Christians are commanded to love one another! And yet lamentably this might be the least observed commandment in the sacred scriptures? Animosities, bitterness, distrust, hatred, petty jealousies and rivalries, pride and all the other poisonous fruits of the flesh are often more conspicuous that the fruits of the Spirit in and between the churches; especially the chief fruit of love. And yet Christians as God’s beloved children are commanded to walk before him in love (Eph. 5:1-2). Love is essential for both our welfare and our witness and hence we must trust and obey our Lord and hear and heed his new commandment.

Firstly let us acknowledge that this is a Divine command: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ who is love personified and who displayed his limitless love for us in and though his life, death, resurrection and ascension. He is not only the Saviour of the church but he is also her Lord. He is our Ruler. He has all power and authority in heaven and earth vested in Him. And it is his prerogative and privilege to command his church. That said, his commandments are not grievous but rather are given for our benefit and blessing. They are given so that we might be able to glorify God and enjoy him by growing in Christ-likeness. Here is that most excellent way. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13:13). We are redeemed by love; regenerated and reformed in order that we might love in return. We can only love because he first loved us. We are called and commanded to love one another. This ought to set us apart from the world.

This is the word of God. This is the clear teaching of Holy Scripture which is the perfect rule in all matters pertaining to faith and practice. Just as the righteous shall walk by faith; just as Christians are called to walk in the Spirit; so we are similarly called to walk in love. This is the Father’s will which Christ not only came to do but to reveal. God is love and his children are to bear his image and likeness. It was love that moved God to send his only begotten Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

This is a Divine imperative: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Here is a divine precept – a rule; a principle to guide and direct our every word and action. We are to adorn or perfume all that we do in love. Here is a priority and necessity. Love is the chief and crowning grace –

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5-7

You might be asking yourself in what sense is our Lord’s commandment a new commandment? Love, after all, is the summation of the Moral Law, encapsulated in the 10 Commandments. We are called to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and love our neighbour as ourselves. It is surely new however in terms of its emphasis and freshness – like the new dawn, the New Commandment goes hand in glove with the New Covenant which Christ came to ratify and seal with his own precious blood. It is surely evidence of the new heart and right spirit that God promised in the New Covenant.

It is new in the sense that Christians are not known principally for rites and rituals or rules and regulations but on account of their love for one another. That is not to say that doctrine and the means of grace are any less vital – but love motivates us to grow and be diligent therein. It is love for Christ that compels us to keep the Moral Law and it is love for Christ that induces us to love one another. It is love for Christ that moves us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together and to show care, consideration and compassion for one another. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling (1 Jn. 2:8-10). It is new in the sense that we are to love one another as the Lord Jesus loved us: ... having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end (Jn 13:1). Here is the standard to which we are to aim!

Secondly let us note the object and extent of the Divine command: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another ... my disciples. The Lord Jesus is addressing those whom he has called out of the world by his word and Spirit. He is specifically addressing his disciples, that is, all those who have received him to be their Lord and Saviour. They are followers and learners who must trust and obey their Master Jesus. They are his sheep who know his voice and follow him.

Hence the Lord Jesus is addressing his church. The new commandment is addressed to you and me. We are to love all men but particularly and especially the brethren. Let brotherly love continue. In some places it has barely begun! We are the family of God; the household of faith and love must characterise our walk with and work for Christ. The Devil and the world delight to sow and see discord and disharmony in the church. Let us beware. That said, love is never at the expense of truth and righteousness. Love rejoices with the truth (1 Cor. 13:6).

Thirdly let us take note of the Divine model: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Jesus Christ is our example and template. His love is a particular type of love conveyed by the Greek word agape. It is the love that God had in giving His only begotten Son. It is a love which is manifest in the Son’s entering into a state of condescension and humiliation for us. It is a love which is seen clearly in his passion, crucifixion and death on the Cross. It is a love which is seen in his procuring our salvation and in his rich provision, protection and preservation of us for glory. In other words it is a self-sacrificial and selfless love. Its object is always away from self. It seeks the betterment and well-being of others: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails (1 Cor. 13:4-8 NIV).

Disciples follow Jesus by listening to him and learning from him: Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph. 5:1-2). Love is a key characteristic and family trait among the children of God. Are we members of God’s family? Is Christ our eldest Brother? Then it must surely be seen in our words and deeds? We are to be rooted and grounded in love. The Westminster Confession of Faith states:

All saints, that are united to Jesus Christ their Head, by His Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with Him in His grace, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory: and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.

Fourthly and finally our obedience to the new commandment is essential for a positive Christian witness: By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. This is to be an integral part of our Christian witness to the world – a fallen world which by contrast is full of bitterness, enmity, hatred and hostility and whose motivation is in self-seeking selfishness. How tragic then when the world appears more loving than the church!

Our love for one another is evidence or proof that we are indeed Christ’s. That we are his disciples; that we are the recipients of a new heart; that we are the possessors of the Divine nature; that we are indwelt by the Spirit of Christ. The word of God says: Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart (1 Pt. 1:22).

The effectiveness of our witness is dependent on our obedience to the new commandment: if you have love for one another. We cannot disobey the Lord and expect him to bless our worship, work and witness. The effectiveness of our witness is hence conditional on our obedience to the Divine command. Love for Christ necessitates that we love what he loves – and he loves his church and gave himself for her. Maybe one of the reasons for the weakness and woes of the church at present is our neglect of this commandment as well as others. May we hear and heed the Word of God. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us (1 Jn. 3:23).