The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNITY WAY July 27, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------ Search for the Truth: Love By Andrei Yashurin There is only one document in the whole Bible which says that God is love - 1 John. But, interestingly enough, this epistle was written as a defense against a particular group of teachers who insisted that the knowledge of Truth, the knowledge of God does not have anything to do with moral, ethical behavior. John plainly states that the opposite is true. God's nature is love, and we prove our increased awareness of God by expressing love in greater measure. "The one who does not love has not known God. For God is love" (1 John 4:8). "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him" (1 John 4:16). This letter goes far enough to call those who do not demonstrate love "spiritually dead" people, "walking in darkness". This is a strong language, but I don't believe it should be interpreted as a threat. Most of us realize our imperfection in being loving, and strive for the better. As long as we do so, we are on the right track, and we may be confident that the Spirit within us will increase our ability to give and to receive love. Warnings are addressed only to those who deliberately choose the way of self-centeredness and pleasing of their ego - to their own harm. 1 John talks about "knowing" God, and the word "know" contains much deeper meaning than we usually assume. In the Bible it is often used to describe a sexual union. That is, to "know" something or someone is to become one with that thing or person. "Knowing" is not a study from the safe distance. To know God means to be immersed in God, filled by God, to be a "God-intoxicated" individual. To know the Truth means to be the Truth in outward manifestation. It also says that love cannot be less than practical, active, dynamic. "Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And in this we shall know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him" (1 John 3:18,19). In Truth, love and deed are one. The one that loves, expresses love in action. Otherwise, his/her love is vain. The one that acts, is motivated by love. Otherwise, his/her actions are fruitless, and their effects are not lasting. Since God is love and all things proceeds from God as One Source, nothing can be rightfully interpreted and understood without taking love into consideration. Love is not a mere human emotion, or a side effect of harmonious relationships. Love has cosmic significance. Love awakens the world, including ourselves, to the fullness of its being. Love gives growth and increase. Love is the bond of perfection. Again, in Ephesians 3:17-21 we see Paul showing a connection between knowledge of Truth and love. According to him, love is the only sure way to be "filled with the all fullness of God". Can we believe him? Can we break our shells of self-protection that we built around ourselves in our years of ignorance, and to step out into a bring and shining world of divine love, divine light, and divine power? The call is clear. By following it, we will surely discover a new dimension of life, the one we've never dreamed of. "That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory". ------------------------------------------------------ http://unityway.net/zine Positive Christianity E-zine If you like our list, please recommend it to others. All messages (c) 2003 by Andrei Yashurin -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=lit.unityway&email= http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com