Such was the question an aged Christian asked the writer a short time ago. The earnest manner in which he made this inquiry, showed how long, and how anxiously, he had been seeking perfect love; but seeking it where it was not to be found. He said, “A person called on me lately and said he had had perfect love for five years: have you perfect love?” “Yes,” I said, “I have had perfect love about fifty-two years. Nay, I may go back fifty millions of years, and that love was perfect. But mark, it was, and is, not my love to God; no, it was the love of God to me.”
My aged friend had made the common mistake of seeking perfect love in himself. This, no doubt, had hindered the progress and joy of his soul and his life, and sadly blighted his service. To use his own words—though we hope he was mistaken—he said all would have to be burnt up, and he be saved so as by fire. He could not remember a single soul converted to Christ through his long ministry.
We believe many souls, even aged Christians, are under this serious mistake, seeking for perfect love in themselves. Not having clear views of divine grace, they will turn to such a scripture as Luke 10:25-2925And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. 28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:25‑29); and supposing that the Lord preached the gospel to the lawyer who came to Him tempting Him, they conclude that the way to obtain eternal life is to have perfect. love; to love God “with all thy heart,” &c. Now it was just because man had not done this, and had no strength to do this, that Christ died for the ungodly. It was—the law: and the apostle says, If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.” (Gal. 3:2121Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (Galatians 3:21).) Trying then to find perfect love to God in myself, is trying to be saved by the law.
There is however another scripture grievously misunderstood by those who are seeking perfect love in themselves. “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.” (1 John 4:1717Herein 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. (1 John 4:17).) The question here is this, Is this the correct translation, or the reading in the margin? “Herein is love with us made perfect,” &c. “Herein” in what is that love made perfect, even right on to the day of judgment? Is it our love to God, or His love to us? As it says “Herein;” let us examine carefully the context. The apostle, conscious of inspiration, could say, We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us,” It is not he that heareth the church, but lie that heareth the words of the inspired apostle. Let us then, believing this, hear What John on this subject of love with its made perfect. All who do not receive the inspired word are in error.
What then is the source of this love? In us, or in God? “Love is of God.” Its source is of God. Is it divine, or human? “God is love.” It is His very nature. If we love, it is a proof we are born of God—have His nature.
God has manifested this love in two things, and both prove this perfect love to be of Him, and not of us.
“In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” Yes, the love of God was perfect to us, when we were dead in sins. In this very thing God has commended His love to us, in that whilst we were enemies Christ died for us. The cross manifested the perfect love God had to us, before the foundation of the world. Jesus asks, and waits for the tune when the world shall know that God has loved them as He has loved Christ. Yes, this is perfect love from all eternity. (John 17:2323I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23).) And Jesus says to us, “As the Father Lath loved me, so have I loved you.” (John 15:99As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. (John 15:9).) Such is the perfect love of God to us from all eternity. That love stands out in all its eternal perfection when we had no love to God. All was forfeited through sin. He sent his Son that we might live through Him.
But there is a second proof that it is God’s perfect love to us, and not our perfect love to Him. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” That love which gave the infinite Son which dwelt in His bosom, surely is perfect love. The cross reveals the hatred of man, not his love to God. But it reveals also the perfect love of God to us. Meditate on this, and seek not to reverse this by finding perfect love in self. If we love, it is the proof that God dwells, in us, and His love, not ours, is perfected in us. Can you say, I have known and believed the love that God hath to us? God is love. Do you really know and believe this?
Thus the context shows most conclusively that it is not our love to God that is perfect, but His love is perfected with us, or, “Herein is love with us made perfect.” Since God has loved us from all eternity, even as He has loved His only begotten Son; and through that Son, has given us eternal life, and provided for the display of His love to us, through this moment of time, and to all eternity—having given us life that can never perish—having brought us into favor in Christ that can know no cloud of change—having loved us in Christ, with a love, from which nothing can separate us—having by His atoning blood, cleared away according to His glory, all our sins and defilement—we can indeed say, “Herein is, love with us made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is so are we in this world.”
Yes, the knowledge of and belief of this perfect love casteth out fear. How can we fear the One who so loves? The effect of this is there is no fear in love. There is no effort, but “We love him because he first loved us.” And His love is shed abroad in our hearts.
Oh, what a contrast this is to the vain effort to find perfect love in ourselves! There is however one serious question, If the love of God is thus perfect to us, how is it we abide so little in the full enjoyment of His perfect love? Let us hear what Jesus says as to this. “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:9-119As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 15:9‑11).) Is not this the solution why there is so little enjoyment of the perfect love of God to us in Christ?
Are we doing our own will? Why are we doing this or that? is it because others do so? Did Jesus ever walk by such a principle? Did He do anything because the scribes and Pharisees, did it? He would do nothing but that for which He had the word of the Father. He could say, “I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak.” (John 12:4949For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. (John 12:49).)
How can we be filled with His joy, if we are not seeking to do His will? Only let us sit down and write all we do for a week, even religiously, and we shall be astonished how much we do simply because others do so; without a command from the Lord, or an intimation in His word that such is His will.
In these last days He commends—us to Himself and the word of His grace if then we turn to what calls itself the church, or to human ordinances; or to man in any form, can we expect anything but leanness of soul?
May the Lord use these meditations to turn to Himself, the source of perfect love; and to keep His commandments; to own the whole: inspired word. of His grace, as the will of the Lord; and however it may differ from the thoughts and ways of men, we shall find, just as we keep His commandments, so shall we abide, in His love.
But let us beware, on the other hand, of turning from the good and perfect love of God to the law; or the principle that God will love us if we only first love Him with all our hearts. Surely man has been fully tried on that principle, and nothing Was found in him but hatred to God. Does not the cross at the end of the trial, of man fully prove this? whilst it brings out the infinite love of God to us. We love Him now, because He thus first loved us, To Him be all praise.
C.S.