What's Love Got to Do With It? : Love 101

For all the things that college actually teaches you and equips you to learn, it simply cannot tell you about love. Now, you may learn about love at college by accident, but college in of itself is not prepared for such a momentous and sagacious task.

Wouldn't it have been nice though?

What would such a class look like? Who would teach it? Who would be qualified to teach it?

Is there anyone who is qualified? No, not one.

However, the Scriptures have a little bit to say about love; other than the kingdom of God, it is the most dominate theme in Scripture. The Apostle John writes in I John 4:16 that, God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. Clearly, if we wish to learn about love, we simply look to God, but who can show us God?

The Apostle Paul, in Colossians 1:19, commends to us that, in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. Who is the “him” Paul is referring to? Previously in Colossians 1:13 we see that, he (meaning God) has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. So, then the fullness of God is found in the “beloved Son,” who is the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is almost Valentine’s Day again, the time of year where everyone gets all romantic and conjures up the warm fuzzies for that special someone. Most of what we celebrate and what this holiday represents is decidedly not love. Romance is only the initial and a relatively minor part of love (though romance in of itself is certainly not bad). Love is so much more than the weak feelings and ridiculous lack of self control we associate with it. Love is found only in relationship and communion with Jesus Christ.

What is Love?

Love finds its source in God.

Jesus states in John 15:9, that as the Father has loved me (Jesus), so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If love finds its definition in God, then naturally it must come from God. Human “love” is simply companionship, familial ties, or some other network of mutual existence; human love is based on one’s disposition toward me. However, God’s love is capable of showing compassion and service toward those who hate me or could care less about me. We simply cannot love like that; it is a love that comes only from God and Jesus personified this kind of love while on earth.

We need to abide in Christ’s love, meaning we need to be constantly filled with the love of Christ through the Gospel. We need to remember that our sins are forgiven and that God’s grace has the power to take our wretched lives and make them something great and beautiful. Christ is glorious in both his death and his resurrection; this is the power of the Gospel.

To be continued.