the acts of the apostles-第104章
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characters must be conformed to His character and their wills to His will。
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〃A new commandment I give unto you；〃 Christ said； 〃That ye love one another；
as I have loved you； that ye also love one another。〃 John 13：34。 What a
wonderful statement； but； oh； how poorly practiced！ In the church of God
today brotherly love is sadly lacking。 Many who profess to love the Saviour
do not love one another。 Unbelievers are watching to see if the faith of
professed Christians is exerting a sanctifying influence upon their lives；
and they are quick to discern the defects in character； the inconsistencies
in action。 Let Christians not make it possible for the enemy to point to
them and say； Behold how these people； standing under the banner of Christ；
hate one another。 Christians are all members of one family； all children of
the same heavenly Father； with the same blessed hope of immortality。 Very
close and tender should be the tie that binds them together。
Divine love makes its most touching appeals to the heart when it calls upon
us to manifest the same tender compassion that Christ manifested。 That man
only who has unselfish love for his brother has true love for God。 The true
Christian will not willingly permit the soul in peril and need to go
unwarned； uncared for。 He will not hold himself aloof from the erring；
leaving them to plunge farther into unhappiness and discouragement or to
fall on Satan's battleground。
Those who have never experienced the tender； winning love of Christ cannot
lead others to the fountain of life。 His love in the heart is a constraining
power； which leads men
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to reveal Him in the conversation； in the tender； pitiful spirit； in the
uplifting of the lives of those with whom they associate。 Christian workers
who succeed in their efforts must know Christ； and in order to know Him；
they must know His love。 In heaven their fitness as workers is measured by
their ability to love as Christ loved and to work as He worked。
〃Let us not love in word；〃 the apostle writes； 〃but in deed and in truth。〃
The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help
and bless others springs constantly from within。 It is the atmosphere of
this love surrounding the soul of the believer that makes him a savor of
life unto life and enables God to bless his work。
Supreme love for God and unselfish love for one another this is the best
gift that our heavenly Father can bestow。 This love is not an impulse； but a
divine principle； a permanent power。 The unconsecrated heart cannot
originate or produce it。 Only in the heart where Jesus reigns is it found。
〃We love Him； because He first loved us。〃 In the heart renewed by divine
grace； love is the ruling principle of action。 It modifies the character；
governs the impulses； controls the passions； and ennobles the affections。
This love； cherished in the soul； sweetens the life and sheds a refining
influence on all around。
John strove to lead the believers to understand the exalted privileges that
would come to them through the exercise of the spirit of love。 This
redeeming power； filling the heart； would control every other motive and
raise its possessors
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above the corrupting influences of the world。 And as this love was allowed
full sway and became the motive power in the life； their trust and
confidence in God and His dealing with them would be complete。 They could
then come to Him in full confidence of faith； knowing that they would
receive from Him everything needful for their present and eternal good。
〃Herein is our love made perfect；〃 he wrote； 〃that we may have boldness in
the day of judgment： because as He is； so are we in this world。 There is no
fear in love； but perfect love casteth out fear。〃 〃And this is the
confidence that we have in Him； that； if we ask anything according to His
will； He heareth us： and if we know that He hear us； 。 。 。 we know that we
have the petitions that we desired of Him。〃
〃And if any man sin； we have an advocate with the Father； Jesus Christ the
righteous： and He is the propitiation for our sins： and not for ours only；
but also for the sins of the whole world。〃 〃If we confess our sins； He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins； and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness。〃 The conditions of obtaining mercy from God are simple and
reasonable。 The Lord does not require us to do some grievous thing in order
to gain forgiveness。 We need not make long and wearisome pilgrimages； or
perform painful penances； to commend our souls to the God of heaven or to
expiate our transgression。 He that 〃confesseth and forsaketh〃 his sin 〃shall
have mercy。〃 Proverbs 28：13。
In the courts above； Christ is pleading for His church pleading for those
for whom He has paid the redemption
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price of His blood。 Centuries； ages； can never lessen the efficacy of His
atoning sacrifice。 Neither life nor death； height nor depth； can separate us
from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus； not because we hold Him so
firmly； but because He holds us so fast。 If our salvation depended on our
own efforts； we could not be saved； but it depends on the One who is behind
all the promises。 Our grasp on Him may seem feeble； but His love is that of
an elder brother； so long as we maintain our union with Him； no one can
pluck us out of His hand。
As the years went by and the number of believers grew； John labored with
increasing fidelity and earnestness for his brethren。 The times were full of
peril for the church。 Satanic delusions existed everywhere。 By
misrepresentation and falsehood the emissaries of Satan sought to arouse
opposition against the doctrines of Christ； and in consequence dissensions
and heresies were imperiling the church。 Some who professed Christ claimed
that His love released them from obedience to the law of God。 On the other
hand； many taught that it was necessary to observe the Jewish customs and
ceremonies； that a mere observance of the law； without faith in the blood of
Christ； was sufficient for salvation。 Some held that Christ was a good man；
but denied His divinity。 Some who pretended to be true to the cause of God
were deceivers； and in practice they denied Christ and His gospel。 Living
themselves in transgression； they were bringing heresies into the church。
Thus many were being led into the mazes of skepticism and delusion。
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John was filled with sadness as he saw these poisonous errors creeping into
the church。 He saw the dangers to which the church was exposed； and he met
the emergency with promptness and decision。 The epistles of John breathe the
spirit of love。 It seems as if he wrote with a pen dipped in love。 But when
he came in contact with those who were breaking the law of God； yet claiming
that they were living without sin； he did not hesitate to warn them of their
fearful deception。
Writing to a helper in the gospel work； a woman of good repute and wide
influence； he said： 〃Many deceivers are entered into the world； who confess
not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh。 This is a deceiver and an
antichrist。 Look to yourselves； that we lose not those things which we have
wrought； but that we receive a full reward。 Whosoever transgresseth； and
abideth not in the doctrine of Christ； hath not God。 He that abideth in the
doctrine of Christ； he hath both the Father and the Son。 If there come any
unto you； and bring not this doctrine； receive him not into your house；
neither bid him Godspeed： for he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of
his evil deeds。〃
We are authorized to hold in the same estimation as did the beloved disciple
those who claim to abide in Christ while living in transgression of God's
law。 There exist in these last days evils similar to those that threatened
the prosperity of the early church； and the teachings of the apostle John on
these points should be carefully heeded。 〃You must have charity；〃 is the cry
heard everywhere；
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