When Paul says we must “all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10), he does not denigrate what the apostle John says about judgment and agape. John says:
(a) “Everyone who loves [with agape] is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7). The obvious implication: if we haven’t learned how to love with agape, we don’t know God. That’s what he says next:
(b) “He who does not love [with agape] does not know God, for God is agape” (vs. 7). Highest equation in the universe!
(c) “In this the love [agape] of God was manifested toward s us, that God has sent His only begotten Son ...” (vs. 9). We learn agape only by long beholding the sacrifice of Christ to the point that we don’t “know anything except Christ and Him crucified” (cf. 1 Cor. 2:2). The heart is won. Now the Lord Jesus wants an entire world church so enlightened by His agape, and so won by heart.
(d) “In this is agape, not that we loved God [with agape], but He loved us [with agape] ...” (vs. 10). His church does not take the initiative; the Bridegroom does that, and she does the responding to Him.
(e) “Agape has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world” (vs. 17). “Keeping the [ten] commandments” is preparation for the final judgment; but according to John, the one supreme question we will be asked as we stand before the Lord Jesus in final judgment will be, “Have you learned how to love (with agape)?”
(f) Paul agrees: “Love [agape] does no ill to a neighbor; therefore love [agape] is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10).
All these many long years, the Bridegroom-to-be has longed for His beloved to “grow up” out of childhood unto “the “measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). We cannot duplicate the sacrifice of Christ on His cross, but we can learn to appreciate it. If any bridegroom has that from his bride, he will have a happy marriage.
Growing up should be great fun; kids love to do it, even before their time. A world church may appear to be very lethargic; but don’t make a superficial judgment.
The Bridegroom is not finished yet. Keep your heart alert to what He may do.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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