1/17/13- Love One Another

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another. (1 John 3:11)

A new commandment I give you: love one another.  As I have love you, so you should love one another.  All men will know that you are my disciples by your love for one another. (John 13:35).

Let no debt remain outstanding except for the continual debt to love one another.  For he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8)

Love one another deeply, from the heart.  (1 Peter 1:22)

Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. (1 John 4:7- see also 4:11,12)

I ask this: Love one another (2 John 1:5)

Thoughts: One of the faithful sayings of Christ passed down by Paul, John and Peter in their writings was this appeal of Christ to "love one another."  It is a most important, foundational concept.  This was a pre-creedal statement that summarized the teachings of Christ.  Jesus even said that the sum of the law and prophets was to love God and to love neighbor (Mt. 22:39).  It is clear that the early church had confessions that were passed down.  In the history of the church, when a major controversy occurred or a denomination was started a creed or confession accompanied it.  A Christian creed is simply a summary of what scripture teaches that clarifies and comments on scripture itself and the teachings of our Lord.  It is something that defines and unites.  As such, a creed also may leave someone out.  Any kind of statement of truth may leave out those who do not or cannot yet believe it.  The only way to say something that doesn't leave someone out (even "love one another") is to not say anything at all.  Some hold to this.  Yet those in the Reformed tradition have purposefully tried to be creedal in the example of this creed to "love one another."  Paul, James, Peter and yes- Jesus, clearly believed it was possible to hold to both truth (love one another is good) and love at the same time.  We should not hesitate to do this as well.

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to believe that loving one another is right.  But then, give me grace to really do it- and love my neighbor as myself.


We confess that God alone is Lord of the conscience, but this
freedom is for the purpose of allowing us to be subject always
and primarily to God’s Word. The Spirit will never prompt
our conscience to conclusions that are at odds with the Scriptures
that He has inspired. The revelation of the incarnate
Word does not minimize, qualify, or set aside the authority of
the written Word. We are happy to confess ourselves captive
to the Word of God, not just individually, but also as members
of a community of faith, extending through time and around
the globe. In particular, we join with other members of the
Presbyterian and Reformed community to affirm the secondary
authority of the Book of Confessions as a faithful exposition of
the Word of God.