THE AWESOME POWER OF GOD’S LOVE (Charity)
By W. G. Guy
John 3:16-17 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
God gave us the privilege of becoming a member of His family by spiritually being born-again, becoming a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
This is a glorious and wonderful condition, even though we are still living in this vile and corrupt world. In addition, Jesus invites us to walk spiritually with Him by seeking His kingdom, (His domain and submitting to His LORDSHIP).
Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We can enter into His kingdom because of His love; the love of God which gave us Jesus; and the love that Jesus gave us is His life. The foundation of God’s kingdom is love. His domain, or kingdom, is righteous; thus love is right doing or right being. Yes, love is righteousness; it does what is right and just. This love is placed in those who believe in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit: it is divine power and ability.
Romans 5:5 – And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Yes, His love is righteousness, and His love is to be seen in God’s children.
1 John 4:7-8 – Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Consider what love does, and what it does not do, as described in by the apostle Paul.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Love is patient, kind, honest, truthful, just, is tolerant of offenses, looks for the good, and is giving (charitable). Loves does not do evil or wickedly; is not selfish or self-serving; is not vindictive. Love also forgives because love cares for the spiritual condition of others. Love heals because it cares for the physical condition of others. Love gives and is charitable because it cares for the financial condition of others. Nothing compares to love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
God’s awesome love cares for us, as stated by the apostle Peter:
1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
His love in us will also move us to care for others.
1 John 4:11 – Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
As stated, love forgives, and as God has forgiven us so we are to show His love to those who have offended us and forgive them.
Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
This is the righteousness of God working in and through us as we walk in faith and obedience to Him, and His Word. Love is righteousness; showing that we are the children of God in this world. Love is of God, and God is Righteous; and His character and nature of love is to be reproduced in us as His children.
1 John 4:16-17 – And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
So we are to be showing that His Spirit lives within us as being born again of the Spirit: His children, having His love, His image and likeness restored.
Ephesians 5:2, 8-10 – And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Love is the fulfilling of God’s Word and the message of the prophets.
Romans 13:8 & 10 – Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
The great commandment of God is to love Him and others! Even the Ten Commandments are all about love for God, and to show love to others.
1 Thessalonians 4:9 – But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
To walk in the Spirit is to be faithful to Him and His righteousness, and will become evident for the world to see.
Romans 8:4 – That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Thus we will be living testimonies to Him who first loved us and gave Himself for us; to redeem us from our fallen, sinful state. We are the redeemed of the Lord and should show it. Thus the awesome power of love is the righteousness and holiness that God is looking for in us, and made total provision for through Christ. To love is being righteous; or doing what is right!
