It is not difficult to find in Saint John’s First Epistle a broad exposition on love from the perspective of our Lord and God. In 4.13-16 we read: We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. Many somehow believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit in Baptism is rather little more than a token of blessing for a new relationship—not unlike receiving a discount card on the very next purchase.

From the Lord’s point of reference this couldn’t be further from the truth. The gift which speaks of God’s perfect love for us is the granting of the Holy Spirit in affirmation of his gift of Jesus Christ on the cross for our eternal salvation: And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of the completion of that precious and eternal gift to us.

This is what is vitally important about a loving relationship with Father God and with each other: If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. The ability to share love from God and for each other is the signed guarantee that God is in us, and that we are in God. Understand this to be a very important declaration—to be a loving individual is to manifest the perfect plan of God.

With the revelation of God’s perfect love—and because of that gift—our own loving nature is released to be evidence of God’s presence with all of us: And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. Loving is so important that God takes that name for himself—He is LOVE personified, and it is impossible for us to be anything less as we live in him!