"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." -- Matt. 22:39
"Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." -- Mark 16:15
His law knows no boundary lines. His efforts to do good are not confined to
any territorial limits. His righteousness goeth forth
"as a lamp that burneth." -- Isa. 62:1
"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a, liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" -- I John 4:20
Comment can make these words no plainer.
"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." -- I John 3:14
This love is not bare sentiment. It is an ardent affection. It makes us care
for each other's interest and welfare. We take pleasure in each other's
company,
"not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together; . . . but exhorting one another daily." -- Heb. 10:25
If one member suffer, all the members suffer with it. If one soul is in
destitution, those who have, are ready to supply his necessities.
"Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" -- I John 3:17
If one is in peril, others share his danger. This is the spirit of true
holiness. It was exemplified fully in the primitive Christians. Paul says:
"After ye were illuminated ye endured a great fight of afflictions; partly while ye were made a gazing-stock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly while ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance." -- Heb. 10:32-34.
Lucian, a Roman writer, says of the early Christians: "It is incredible what
expedition they use when any of their friends are known to be in trouble. In a
word, they spare nothing on such an occasion, -- for those miserable men have
no doubt they shall be immortal and live forever; therefore they contemn death
and many surrender themselves to sufferings. Moreover, their first lawgiver
has taught them they are all brethren, when once they have turned, and
renounced the gods of the Greeks, and worship this Master of theirs who was
crucified, and engage to live according to His laws. They have also a
sovereign contempt for all the things of this world, and look upon them as
common." This is the testimony borne by an enemy.
A holy person does not love indiscriminately
and blindly those who profess to be Christians, simply because they belong to
the same church that he does. This displays a partisan spirit. He tries those
who say they are apostles. His love is not the result of any reasonings; nor
is it based on natural qualities nor acquired gifts. It springs from the love
of Christ. We love Him so greatly that we instinctively love His true friends.
Those who walk in the light have fellowship for each other. They find each
other out, and their hearts naturally run together. Rays of light, coming from
the same source, easily mingle. Living streams, however widely separated,
unite at last in the ocean. Holy persons feel that union of spirit, which is
properly called, the communion of saints.
Holiness implies love for our enemies. It is
impossible to have true holiness without having enemies. Christ had them. He
told His disciples they should have them.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." -- John 15:19
"Love your enemies. Bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you." -- Matt. 5:44
This is Bible holiness. No other religion but that of Jesus will enable a
person to do this. There may be the semblance. Anger may be suppressed by
force of resolution. But God alone is able to make us really love our enemies,
and honestly strive to promote their welfare. The Holy Spirit will enable us
to hate sin, and love the sinner. It will make us kind to them, but not
indulgent to their faults. Holiness is not blind. It has eyes as well as
heart. It never mistakes darkness for light. To one who has true holiness it
is not hard to obey the command,
"If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." -- Rom. 12:20