbids contention, strife, division, pitched battles, exposing variances, childish strife, pettishness, malice and hatred, jealousy, envy, evil surmising, suspicion, distrust, faultfinding, harsh judgment and unkind talk, criticism that overlooks good done through brethren God is using, hunting for something to condemn, watching brethren with suspicion, enmity and bitterness, seeking the highest place, and working evil to a brother's interest under excuse of helping God's work. It requires laying pride and dignity down, humility, meekness and gentleness, forbearance, patience, tender care and building one another up without partiality or coldness, controlling thoughts and words, daily emptying the heart of self and of hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, depending wholly on Christ, and welcoming and nurturing children in the church rather than setting them aside. Keeping it means abiding in Christ and letting His words abide, keeping His commandments as He kept His Father's commandments, continuing in His love, bearing much fruit with His joy remaining and full, loving Jesus by loving those He purchased with His blood, and reflecting His holy character. It holds large possibilities and means much to every church and every member, must be dwelt upon and presented to the world by pen and voice, must be obeyed as every word from the mouth of God, for to disregard it while claiming to believe dishonors God.
Obeying this mutual love gives strength to lay hold upon for deliverance from temptation, peace with Him, standing on higher vantage ground upheld by Him, and withstanding sophistry and strong temptation of the kind brought to Adam and Eve by looking to Christ as helper and receiving Him into the heart as an abiding friend. Studying it imparts courage to stand fast in the most trying hour, bringing strength and assurance to the true believer as long as time shall last, because Christ knew the trials that would come to His church through unconverted believers, and it belongs to the encouragement and hope of John 14-16 and to a chapter that points to trials and conflicts while assuring that God's Captain of the Lord's host fights for them. It holds firm faith in present truth when every feature of faith and its pillars are tested in the most trying way, with large blessing and being kept by God's power so the enemy cannot turn allegiance aside, giving strength against Satan and preparation to meet Christ with joy. It is part of Christ's instruction to every church, school, sanitarium, printing establishment and Christian home showing how people may receive His grace, to be obeyed even when the world hates and persecutes for His sake in bearing lasting fruit, and refusing to follow His instruction leaves people weak and unready to belong to His people when He comes in glory.
Daily Life Applications
The command is lived out in serving Christ and laboring for the salvation of souls, warning neighbors, friends and unbelievers, gathering children to Christ, welcoming those turning from error, and communicating grace to others. This work belongs to all believers including parents and family members, not to ministers alone, for all are chosen and appointed to bear lasting fruit and represent Him. Giving of one's life so others may be blessed, helped and strengthened to grow in Christ, giving time, attention, patience and sympathy rather than limiting care to self, family or temporal concerns, is the self-denying imitation of the way Jesus loved. Carrying out the command brings happiness in ordinary life and under affliction and stirs gratitude for God's love, while working contrary to Christ's example is inconsistent with being His friend, and the love cultivated is to be brought into the world through teaching and conduct as a wholesome saving influence amid human inhumanity in submission to God's commandments.
In the home the command governs husbands and wives, parents and children, requiring loving conduct without unkind words, jealousy, envy, scolding or fretting. Parents are to share with their children the light God has given for managing the family, bring them up in the Lord's nurture without passionate or careless speech, and not scold or fret before them because this sets a harmful example. Husbands are to treat wives with tender, faithful, compassionate care and seek their good, not rule like taskmasters nor act from selfish or harmful desire, requiring only what is good as Christ does in His care for the church. Under such influence a wife's submission brings rest and benefit, and obedience to His word brings a kind spirit into family life, binds disciples together, prepares them to receive the Holy Spirit, helps lead people to salvation, and serves as the sign by which others recognize them as Christ's disciples.
