Love One Another

“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34)

No Christian would ever question the fact of God’s love. There are many unsaved people who acknowledge the truth of John 3:16, although they have not accepted the gift of God’s great love.

The Greek word from which the word “love” is translated in John 3:16 is the root of the word in our text. It is the “God kind of love.” It is not a “warm fuzzy” feeling. It is not the word used when we express our love for a particular candy bar or soft drink.

It means to sacrificially do more than is expected for the good of others with no thought of being paid back, helped in return or benefited in any way. It is the kind of love that prompted God to send His only begotten Son into the world to live among men and to give His life for us. It was that love that held Jesus on the cross.

It is that kind of love that is used when our Lord commands us to, “love one another as I have loved you.”