Topical Bible: Love to Christ: They Who Have are Loved by the Father

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of love to Christ is a central theme in Christian theology, emphasizing the reciprocal relationship between believers and the divine. This love is not merely an emotional affection but a profound commitment and devotion to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Those who love Christ are assured of the Father's love, as evidenced in various passages of Scripture.

Biblical Foundation

The Gospel of John provides a foundational understanding of this relationship. In John 14:21 , Jesus states, "Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him." This verse underscores the connection between obedience to Christ's commandments and the love of the Father. It highlights that love for Christ is demonstrated through adherence to His teachings, which in turn invites the love of the Father.

Furthermore, John 16:27 affirms, "For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God." Here, the love of the Father is directly linked to the believer's love for Christ and their faith in His divine mission. This passage emphasizes the mutual indwelling of love between the Father, the Son, and the believer.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, love to Christ is both a response to and a reflection of the divine love initiated by God. 1 John 4:19 declares, "We love because He first loved us." This suggests that the believer's capacity to love Christ is rooted in the prior love of God, which is manifested through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The believer's love for Christ is thus a participation in the divine love that flows from the Father through the Son.

The love of the Father for those who love Christ is also a testament to the unity within the Trinity. The Father's love for the Son is extended to those who are in Christ, creating a familial bond among believers. This is further illustrated in Romans 8:38-39 , where Paul assures that nothing can separate believers from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Practical Expressions

In practical terms, love to Christ is expressed through worship, service, and a life that seeks to emulate His character. Believers are called to love Christ with all their heart, soul, and mind, as seen in the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37). This love is not passive but active, compelling believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1).

Moreover, love to Christ is manifested in love for others. Jesus taught that love for Him is inseparable from love for one's neighbor (John 13:34-35). This love is sacrificial, selfless, and seeks the well-being of others, reflecting the love that Christ Himself demonstrated.

Conclusion

The love of the Father for those who love Christ is a profound mystery that speaks to the heart of the Christian faith. It is a love that transcends human understanding, rooted in the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son, and extended to all who believe. Through love to Christ, believers enter into a divine fellowship, assured of the Father's love and empowered to live out their faith in the world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 14:21,23
He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 16:27
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The True vine.
... with Christ may be as close as that of Christ with the ... Hence he enjoins: Abide ye
in my love. ... The Lord next tells how they shall "continue" or abide in his love ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the true vine.htm

"Love that Passeth Knowledge. "
... "I in them, and thou in Me, that they may be ... remarkable sayings that ever fell from
the lips of Jesus Christ. ... is no reason why the Father should not love him. ...
/.../moody/the way to god and how to find it/chapter i love that passeth.htm

Schin.
... the revelation of grace, and the preaching of the Gospel, for they that love
God's commandments look for Christ, that "when Christ, our life ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/schin.htm

"But Ye have Received the Spirit of Adoption, Whereby we Cry, Abba ...
... through the middle state of receiving Christ, and laying ... when souls have long wearied
themselves, they must at ... The first apprehends his love, the next reflects ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxxviii but ye have.htm

John Chapter xv. 8-10.
... Let your light so shine before men that they may see ... For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto ... I loved you: continue ye in my love." Here, then ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate lxxxii john chapter xv.htm

The Glory of the Son.
... They turned away from the life that was in their own ... Love of God is always manifest
in obedience to his ... The rejection of Christ, who came in the Father's name ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the glory of the son.htm

Christ Thanks the Father for Revealing to Babes what He had ...
... who foretold them, in order that they might be ... that he should in every possible way
love the Lord ... Creator's disposal, that he inquired and Christ answered, and ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxv christ thanks the father.htm

Robert Hall -- Marks of Love to God
... to it in the spirit of their mind; they stand apart ... at least, in conspicuous conformity
to Jesus Christ, and in ... from heaven, that you have not the love of God ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/robert hall marks of.htm

Love
... Revelation 12:11. Many say they love God, but will not suffer the loss of anything
for him. If Christ should have said to us, I love you well, you are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 2 love.htm

God's Love to Fallen Man
... more happy in heaven, than otherwise they could have ... the blood of Christ; neither
could Christ have been "made ... our faith must likewise have been in our love. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 59 gods love to.htm