WHAT SHOULD CHRISTIAN MUTUAL LOVE BE LIKE?

Christlike. Jesus Christ commanded us, saying: "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34). When we say Christlike love, we primarily mean loving our neighbor as ourselves. This, in turn, seems to be a foundation for loving God, because: "Whoever does not love their brother whom they have seen, how can they love God whom they have not seen?" (1 John 4:20).

According to the Bible, only by loving our brothers (our fellow human beings) does a person pass from death to life. Those who do not love their brothers remain in death (1 John 3:14).

Brotherly love is the greatest virtue and stands in opposition to selfishness, which, according to our holy patriarch, is: “The greatest of all demonic delusions, from which arise many diseases. A self-lover cannot be a lover of others” (St. Hovhan Mandakuni, Catholicos, 5th century).

Ultimately, the mark of following Christ is having holy love toward others: “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

WHAT IS THE GREATEST EXPRESSION OF LOVE?

Sacrificial love. It is no coincidence that Christ said: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13). These words are not empty—they are a proven truth. Christ demonstrated the greatest love through His own example by sacrificing Himself for us.

This expression of love is difficult to attain, yet possible. A vivid example of this is often seen in the sacrificial love of our own parents.

Our gifted teacher brings a unique example of sacrifice by comparing Christians—as members of Christ's body (Ephesians 5:30)—to members of our own body, concluding: "If a blow comes to the head or eyes from a stick or a sword, the hand instinctively intervenes and takes the blow upon itself" (St. Grigor Tatevatsi, 13th century).

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF LOVE?

They are many. Let's look at a few:

First, true love drives out fear, because: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear… the one who fears is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18). St. Anthony the Great (4th century) once realized this truth and said: "I no longer fear God—I love God."

Through love, we are built up (1 Corinthians 8:1). It fills us with all the fullness of God and surpasses all knowledge (Ephesians 3:19). When we are led by love, we do not sink into foolish and empty doctrines (1 Timothy 1:5-6).

And finally, through love, we achieve one of the most important aspirations of our lives—complete joy: "I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:11).

WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF LOVE?

To establish an unbreakable union with God, for as the apostle says: "God is love, and whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them" (1 John 4:16).

Only in this way—having the true presence of God and perfect love—will we have the strength to be different from sinners, who love only those who love them (Luke 6:32), and resemble the saints, who were able to love even their enemies (Luke 6:35). Divine truth says: "Rebuke a wise man and he will love you; instruct a fool and he will hate you even more" (Proverbs 9:8).

That is why I wish, with the apostle’s own words, to bless and say to all:
"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance" (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

Hayk Madoyan
(To be continued)