Love Like Jesus, Because You’re Already Loved
By Family Minister, Dr. Brandon Steenbock
1 John 2:6 – Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
This passage has to be one of the most intimidating passages I’ve ever come across. Taking it at face value, it is saying that if I want to claim that I am a Christian, I have to live the way Jesus lived. That… is impossible. Seriously. I will never be able to be like Jesus in every way. So I guess I can’t claim to be a Christian, can I?
When I come across a hard passage, my first step is to read the context; back up in the passage and see what came before, then go past it to see what comes after. I’m trying to make sure I understand the point the author is making and see how the verse fits into it. With this passage, I can back up a few verses and I find verse 3 that says, “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.”
Okay, that doesn’t make this much easier. Now I really don’t think I can claim to be a Christian. I definitely don’t keep all of his commands. But maybe there’s more if I back up a little further? Verse 1 says, “I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”
Whew! Now I feel better! I sin, Jesus advocates for me, and as it says in verse 2, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Where I have not kept his commands, Jesus has died for me. Where I have not lived as he has lived, Jesus advocates for me. I don’t have to fear that God will hate me or punish me, because Jesus has already taken my guilt and shame and blame and nailed it to the cross. I am clean in the Father’s eyes. And the way John writes about this, he doesn’t just mean for past sins, but present and future sins as well. I will always be forgiven in my Father’s eyes. That’s good news!
With that in mind, I can get back to verse 6 and see that to “live as Jesus did” is not the entrance requirement for salvation. But it is a responsibility laid on me now that I claim the name of Jesus. So what does that look like?
John isn’t just being general about obedience and godly living, though that would certainly be good. Over the next few verses, he talks about loving other people, especially our fellow believers. That to live as Jesus did means to show true love for one another. What does that look like? Well, think about what Jesus did: He healed the sick, prayed for people, challenged people stuck in sin and forgave people burdened by sin. He spoke truth with love.
So for us, love looks like caring for one another, especially when someone is sick. Praying for each other, rather than gossiping about one another. Holding each other accountable to get free of sin, but freely offering forgiveness for all sin, no matter how big and ugly. It means speaking the truth… but doing so with gentleness and respect.
This is walking with him. This is claiming his name. Not trying to earn the Father’s approval by our slavish obedience to the rules, but knowing we have the unending love of our Father through Jesus, and extending that love to each other without hesitation. Freely living as Jesus lived.
Prayer: Jesus, help me to live like you. Help me to see the needs of those around me, and to reach out to help. Help me to know the hurts of others, and pray for them often. Help me to be a strong voice to my brother or sister who needs correction, and a soft voice to my brother or sister who needs forgiveness. Let my words ring with your truth, and be delivered with your grace. Today and every day, help me be like you. Amen.