In church, school, sanitarium, printing office and business the command binds workers in fellowship to seek those for whom Christ died, forbids small disputes and self-seeking that divide, and calls for unity among professed Christians including welcoming and nurturing children rather than setting them aside. Ministers are to believe it and live it out before fellow ministers in reconversion and unity, and teachers are to show meekness and tenderness to youth, giving time, attention, patience and sympathy and working for their salvation with concern extending beyond self and family. The same love must control all business transactions, especially for those handling sacred things, making no sharp transaction to gain advantage for self to another's disadvantage, since such dealing violates God's law, dishonors His name, and can cause loss of souls for workers and coworkers. It requires representing Christ in spirit, temper, deportment and business, inspiring confidence in piety and purity of principle and doing good to fellow workers, never stern, iron-hearted, unfeeling, cold or unloving, putting no one above another nor treating a fellow worker coldly but showing tender self-giving care, valuing souls above wealth or education.
Toward those who err it means tender compassion, mercy, forgiveness and humble care, exercising the same measure of grace received, not circumscribing their course or taking away freedom of action, for there is no kingdom of God without this love because God is love. Those who have treated them wrongly should confess, admit unwise treatment, ask forgiveness and seek reconciliation, especially with people their conduct has driven away from the church. One who has been an adversary and caused personal injury is to be taken back, confessions accepted and pleadings for another trial heeded even with no evidence of marked change, the door opened and the wanderer welcomed to the fold with hope, the door of hope never closed, acting as Christ would act to save the soul. A tempted, deceived, perverse soul is to be taken by the hand and surrounded with favorable influence instead of left to be ensnared to ruin, with all possible done to help heavenward without waiting for evidence of transformation, since only the Holy Spirit can mold experience after the divine similitude, and believers are to make Christ the focus rather than dwell on faults, kindly correcting without gossip, flattery or harshness and being willing to sacrifice opinions and feelings to save a brother.
Keeping the command requires a purified heart with selfishness dug out by the roots, entire surrender to God's will, daily emptying of self, living as Christ lived and overcoming the world, and oneness with Christ through the Holy Spirit producing oneness with one another. Love centered on self or on gaining the highest place is not Christ's love, which is joined to meekness and lowliness even to laying down life for friends, and walking apart from Christ causes dissension and coldness while walking closely with Him as center necessarily draws believers close to each other, for sanctifying grace binds hearts together and no one can love God while failing to love the brethren. It demands watchfulness over thoughts, words and prayer, rejecting distrust, jealousy, evil suspicion, faultfinding, and instead strengthening and building one another up in loving unity, which is a way of loving Jesus and those He purchased with His blood. This self-denying love gives up selfish pleasures and practices stern self-denial, refusing to draw others toward temptation or amusement that weakens concern for salvation, in order to elevate, ennoble and sanctify them, seek their spiritual good, and lead them toward obedience to God and Christlikeness.
This is Christ's own commandment that his followers love one another with the same self-giving love he has shown them, taking his love as their pattern and measure. That measure reaches beyond loving a neighbor as oneself, calling for heaven-born, unselfish and enduring love that does not depend on praise or affection. Its highest expression is laying down life for friends, as he laid aside his glory, bore betrayal, suffering and crucifixion, and gave his life to save every soul. Keeping this commandment is how believers abide in his love, as he kept his Father's commandments, bearing lasting fruit as branches in the Vine and finding fullness of joy. That love binds believers in oneness, marks them as his disciples before the world, and is proved not by word only but by deeds of compassion, unity without strife, and tender care for the erring and needy.
Words and Historical Setting
This is his own command to love one another as he loved, spoken at the Passover supper in the upper chamber after Judas had left, when he was alone with the eleven shortly before his death and approaching separation. Those words near the close of his earthly ministry were given to give his followers hope, courage and comfort, and to strengthen them for future trials, temptations, disappointment and trial, with the charge to remember his love in all their work and councils. He first directed their thoughts to the great object of his mission kept ever before him, that all his humiliation and suffering would glorify the Father's name, and this was his joy.
It belongs to his words of comfort, counsel and prayer and to his plainly stated will in John 13-17, especially John 14-17 and John 15-16, and to the lesson of the vine and the branches in which anyone by faith and obedience can become such a branch. It is called the new commandment, by which all men know they are his disciples, and it is repeated for emphasis, that his followers will love one another, with the following words explaining that love through laying down life for friends, through friends obeying his commands and being brought into knowledge of what he received from the Father, and through being chosen to bear lasting fruit. It belongs to the encouragement and hope given because he knew the trials that would come to his church through unconverted believers, and it is part of the gospel antidote for sin. Studying it imparts courage to stand fast in the most trying hour, bringing strength and assurance to the true believer as long as time shall last, and ministers are to believe it and live it out before their fellow ministers.
