Perfect Love

Perfect Love

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18.

It is really possible to possess this perfect love in our hearts and keep it under all circumstances. Then we stand on high and holy ground and are indeed free and happy. If we possess this love, then of course we do not bear a grudge against one single person, but we can love everyone with a pure and good heart. Only in this state do we have it really good, and we become genuine Christians—just as Christians should be. The result will be a completely new life with a new, divine nature and a blessed walk on the new and living way. Then we can boldly lift up our heads and look all around, and we can freely look up and expect our heavenly Bridegroom with joy.

All the Scriptures testify to such an exalted and blessed life, and it is very foolish to live one’s life in this world without partaking of this glory. It is an everlasting glory of peace and joy that no one and nothing can shake, and everything that comes our way results in increased glory as we go from light to light, from strength to strength, and from victory to victory.

All of sin involves punishment and fear. In this state a person leads a degrading and burdensome life. He lives in darkness and does not know over what he is stumbling. How terrible and foolish it is to live such a life in the dispensation of the new covenant, a life in which a person finds it difficult to bear and to forgive, and in which he remembers all the evil that was done to him. Then he abides in death, and he has good reason to fear. In the old covenant they lived in fear of death and were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Heb. 2:15. However, Jesus overcame sin, and thus the devil and death also. He has redeemed us with His precious blood so that we can live in liberty. “Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’” John 8:34-36. Just think how glorious it is in the midst of this evil, dark world to have a dwelling place in the house of the Lord now, and to be allowed to remain there forever together with Christ and all the saints in everlasting and glorified joy.

Natural, human joy cannot endure before God. We have nothing in ourselves that gives us the right to eternal life and glory. Therefore God’s love has to be poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and then we will not be put to shame in our hope. Rom. 5:5.

God magnified His name in Israel; His name is: I AM. Jesus revealed this name to mankind by being what He spoke. We can also glorify God’s name with our lives if we have His love in our hearts. Love is longsuffering, kind, etc. 1 Cor. 13. Yes, it is—and it is everlasting in all that is good and noble. If we do not possess this love, we are nothing, even if we have all knowledge, possess the gift of prophecy, are acquainted with all the mysteries, and have faith so that we can move mountains. Only works that have their source in that first and genuine love are acceptable to God and are found perfect before Him. Rev. 2:4; 3:2.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:14, “For the love of Christ constrains us.” This love was a compelling power in everything he said and did, and it has been a compelling power in all the saints since then. The first love loves first and does not wait for the others. It sacrifices, serves, and gives, and it makes no demands on the others. In 2 Corinthians 12:15 we can see a powerful manifestation of this first love: “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.” Paul walked in Jesus’ steps, and he said about himself that he had the mind of Christ. 1 Cor. 2:16. Jesus offered Himself while we were yet sinners. He did not revile in return when He was reviled, and when He suffered He did not threaten, but He committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. 1 Pet. 2:21-23.

We are called to be children of God—He who makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and who sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matt. 5:45-48. There is great power in this sun of love. Even if it is small in us to begin with, it nevertheless shines and warms from a pure and undivided heart. As long as we live we can widen our hearts so that we make room for more of this sun of love. It was great in Paul’s life, yet he pursued a greater fullness of it. “Pursue love,” he writes in 1 Corinthians 14:1. It is the quickest and best way to receive the gifts of the Spirit. But what would you do with the gifts if you do not have love? Then you would only use them for your own glory.

We are called to be rooted and grounded in love and being faithful to the truth in love, to grow up in all things into Him who is the head— Christ. As a body we are to be edified in love. Eph. 3:18; 4:15-16. “Faithful to the truth in love.” In their zeal, there are many who think they are faithful to the truth in love and want to put matters straight. However, one is not in a position to say or do anything for the necessary edification of the church without genuine and warm brotherly love, because then one does not see clearly and everything becomes muddled.

In Matthew 24:12, Jesus says that in the last days unrighteousness will abound, and then the love of many will grow cold. “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” V. 13. That means that we are to love and continue to love regardless of circumstances or conduct. Stephen, in the midst of a hail of stones, had a heart filled with the love of Christ and saw heaven open. The sun of love burned in the hearts of the five wise virgins in the midst of the evil in the darkness of night. Christ knows those who are His and looks into the hidden thoughts and intents of the heart. He loves us more than mother and father, sister, brother, or spouse. He is full of grace and help, and He is always ready to fill us according to our need for everything that is good, according to the abundance of His fullness, if we desire it in truth. “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance.” Ps. 2:8.

“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Pet. 4:7-8. Paul saw many things in the church at Corinth, but he was not offended by them. Love is not offended. Paul was appointed an apostle so that he, with great patience, care, and loving exhortations, could lead these stubborn and disobedient babes in Christ to the obedience of faith and to a sincere love for each other that came from the heart. There was much sin and foolishness he had to cover in his hope for them. You cannot work with hope if you are offended and become bitter because of what you see and hear. Then you are no better than the one who lives in these bad things.

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Col. 3:12-15.

This is the perfect servant’s garment that all true disciples and followers of Jesus are wearing. We can only meet our heavenly Bridegroom without blushing with shame if we are dressed in these garments. Christ and all His followers are dressed alike. In addition to all these fine clothes that are mentioned, we are to put on love, which binds everything together. This garment tolerates cold and heat, storm and rain—and never wears out. With it we can conduct ourselves honorably when confronted with all kinds of contradictions, scorn, mockery, and reproach. Love bears all things! It rejoices in the truth and fears nothing except acting against God’s will. Through love it is easy to keep Christ’s commandments; otherwise they will be bondage and a burden. Love for Christ produces such joy and peace that it saves us from the love of the world and the things in the world. One does not leave something that is much better for something that is much worse.

“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’” 1 Cor. 2:9. This tells us that with Christ’s love in our hearts, we have all reason to hope for the greatest and most glorious things, and we have every reason to chase all discouragement and fear far away.