In Love

"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).

The beautiful little phrase "in love" (Greek, en agape) occurs six times in the Book of Ephesians, and it is well for us to notice the context of each.

First of all, God "hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:4). Our very election and position in Christ with its imputed holiness is centered in His love. This, in turn, means that our spiritual lives are "rooted and grounded in love" (Ephesians 3:17), because they are rooted and grounded in Him who is incarnate love.

This love of Christ for us, illuminating and energizing us, must then display itself through our lives. As our text urges, we must forbear one another in love, no matter the personal provocation.

In our witnessing and teaching, we must always be careful to speak the truth, but that alone is not enough. We must be "speaking the truth in love"; the purpose being that the whole body of Christ "may grow up into Him in all things" (Ephesians 4:15). This practice, if consistently applied by all members of that great spiritual body, "maketh increase of the body unto the edifying that is 'building-up' of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16).

The final occurrence of the phrase in Ephesians sums it up: "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2). He has chosen us in love, rooted and grounded us in love, and now we should (as those who are truly "in love" with Him) forbear each other and build each other up in love, speak the truth in love, and walk daily in His love. HMM


INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH

www.icr.org

December 1, 2007