Its wording makes his own love the pattern and measure for love one to another, and this goes beyond loving a neighbor as oneself. It is heaven-born, unselfish, and not dependent on praise, affection or appreciation, shown in purity and self-denial rather than selfishness, respecting the rights of others and hindering evil against them when possible, with anything less falling short of Christianity. It is to be cultivated and expressed in seeking the good of others, and truth remains in the heart through love that works to save those who are perishing.
The disciples did not grasp its depth when it was spoken, and its new part was not understood at the time. Its meaning became clear after they witnessed his agony, betrayal, abuse, trial, suffering and death on Calvary, which showed the depth of this love and revealed that no greater love could be shown, and after his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Especially after the Holy Spirit rested on them at Pentecost was revealed what the love of God comprehended and what love they were to exercise, and they afterward repeated these words to strengthen one another, and they continue to bring comfort, peace and hope.
The command holds both a claim and a promise, and keeping it is how believers abide in his love and have his joy remaining in them with full joy, just as a branch bears fruit only by abiding in the vine. It must be indelibly imprinted on the heart by repeating it, by reading the Word in the light of God's authority, by meditating until the understanding is opened to its requirements and human dependence, by praying until its meaning is fully learned, and by fixing the eye on Christ alone in quiet waiting to hear his voice, while the Holy Spirit as his representative in the world brings his claims to remembrance so they are not forgotten or neglected. Its lessons in John 15 unfold with greater and increased loveliness, giving rays of light to be preserved and imparted to others, and when let to shine in the heart and then to others in clear, distinct rays it brings souls to the light and encourages and blesses those who receive it. It is not bondage to the law but is given by the Master so his followers will be joyful, for his words are spirit and life to be believed and taken at his word by stepping out on faith and serving God with all heart, might, mind and strength, with the privilege of being children of God, bringing precious opportunities to be a light and blessing to others and gathering hope and peace and fullness of joy into the soul to carry that cheerful hope and peace into the lives of all around instead of strengthening unbelief.
Nature of Commanded Love
The love commanded is the same self-giving love Christ has shown, with his own love for his followers as its pattern and measure. Believers are to love one another by his example, taking the love he has exercised toward them as the rule for the love they show.
That love is heaven-born, unselfish, self-denying and self-sacrificing, joined to meekness and lowliness rather than centered on self or on gaining the highest place. It does not depend on praise, affection or appreciation, is sincere and enduring, gives time, attention, patience and sympathy, and works for the salvation of others rather than limiting care to self, family or temporal concerns. It rules out merely tolerating one another and forbids arbitrary, hurtful demands, and it is patient under resistance, opposition, slowness to understand and hurt feelings, purging selfishness. It is quickened by receiving life from Christ and by union with him and the Holy Spirit, so that those who belong to him love others because they are his.
Its highest expression and full demonstration is laying down life for friends, for Christ gave his life to save every soul. He laid aside royal glory and crown to take humanity, and bore temptation, condemnation, betrayal, suffering and crucifixion to pay salvation's price. His love was fully revealed through betrayal, suffering and death, with no greater love possible to be shown, culminating in his declaration that his work was finished to give everlasting life. This love belongs with obedience to his commands and is exemplified by willingness to lay down life for friends even when the world hates and persecutes for his sake.
It is directed toward all people, who belong to God, so no one is to be hated but all are to be helped and lived with in harmony. It extends to the fallen, erring and sinful, so that kindness that helps lift a fallen person and every act of mercy counts as done to Christ. It is directed toward people and seeks their good, not toward their evil works.
It is proved by deeds and obedience, not by word or tongue only, even to laying down life for the brethren and to opening compassion and this world's goods to a brother in need. Its pattern is God giving his only-begotten Son as propitiation that men might live through him unto everlasting life, and Christ laying down his life. So expressed in action it makes his followers increasingly like him, moves them to work for the salvation of others, marks them as his disciples, and shows deep, unselfish love in obedience to his will.
