040 ~ Five Scriptural Evidences That We Love Jesus

FIVE SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCES THAT WE LOVE JESUS

By Rodney W. Francis

The Bible has much to say about love. It is a word that is easy to say, but do we understand what it means to really love Jesus? The word “love” from the Greek word “agapao” means “to love” (Young’s & Strong’s); “to cherish with reverence, to love” (Bullinger’s); “agape” meaning “the love which springs from admiration and veneration, and which chooses its object with decision of will, and devotes a self-denying and compassionate devotion to it. Love in its fullest conceivable form” (Bullinger’s). Another definition is: “used of love toward our enemies; to do whatever is necessary to turn them to Christ, but never to adopt their interests and becoming friends on their level” (Complete Word Study Dictionary).

In this article I want to share with you five ways for us to know how much we really love Jesus. There may be many more, but this is a good start.

1. TRUE LOVE OBEYS GOD:

Jesus said: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep (“obey”) My word; and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep (“obey”) My words . . .” (John 14:23-24, NKJV).

We cannot get it more plain than that!

Love demands a demonstration, an action, a practical response in a very positive way to Him Whom we love ~ JESUS!
If we truly love Jesus we obey Him!
True Christianity always works through love motivation. (Any other way becomes legalism.)

When the early Church disciples were commanded not to teach or preach in Jesus’ name, their reply was: “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so is also the Holy Spirit Whom God has given to those who obey Him” (Acts 5:25-32). Their love for Jesus was stronger than any anti-Christ voice of authority.

2. TRUE LOVE DEMONSTRATES OUR LOVE FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS:

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).

“If someone says, ‘I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God Whom he has not seen? And this commandment (“charge”) we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also’” (1 John 4:20-21).

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him Who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome (“heavy, oppressive, hard to be borne; afflictive, violent. Also, weighty, i.e. not to be made light of, severe” – Bullinger’s) (1 John 5:1-3).

Loving God is much more than giving lip service. It is demonstrated through a love for others that is clearly seen. That means we have to learn to love those who are very different to us, or our life-styles; to overcome personality clashes, differences, etc., and 3. show them that we do carry the genuine love of God in our hearts.

3. TRUE LOVE CONQUERS OUR FEARS:

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides (“remains” – Young’s) in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected (“complete, full, wanting nothing” - Bullinger’s) among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear (“terror, fright, dismay. In a bad sense it is the effect of the spirit of moral cowardice, timidity” – Bullinger’s), because fear involves torment (“infliction, punishment’ – Strong’s). But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 John 4:16-18).

Here is a very good test for us to know just how much we love Jesus/God. If we still have fears in our lives then we are still lacking in that love which conquers those fears. When we are free of fear then we are truly abiding in the love of God which “has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). Fear is a major weapon of the enemy to keep Christians ineffective, and afraid of stepping out in faith to do what God asks us to do. When we have fear in our life, then that fear dictates to us what we can and cannot do. It sets our boundaries for us. “The fear of man brings a snare . . .” (Proverbs 29:25). It actually takes the place of God, because it means we yield more to the opinions of others ~ and those things we fear ~ than to God’s will.

When we are fearless we are free to do whatever God asks of us. Hallelujah!

4. TRUE LOVE ACTIVATES FAITH:

“For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working (“to be effective, active, operative, energized” – Bullinger’s) through love” (Galatians 5:5-6).

Love is the true activator of everything we do as Christians! If our faith is small then it is a sign that we are lacking in the true love of God ~ that love which “is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5, KJV). Faith justifies us: “Therefore, having been justified (“made righteous”) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Faith is absolutely essential to pleasing God: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Read Hebrews Chapter 11 to see the results of faith by different individuals).

Faith is an action.
It is demonstrating to God what we really believe.
When we believe enough we will put it into practice; we will have actions to back up what we believe.
Faith working through love is a very powerful demonstration of Biblical Christianity.

5. TRUE LOVE GIVES OF ITS BEST:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16; see also Romans Chapter 5).

God gave of His very best (Jesus) in order to demonstrate to humanity His great love for us. God did not withhold His very best, but sent Him into this world to become our Saviour through Him paying the ransom price to cleanse us from our sins. That price was the shedding of His blood and dying on a cruel cross in order to show us just how much He loves us. That love alive and working in our hearts makes us generous givers of all we possess, so others can experience the true love of Jesus Christ through us.

Jesus said: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use (“to measure, especially of capacity, but also of length” – Bullinger’s), it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).

This is not speaking only of our money, but everything we have and are. Now that we are born-again Holy Spirit-filled Christians, our hearts desires should be to please God in everything.To give Him of our very best! He blesses liberality! When the love of God is in us we are a very generous people who are able to bless others in a real and wonderful way.

May these five evidences of what it means to love God challenge us, as well as motivate and fill our hearts continually so we can be true disciples of the One (Jesus) Who gave His all for us. God bless you!

The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry, New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.