Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world– our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1Jo 5:1-5 NKJ)John makes it very clear that there is a three-fold test that shows we love God.
1. Love of Jesus the Christ. Aren’t they one and the same, I hear you say. Yes! But some people have no problem with the God of heaven that doesn’t get involved in their personal lives and business. God incarnate, wants to dwell in and with you and change you by and through the working of the Holy Spirit.
2. Love of the Word. Thomas Jefferson decided to create his own Bible and removed all references to the supernatural, including the resurrection. God wants us to love every word that comes from God, the Logos and the Rhema, the written and the prophetic.
3. Love of brother and sister. For some, these are they that attend the same church or members of my family. For others, it’s the brotherhood of man. Jesus came to save the world; we need to open our eyes and see where and in whom God is moving.
So do I love God if I have one-in-three, or two out of three? Let’s just say that there’s room for improvement.