Abiding Obedience and Fruit
Keeping this commandment is how believers abide in Christ's love, just as Christ kept His Father's commandments and abides in His Father's love. This obedient love is the fruit borne by the branch abiding in the Vine, representing Christ's character, glorifying the Father, marking His disciples, and serving as the evidence of love for God and the condition of continuing in His love. It belongs to abiding in Christ as branches abide in the vine, bearing much fruit, receiving answered prayer, and proving friendship with Him by doing whatever He commands, even to the greatest love of laying down life for friends. Practicing it brings Christ's joy to fullness and is given as strength to lay hold upon for deliverance from temptation, peace with Him, and standing on vantage ground upheld by Him.
This obedient abiding keeps Christ's joy remaining in believers and makes their joy full, with peace, light, and power for fruit-bearing. Abiding in Christ with His words abiding within gives faith and power so churches have no excuse to be without them, brings answered prayer for whatever is asked, for without Christ nothing can be done and only His vivifying, sanctifying power enables fruit-bearing. That joy is the joy Christ alone can give, the joy of obedience and cheerful performance of daily duties in perfect obedience, cooperating with Christ in redemption, not mere joking or levity, and it is lived out in precious opportunities to be a light and blessing, gathering hope and peace into the soul by believing what the Lord says and carrying that cheerful hope into the lives of all around. Keeping His commandments shows love for Him, and that love was fully demonstrated in His condemnation, crucifixion, giving His life to save every soul and draw all to Him, culminating in His declaration that His work was finished, while to love God supremely and neighbor as self fulfills the law.
Those who do whatever He commands are His friends, no longer servants, brought into knowledge of what He heard from the Father, chosen and ordained to bear much lasting fruit even when the world hates and persecutes them for His sake. This friendship and fruit glorify the Father, make them known as His disciples, bring answered prayer in His name, and are expressed in practical kindness and care cultivated among believers and given back to God as fruit. The command is given again so that His followers will love one another, and this love is exemplified by His willingness to lay down His life for His friends.
Obeying it is possible through grace as a present abiding Saviour, drawing life from the same Vine and Spirit, with Christ working through those who abide in Him so their lives represent God's love and lead them to labor for sinners' salvation. By receiving Him by faith true believers become partakers of the divine nature, escape the world's corruption, are cleansed from inherent sin and cultivated wrong tendencies, are sanctified through the truth, and gain the victory needed to enter the city of God, revealing Christ's character — divinity joined with humanity — in the believer. Through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit believers are quickened to love one another truly and without pretense, as a living principle and lasting power and sincere enduring love, not a passing emotion or ordinary regard, cherishing this love as the basis of church unity while preserving each believer's individuality in fellowship without requiring uniformity. Following God's promises and working according to the plan of salvation brings Christ's abiding presence, peace, and restfulness, calls for overcoming difficulties between people, practicing Christ's life with childlike willingness, forbids working evil to a brother's interest under excuse of helping God's work, and prepares believers to meet in God's city with unhappy differences gone.
It states God's requirements and plain duty to God and fellow men with deep solemn obligation, leaving churches and individuals without excuse if they miss the way. It is part of the substance of God's covenant and one of the conditions for answered prayer and for being made sons and daughters, members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, with characters it is safe for the Lord to accept. Claiming God's promises while refusing this obedience insults God, dishonors Him, and shows lack of love for Him, while keeping it honors God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, honors Christ as Teacher by believing every word, and bears the divine credentials to the world testifying that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so believers do not perish but have everlasting life. It lays down a duty specified by Christ as Substitute and Surety that must be carefully studied and earnestly practiced rather than neglected for unimportant matters, must be obeyed as every word from the mouth of God and done and not merely professed, and holds large possibilities meaning much to every church and member to be dwelt upon and presented by pen and voice.
