1 John 5:1-2 KJV
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
John Gill rightly points out that, "....love to the brethren may arise from such a cause, as may show that it is not brotherly love, or of a spiritual kind; it may arise from natural relation, or civil friendship, or from a benefit or favour received from them, and from some natural external excellency seen in them; and a man may do acts of love and kindness to the brethren, from what may be called good nature in himself, or with sinister views...."
It is true that we ought to love the brethren.
It is also true that if we do not love the brethren we do not love God
However, this does not mean that we love them to the ignoring of truth. True love for the brethren will spring from a love for God and for His Word. True love for the brethren will be demonstrated by our love for God and by our absolute and unbending allegiance to the obedience of His commandments.
My love for a brother may appear to others to not be love if, in obedience to God's Word,
I have no fellowship with them,
Keep no company with them and
Refuse to eat with them
Mark them because they do not walk according to the traditions I have received in the Word of God
Yet I do all of that, not because I count them as an enemy but do all to admonish them as a brother and to see them repent and be restored.
Paul urged the Corinthian church to expel a man so as to deliver him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. An onlooker may not see the love in that. But in 2 Corinthians the brother had repented and Paul urged them to receive him back lest there be overmuch sorrow.
We know we love the children of God when we love God and keep His commandments.
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
John Gill rightly points out that, "....love to the brethren may arise from such a cause, as may show that it is not brotherly love, or of a spiritual kind; it may arise from natural relation, or civil friendship, or from a benefit or favour received from them, and from some natural external excellency seen in them; and a man may do acts of love and kindness to the brethren, from what may be called good nature in himself, or with sinister views...."
It is true that we ought to love the brethren.
It is also true that if we do not love the brethren we do not love God
However, this does not mean that we love them to the ignoring of truth. True love for the brethren will spring from a love for God and for His Word. True love for the brethren will be demonstrated by our love for God and by our absolute and unbending allegiance to the obedience of His commandments.
My love for a brother may appear to others to not be love if, in obedience to God's Word,
I have no fellowship with them,
Keep no company with them and
Refuse to eat with them
Mark them because they do not walk according to the traditions I have received in the Word of God
Yet I do all of that, not because I count them as an enemy but do all to admonish them as a brother and to see them repent and be restored.
Paul urged the Corinthian church to expel a man so as to deliver him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. An onlooker may not see the love in that. But in 2 Corinthians the brother had repented and Paul urged them to receive him back lest there be overmuch sorrow.
We know we love the children of God when we love God and keep His commandments.
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