the acts of the apostles-第83部分
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have for one another。 Then John could say to his fellow disciples：
〃Hereby perceive we the love of God； because He laid down His life for us：
and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren。〃
After the descent of the Holy Spirit； when the disciples went forth to
proclaim a living Saviour； their one desire was the salvation of souls。 They
rejoiced in the sweetness of communion with saints。 They were tender；
thoughtful； self…denying； willing to make any sacrifice for the truth's
sake。 In their daily association with one another； they revealed the love
that Christ had enjoined upon them。 By unselfish words and deeds they strove
to kindle this love in other hearts。
Such a love the believers were ever to cherish。 They were to go forward in
willing obedience to the new commandment。 So closely were they to be united
with Christ that
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they would be enabled to fulfill all His requirements。 Their lives were to
magnify the power of a Saviour who could justify them by His righteousness。
But gradually a change came。 The believers began to look for defects in
others。 Dwelling upon mistakes； giving place to unkind criticism； they lost
sight of the Saviour and His love。 They became more strict in regard to
outward ceremonies； more particular about the theory than the practice of
the faith。 In their zeal to condemn others； they overlooked their own
errors。 They lost the brotherly love that Christ had enjoined； and； saddest
of all； they were unconscious of their loss。 They did not realize that
happiness and joy were going out of their lives and that； having shut the
love of God out of their hearts； they would soon walk in darkness。
John； realizing that brotherly love was waning in the church； urged upon
believers the constant need of this love。 His letters to the church are full
of this thought。 〃Beloved； let us love one another；〃 he writes； 〃for love is
of God； and everyone that loveth is born of God； and knoweth God。 He that
loveth not knoweth not God； for God is love。 In this was manifested the love
of God toward us； because that God sent His only…begotten Son into the
world； that we might live through Him。 Herein is love； not that we loved
God； but that He loved us； and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our
sins。 Beloved； if God so loved us； we ought also to love one another。〃
Of the special sense in which this love should be manifested by believers；
the apostle writes： 〃A new commandment
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I write unto you； which thing is true in Him and in you： because the
darkness is past； and the true light now shineth。 He that saith he is in the
light； and hateth his brother； is in darkness even until now。 He that loveth
his brother abideth in the light； and there is none occasion of stumbling in
him。 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness； and walketh in darkness；
and knoweth not whither he goeth； because that darkness hath blinded his
eyes。〃 〃This is the message that ye heard from the beginning； that we should
love one another。〃 〃He that loveth not his brother abideth in death。
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer： and ye know that no murderer
hath eternal life abiding in him。 Hereby perceive we the love of God；
because He laid down His life for us： and we ought to lay down our lives for
the brethren。〃
It is not the opposition of the world that most endangers the church of
Christ。 It is the evil cherished in the hearts of believers that works their
most grievous disaster and most surely retards the progress of God's cause。
There is no surer way of weakening spirituality than by cherishing envy；
suspicion； faultfinding； and evil surmising。 On the other hand； the
strongest witness that God has sent His Son into the world is the existence
of harmony and union among men of varied dispositions who form His church。
This witness it is the privilege of the followers of Christ to bear。 But in
order to do this； they must place themselves under Christ's command。 Their
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