Unity and Witness to World
Love for one another grows out of shared connection to Christ the true Vine, for believers draw life from the same source and are sustained by the same Spirit. This oneness with Christ produces oneness with each other through the Holy Spirit, so that walking closely with Christ the center necessarily draws believers close to each other, while walking apart from Him causes dissension and coldness toward His followers. It binds Christians together in fellowship and unites hearts, plans, prayers and efforts in the work entrusted to them, including seeking those for whom Christ died, and leaves no room for opposition or dissension against another child of God, calling them to live as one family redeemed by Christ. The unity is like that of the Father and Son, and it preserves each believer's individuality, joining the branches in fellowship without making them identical or requiring uniformity. It is a decided, positive command to be done and not merely professed, measured by Christ's own love even to laying down life for friends, belonging to those who do whatever He commands and who as friends and not servants receive all things He heard from the Father, having been chosen and ordained to bring forth lasting fruit so that whatever they ask the Father in His name will be given.
This love is the earthward expression and manifestation of God's love, the principle Christ became one with humanity to plant in the human heart to make people children of one family. When believers love the world as Christ loved it, His mission is accomplished in them, heaven is begun on earth, they are fitted for heaven because heaven is in their hearts, and God with them becomes God in them. It marks His disciples, belongs to abiding in Christ and keeping His commandments, bears lasting fruit that glorifies the Father, brings fullness of joy, and is evidence of friendship with God. Christ's love was fully revealed and demonstrated through betrayal, condemnation, suffering, crucifixion and death, culminating in His declaration that His work was finished, and no greater love could be shown, yet obedience to this love is possible. By this unity and love all men know they are Christians, and it shows the world that the Father sent Christ and loves His people as He loved Christ, with Christ in believers and the Father's love for Christ in them.
The command calls for unity among professed Christians and forbids small disputes and self-seeking that divide them, forbids contention, strife, division, pitched battles, exposing variances, childish strife, pettishness, malice and hatred, jealousy, envy, evil surmising, suspicion, distrust, faultfinding, harsh judgment and unkind talk, criticism that overlooks good done through brethren God is using, hunting for something to condemn, watching brethren with suspicion, enmity and bitterness, seeking the highest place, and working evil to a brother's interest under excuse of helping God's work. It requires laying pride and dignity down, humility, meekness and gentleness, forbearance, patience, tender care and building one another up without partiality or coldness, controlling thoughts and words, daily emptying the heart of self and of hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, depending wholly on Christ, and welcoming and nurturing children in the church rather than setting them aside. Keeping it means abiding in Christ and letting His words abide, keeping His commandments as He kept His Father's commandments, continuing in His love, bearing much fruit with His joy remaining and full, loving Jesus by loving those He purchased with His blood, and reflecting His holy character. It holds large possibilities and means much to every church and every member, must be dwelt upon and presented to the world by pen and voice, must be obeyed as every word from the mouth of God, for to disregard it while claiming to believe dishonors God.
Obeying this mutual love gives strength to lay hold upon for deliverance from temptation, peace with Him, standing on higher vantage ground upheld by Him, and withstanding sophistry and strong temptation of the kind brought to Adam and Eve by looking to Christ as helper and receiving Him into the heart as an abiding friend. Studying it imparts courage to stand fast in the most trying hour, bringing strength and assurance to the true believer as long as time shall last, because Christ knew the trials that would come to His church through unconverted believers, and it belongs to the encouragement and hope of John 14-16 and to a chapter that points to trials and conflicts while assuring that God's Captain of the Lord's host fights for them. It holds firm faith in present truth when every feature of faith and its pillars are tested in the most trying way, with large blessing and being kept by God's power so the enemy cannot turn allegiance aside, giving strength against Satan and preparation to meet Christ with joy. It is part of Christ's instruction to every church, school, sanitarium, printing establishment and Christian home showing how people may receive His grace, to be obeyed even when the world hates and persecutes for His sake in bearing lasting fruit, and refusing to follow His instruction leaves people weak and unready to belong to His people when He comes in glory.
