TWO RADICALLY DIFFERENT LOVES
"Let us not love
in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth" 1 John 3:18.
This is really a very
practical application of the thought concerning the love of God rather than
the love of the world which has been already considered. John had first written
the words: "Hereby
know we love, because He laid down His life for us." Whatever
other men may mean by love, the child of God, has had a final interpretation of
it in that supreme and awe-inspiring manifestation. That being so, the Apostle
here pertinently asked: "But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholds his
brother in need, and shuts up his compassion from him, how doth the love of
God abide in him?" The question admits of only one answer, that
such a man is devoid of the love of God. Therefore the words of appeal follow.
In them the Apostle PUTS TWO KINDS OF LOVE INTO CONTRAST, with a double
description in each case. On the one hand is LOVE IN WORD AND WITH THE TONGUE;
and on the other is LOVE IN DEED AND IN TRUTH. The contrast becomes more powerful when the different parts of each are
placed over against each other. OPPOSED TO LOVE IN WORD IS LOVE IN DEED. OPPOSED
TO LOVE WITH THE TONGUE IS LOVE IN TRUTH. Love
in word may possibly be sincere, but it is of no real value if it stops short
of the deed. Love in deed is always of value, even though it speaks no word. Love
with the tongue is evidently insincere, for it is placed over against love in
truth. Thus it is finally seen that the FIRST LOVE IS NOT LOVE AT ALL. Love that professes, while it does not act,
is not true love. Love which acts is love in truth. See previous article on
1 John 2:15 TWO MEN WITH TWO DIFFERENT
LOVES.
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