In Eph. 5:2, Paul references the cross of Christ as he writes about love. To understand the Father’s love for us we must center our thoughts on the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the imitator of the Father (John 14:9). We want to consider 3 aspects of this love. (1) The Power for Love; (2) The Pattern of Love; and (3) The Perfume of Love.

(1) The Power of Love. We say that we should love others as Jesus loves others, but none of us can really do it since we are mere humans. We need a Savior who loves us and bestows on us His redeeming grace. The Holy Spirit is the one who empowers us to love the world.  It is He who helps us to live out our faith in this world, demonstrating the fruits of salvation, that is, daily living for the Lord Jesus.

(2) The Pattern of Love.  Paul says that “Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.”  In Eph. 5:25, he repeats this when writing about marriage. We read, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.” 

Love involves sacrifice and action, both on the Lord’s side and on our own. We must not merely say we love each other; we must demonstrate it by our daily living. Christianity is a 24/7 religion not just when it is convenient to live out our faith. Romans 5:8 tells us that, while we were yet sinners Christs died for us.

Some of the ways that we can show our faith and live for Him who died for us are as follows:

  • Loving one another (John 13:34-35)
  • Forgiving others (Eph. 4:32)
  • Spreading the Gospel (2 Cor. 5:14-21)
  • Being patient with others (1 Cor. 13:4; Eph. 4:2)
  • Loving those who annoy you (Eph. 4:26)

We must live a life that seeks to glorify God and seek to “do good to all, especially the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).

(3) The Perfume of Love) According to this passage, Christ’s death was “a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.”  A “pleasing aroma” was and Old Testament description of God’s acceptance from a wholehearted worshiper (Gen 8:21). Can we do less here in our lives today? 

We must live out our Christian lives in a way that glorifies God and helps others in their walk for the Lord Jesus. May God make us a people that love others like Jesus loves us, and may our love be a pleasing aroma to God as we live out our faith with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

 

Larry Miles is Co-Editor of Word and Work and attends Cherry St. Church of Christ in New Albany, IN.