Daily Life Applications
The command is lived out in serving Christ and laboring for the salvation of souls, warning neighbors, friends and unbelievers, gathering children to Christ, welcoming those turning from error, and communicating grace to others. This work belongs to all believers including parents and family members, not to ministers alone, for all are chosen and appointed to bear lasting fruit and represent Him. Giving of one's life so others may be blessed, helped and strengthened to grow in Christ, giving time, attention, patience and sympathy rather than limiting care to self, family or temporal concerns, is the self-denying imitation of the way Jesus loved. Carrying out the command brings happiness in ordinary life and under affliction and stirs gratitude for God's love, while working contrary to Christ's example is inconsistent with being His friend, and the love cultivated is to be brought into the world through teaching and conduct as a wholesome saving influence amid human inhumanity in submission to God's commandments.
In the home the command governs husbands and wives, parents and children, requiring loving conduct without unkind words, jealousy, envy, scolding or fretting. Parents are to share with their children the light God has given for managing the family, bring them up in the Lord's nurture without passionate or careless speech, and not scold or fret before them because this sets a harmful example. Husbands are to treat wives with tender, faithful, compassionate care and seek their good, not rule like taskmasters nor act from selfish or harmful desire, requiring only what is good as Christ does in His care for the church. Under such influence a wife's submission brings rest and benefit, and obedience to His word brings a kind spirit into family life, binds disciples together, prepares them to receive the Holy Spirit, helps lead people to salvation, and serves as the sign by which others recognize them as Christ's disciples.
In church, school, sanitarium, printing office and business the command binds workers in fellowship to seek those for whom Christ died, forbids small disputes and self-seeking that divide, and calls for unity among professed Christians including welcoming and nurturing children rather than setting them aside. Ministers are to believe it and live it out before fellow ministers in reconversion and unity, and teachers are to show meekness and tenderness to youth, giving time, attention, patience and sympathy and working for their salvation with concern extending beyond self and family. The same love must control all business transactions, especially for those handling sacred things, making no sharp transaction to gain advantage for self to another's disadvantage, since such dealing violates God's law, dishonors His name, and can cause loss of souls for workers and coworkers. It requires representing Christ in spirit, temper, deportment and business, inspiring confidence in piety and purity of principle and doing good to fellow workers, never stern, iron-hearted, unfeeling, cold or unloving, putting no one above another nor treating a fellow worker coldly but showing tender self-giving care, valuing souls above wealth or education.
Toward those who err it means tender compassion, mercy, forgiveness and humble care, exercising the same measure of grace received, not circumscribing their course or taking away freedom of action, for there is no kingdom of God without this love because God is love. Those who have treated them wrongly should confess, admit unwise treatment, ask forgiveness and seek reconciliation, especially with people their conduct has driven away from the church. One who has been an adversary and caused personal injury is to be taken back, confessions accepted and pleadings for another trial heeded even with no evidence of marked change, the door opened and the wanderer welcomed to the fold with hope, the door of hope never closed, acting as Christ would act to save the soul. A tempted, deceived, perverse soul is to be taken by the hand and surrounded with favorable influence instead of left to be ensnared to ruin, with all possible done to help heavenward without waiting for evidence of transformation, since only the Holy Spirit can mold experience after the divine similitude, and believers are to make Christ the focus rather than dwell on faults, kindly correcting without gossip, flattery or harshness and being willing to sacrifice opinions and feelings to save a brother.
Keeping the command requires a purified heart with selfishness dug out by the roots, entire surrender to God's will, daily emptying of self, living as Christ lived and overcoming the world, and oneness with Christ through the Holy Spirit producing oneness with one another. Love centered on self or on gaining the highest place is not Christ's love, which is joined to meekness and lowliness even to laying down life for friends, and walking apart from Christ causes dissension and coldness while walking closely with Him as center necessarily draws believers close to each other, for sanctifying grace binds hearts together and no one can love God while failing to love the brethren. It demands watchfulness over thoughts, words and prayer, rejecting distrust, jealousy, evil suspicion, faultfinding, and instead strengthening and building one another up in loving unity, which is a way of loving Jesus and those He purchased with His blood. This self-denying love gives up selfish pleasures and practices stern self-denial, refusing to draw others toward temptation or amusement that weakens concern for salvation, in order to elevate, ennoble and sanctify them, seek their spiritual good, and lead them toward obedience to God and Christlikeness.