Coffe and Bible“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” I John 5:3

THIS expression, “the love of God,” is to be understood in two ways, namely, the love of God to men, and the love of men to God. It is to be understood here in the latter sense. “For this is the love of God” — the apostle means, “love of God” in its work, not in its essence. Like a tree in its fruit, and not in itself: The tree is to be known by its fruit, and if we have entered into a divine union with Christ we shall bear divine fruit of a Christlike life and conversation; for “he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments is a liar. and the truth is not in him.” It is very important not to make any mistake in regard to this matter. It is not a matter of emotions, but of character. It is not something we are to FEEL, but something we are to BE; and in this lies our strength and power. Emerson says of love, that “the doctrine is not old, nor is it new”; “that every soul is a celestial Venus”, and that “every heart has its Sabbaths and jubilees.” “Love,” he says, “is omnipresent in nature as motive and reward, and is also our highest word and synonym of God.”

Without any further remarks, our text reveals three things.

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 Posted by on 08/10/2012 Sermons ,  Add comments