Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. ~ 1 John 4:7
After what has seemed like a very long time, our pastor returned to the pulpit yesterday after some vacation time and some time fulfilling obligations. He picked up where he left off in the morning service with a sermon on election from the Canons of Dort, and yesterday afternoon he continued on in his series on 1 John.
This passage of 1 John describes the child of God who truly loves, the one who has had victory over what our catechism describes as our natural hatred of God and our neighbor. This victory is rooted in God's nature because, as we are told several times here, God is love. Some would claim that this is the only place in Scripture where God is identified with one of His attributes, and they would elevate love over all other attributes of God. Other places in Scripture do identify God with His attributes, and one example would be where we are told that God is holy. Because God is love, those who are born of God can love.
We also draw from this passage that there is no possibility for those who are in the world to love. When people in the world are said to love, it is because culture has redefined love. Culture tells us that "love means never having to say you're sorry," and and that we can express love to one another through sexual relationships outside of marriage. In reality, hatred would have us never say we're sorry, and hatred is expressed in sexual relationships outside of marriage. Only Christians can truly express love.
This victory over hate has been revealed in Jesus Christ, and particularly in His incarnation. In chapters 1, 2, and 4, John has told us that God shows true love, first in sending His Son and then in the sacrifice of His Son for our sins. Again, many in the world would say that love is ignoring the sins of others. They would say, "God must have hated His Son because He sent Him to suffer and die. No one who truly loves would expect another to suffer." But real love is not that God ignores our sin but that He sent His Son to pay for our sin in sacrificial love.
When we love others, however, it is not a payment; it is our act of gratitude, our obedience to God's command. And it is a wonder that what God commands us to do (love one another) becomes our greatest source of blessing--to love and be loved.
This victory over hate is realized through the Spirit, who does God's work in us, producing in us love for one another and for God. And it has been reported by the apostles (v. 16), who literally saw and then testified to the love of Christ. And now in response we testify to what the apostles have declared: God at work in us.
The last part of this passage discusses some of the results of this victory. We have no fear at the future judgment, because "perfect love casts out fear." And this love results in fellowship with both our brother and God.
10 comments:
I may see your minister at Synod this week.
I know that he's supposed to be there, Dave. You'll have to keep me posted about what happens at Synod.
Well, tonight, they dealt with 2 overtures. The first one they dealt with was about Article 11 of the CO and the dissolusionment of the minister-congregation relationship. But this was sent back to the committee.
The 2nd was about monogamous marriages (overture 11). After a bit of editorial changes, it was unanimously adopted---or as Dr Kloosterman suggested (and approved), "adopted without consent," which will be reflected in the minutes.
The overtures and the Agenda can be found on the Kalamazoo church's site.
I met up with some of the seminarians that attended MARS, and had a good time re-aquainting myself with them. I also met a couple that I know from online.
I'm thankful and a little sad at the same time that there has to be a statement on monogamous marriages. Glad that I'm a member of a denomination that speaks boldly against sinfulness but said that it's necessary for them to do so. It would seem to be the obvious, but clearly it isn't.
I met your minister, Annette. he is a very kind and friendly man!
I'll post a bit what happened at Synod in the next post.
Here is the first post on the Synodical actions (below the ***). They were written by a writer for Christian Renewal magazine.
**********************************
Between registering on Monday afternoon and eating dinner on Monday
evening, delegates were escorted between buildings by helpful
planning committee members and other volunteers holding wide Trinity
umbrellas.
Rev. Paul Ipema spoke movingly from Psalm 133 about unity during
Monday evening's prayer service.
Synod elected Rev. Ron Scheuers as Chair, Rev. Ralph Pontier as Vice
Chair, Mr. Ed Kreykes (Cornerstone in Sanborn, IA) as 1st Clerk, and
Rev. Doug Barnes as 2nd Clerk.
Among the items of business covered so far:
Overture 8, requesting a study committee on the level of doctrinal
commitment necessary for membership, was adopted and members
appointed to that committee.
The advisory committee found Overture 9, requesting the addition of
the area of church polity to candidacy exams, to be "well written and
concise." The overture was readily and unanimously passed.
Overture 14, regarding the formation of a new Classis Pacific
Northwest, generated almost no discussion and quickly passed.
Synod voted to enter into Phase 1 relations with the RCNZ. As an
aside, Rev. Peter Kloosterman is here as a fraternal delegate.
Overture 12, requesting a change in Art 44 of the CO, which deals
with membership transfers, was adopted by a 2/3s majority.
Overture 7, regarding applying for membership in the PRJC, was
adopted with slight amendments.
See the August issue of Christian Renewal for the full story!
Synod met last night until about 11:30 (*). The evening's business
included adopting several statements regarding justification as well
as appointing a study committee to examine teachings regarding the
doctrine of justification. Earlier in the day several recommendations
from the advisory committee had been adopted, including not to adopt
Overture 5, the overture that requested Synod to adopt "as our own"
the RCUS study report.
Most of the motions regarding this issue were adopted unanimously and
without dissent. The body was clearly unified in its desire to send a
clear message of our federation's commitment to the historic Reformed
understanding of justification by faith.
The study committee consists of 14 men, two from each of the seven
classes, including the newly-formed Classis Pacific Northwest.
The songbook issue generated a great deal of dicussion. Overture 17,
which delineates clarifications of three phrases in the Songbook
Committee R's mandate, was adopted. The adoption of this overture
effectively answered other questions regarding the committee's
mandate.
While "this new songbook" is now clarified as focusing on a book that
will serve the URCNA (aside from any possible future mergers), it was
later noted that does not preclude the continuation of the
committee's work with the CanRC Book of Praise Committee.
Please note that since I am observing Synod, I may not have time to
respond to questions posted on this list.
See the full report in the August issue of Christian Renewal!
-------------------------------
*--last night means Thursday evening.
This is a press release of what happened on Friday.
http://www.covenant-urc.org/urcna/synod6pr4.html
http://www.covenant-urc.org/urchrchs.html
Here is the link to all the press releases. One press trelease does not mention the fact that Overture 5 from Classis Michigan (regarding adopting the RCUS study report on justification as our own) was defeated.
Thanks for all of the info, Dave. And I'm glad you got to meet my pastor--he is a good one!
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