These words, penned of
John, could not be more definitive. From the time of the
first fruit trees, love and loyalty have been an inseparable
theme in Scripture. Moses reminded those bound for the
Promised Land:
"And now, Israel, what
doth the LORD thy GOD require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy
GOD, to walk in all HIS ways, and to love HIM, ..."
The prophet Amos asks this very
thoughtful question:
"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
Micah proclaims that the heart is
inextricably linked to the feet, and our walk simply betrays the
GOD (god) we love:
"For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and
we will walk in the name of the LORD our GOD for ever and ever."
The New Testament provides no
loopholes for love either. These words of CHRIST are
intended to be convicting, but are they not also revealing?
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"If ye love ME, keep MY commandments."
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"He that hath MY commandments, and keepeth them, he it is
that loveth ME:"
-
"Ye are MY friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."
-
"And
why call ye ME, LORD, LORD, and do not the things which I say?"
I must admit my dismay
as to why a Lordship controversy even exists in the church.
"Now before the
feast of the passover, when JESUS knew that HIS hour was come
that HE should depart out of this world unto the FATHER, having
loved HIS own which were in the world, HE loved them unto the
end." Had HE not been
LORD, HIS love would have failed long before the cross (cf.
Romans 5:6-10). In the name
of accuracy, may I suggest we re-title our difference as a 'Loveship'
controversy? John, in his first letter, triangulates love
and obedience with salvation:
"And hereby we do know that we know HIM, if we keep HIS
commandments. He that saith, I know HIM, and keepeth not
HIS commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoso keepeth HIS Word, in him verily is the love of GOD
perfected: hereby know we that we are in HIM."
Paul is even more forceful when he declares:
"If
any man love not the LORD JESUS CHRIST, let him be Anathema
(accursed)..."
Admittedly, we could never conjure up this
love on our own, for truly:
"We love HIM, because
HE first loved us." And
though the sincere child of GOD will love HIM, it is equally
true that we oft fail to love HIM as HE demands and
deserves.
"But if we
walk in the light, as HE is in the light, we have fellowship one
with another, and the blood of JESUS CHRIST HIS SON, cleanseth
us from all sin."