“This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.”

This in real faith terms, in the only commandment to us from the Lord our God. To believe with all our heart, mind and soul on the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has procured for us on the cross at Calvary. This is really the only way we can please the Lord. Only faith is the currency of this transaction, for we have nothing to give in our destitution. Only a living and active faith in Christ will produce the love spoken of here, the love for fellow believers. We will not love truly without the cleansing from our sin with the blood of Christ and the active indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our souls. Only the work of God will produce the faith and love required if we are to please the Lord.

We are both commanded to believe and commanded to love one another.

“They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Acts 16:31

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another.”

John 13:34

These two commands are the touchstones of the Christian life. One starts the life of faith and the other is the feature of it. We cannot ignored either. We cannot love without the redeeming faith in the Saviour, and we have no faith without the love of God for us. When we come into the family of God we become like our Father who’s name and nature is love.

Jesus also commands us to love because it is the mark of the Holy Spirit on our life and the defining feature of the Christian character. All our thought life, speaking and deeds should be loving and have this motivation.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:35

We know we are not like this. We argue, rebel, reject reason, resent, justify ourselves, and any number of strategies we use to deflect our responsibility to love. Only God knows our heart and is prepared to work with us to make us like His Son.

Do we want this? Do we seek it?

Beloved, let us examine ourselves and see if we keep these commandments and if we are really in the household of faith.