The first thing to understand in this discussion is that there is only
one race—the human race. Caucasians, Africans, Asians, Indians, Arabs,
and Jews are not different races. Rather, they are different ethnicities
of the human race. All human beings have the same physical
characteristics (with minor variations, of course). More importantly,
all human beings are equally created in the image and likeness of God
(Genesis 1:26-27). God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to lay
down His life for us (John 3:16). The “world” obviously includes all
ethnic groups.
God does not show partiality or favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts
10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9), and neither should we. James 2:4
describes those who discriminate as “judges with evil thoughts.”
Instead, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (James 2:8). In the
Old Testament, God divided humanity into two “racial” groups: Jews and
Gentiles. God’s intent was for the Jews to be a kingdom of priests,
ministering to the Gentile nations. Instead, for the most part, the Jews
became proud of their status and despised the Gentiles. Jesus Christ
put an end to this, destroying the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians
2:14). All forms of racism, prejudice, and discrimination are affronts
to the work of Christ on the cross.
Jesus commands us to love one another as He loves us (John 13:34). If
God is impartial and loves us with impartiality, then we need to love
others with that same high standard. Jesus teaches in Matthew 25 that
whatever we do to the least of His brothers, we do to Him. If we treat a
person with contempt, we are mistreating a person created in God’s
image; we are hurting somebody whom God loves and for whom Jesus died.
Racism, in varying forms and to various degrees, has been a plague on
humanity for thousands of years. Brothers and sisters of all
ethnicities, this should not be. Victims of racism, prejudice, and
discrimination need to forgive. Ephesians 4:32 declares, “Be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ
God forgave you.” Racists may not deserve your forgiveness, but we
deserved God’s forgiveness far less. Those who practice racism,
prejudice, and discrimination need to repent. “Present yourselves to God
as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of
righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13). May Galatians 3:28 be completely
realized, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor
female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Recommended Resources:
Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian by John Piper and Logos Bible Software.
Let’s look at how the Bible describes love, and then we will see a few
ways in which God is the essence of love. “Love is patient, love is
kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not
rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no
record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the
truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a). This is God's
description of love, and because God is love (1 John 4:8), this is what
He is like.
Love (God) does not force Himself on anyone. Those who come to Him do so
in response to His love. Love (God) shows kindness to all. Love (Jesus)
went about doing good to everyone without partiality. Love (Jesus) did
not covet what others had, living a humble life without complaining.
Love (Jesus) did not brag about who He was in the flesh, although He
could have overpowered anyone He ever came in contact with. Love (God)
does not demand obedience. God did not demand obedience from His Son,
but rather, Jesus willingly obeyed His Father in heaven. “The world must
learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has
commanded me” (John 14:31). Love (Jesus) was/is always looking out for
the interests of others.
The greatest expression of God's love is communicated to us in John
3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 5:8 proclaims the same message: “But God demonstrates his own
love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
We can see from these verses that it is God's greatest desire that we
join Him in His eternal home, heaven. He has made the way possible by
paying the price for our sins. He loves us because He chose to as an act
of His will. Love forgives. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
So, what does it mean that God is love? Love is an attribute of God.
Love is a core aspect of God’s character, His Person. God’s love is in
no sense in conflict with His holiness, righteousness, justice, or even
His wrath. All of God’s attributes are in perfect harmony. Everything
God does is loving, just as everything He does is just and right. God is
the perfect example of true love. Amazingly, God has given those who
receive His Son Jesus as their personal Savior the ability to love as He
does, through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1,
23-24).
Recommended Resources:
The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by D.A. Carson and Logos Bible Software.
Although there are no references to the word romance in the Bible, there are 281 mentions of love. Since the dictionary definition for romance
is "ardent emotional attachment or involvement between people; a love
affair," these two terms can sometimes be used interchangeably. But the
true meaning of love, as defined in the Bible, has been corrupted in the
common usage of our English language and society. Most often, love is
confused with infatuation - that elated, "high" feeling we get when we
"fall in love." This kind of "love" is something that lasts typically a
short time and, unless replaced by true love, results in broken
relationships.
The Bible covers two types of love: agape and phileo. Agape love is
represented by God's love for us. It is a non-partial, sacrificial love
best demonstrated by the gift in John 3:16. "For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will
not perish but have everlasting life." This kind of love is
unconditional. The "Love Chapter" in 1 Corinthians deals more explicitly
with this. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does
not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it
is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not
delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always
trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (1
Corinthians 13:4-8a). This passage is often quoted at weddings and other
celebrations of love.
Agape is a connection through the spirit. A true manifestation of this
requires a relationship with Christ. For without Him, agape love isn't
exhibited in its truest form. We, as humans, can't reach this level
alone. We need our Heavenly Father's Spirit in us, working through us.
"The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, humility and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). Only
through that Spirit can we reach this goal.
The other kind of love, phileo, is considered "brotherly love." It is
usually based upon how others treat us and our feelings in any given
situation. It involves direct interaction and sometimes comes with a
price tag of expectation, wanting something back in return. It's a
demonstrative form of love offered through the soul. But, it's also a
command from God. "Let us love one another, because love comes from God"
(1 John 4:7).
Love is the attribute of God that means the most to us. If God didn't
love us, whom He created, He would have traded us in for a better model
long ago. Despite our many failures, God keeps working with us (Romans
5:8). Time and time again, despite His patience being tested, He
demonstrates that love for His people. He only banned Adam and Eve from
the Garden of Eden. He didn't take their lives. He spared the world
because He found one man of upright faith in Noah. He rescued Lot from
Sodom before destroying that city. He made Abraham the father of many
nations and blessed him with his long-awaited son, despite Abraham's
impatience when he fathered a son through his wife's servant.
In the same way God shows His love for us, He expects us to love Him
totally and to show love toward each other. "You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke
10:27). Jesus spoke these words when the Pharisees questioned Him about
the greatest commandment of God. Although they tried to trick Him, Jesus
didn't change the law; He fulfilled it. His sayings about love were not
new. The emphasis was merely changed.
The relationships in our lives will either be governed by agape or
phileo love. When thinking in terms of romance, we allow the
manifestation of that agape love to pour out from our hearts. As a
result, we are eager to do everything we can to please the other person
and make that person happy. In a love relationship between a man and a
woman, the romance is the physical evidence of the love that exists.
When that relationship progresses to marriage, the love built between
the man and woman only grows deeper as the bond is made stronger through
the intimate union of body and soul. "For this reason a man will leave
his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become
one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). Biblical love elevates the husband's
affections for his wife to the point of loving his wife "as his own
body." It also instructs wives to submit to their husbands as the head
of the household (Eph. 5:25-29). But submission doesn't mean
subservience. On the contrary, when true agape love is manifested in the
marriage, the two will act as one, and both will love the other as they
love themselves. The tenderness and romance will come out of that love.
By far, the best book in the Bible on this romantic and agape type of
love is the Song of Solomon. An oft-quoted and many times favorite of
romantics, this book demonstrates the parallel between the agape love
Christ has for His church and the deep, abiding love a husband has for
his bride. The lover and beloved exchange dialogue with each other, and
the beloved speaks with her friends. Every passage attests to the deep
and abiding love between the lover and beloved. The two are so consumed
with that love that it fills them and gives them strength to face each
new day. They find comfort and solace in each other's arms and are
incomplete without each other. Being together excites them, and when
they're apart, they anticipate their reunion.
But, above everything else that is demonstrated in God's Word, it's
important to keep in mind that love/romance is an action. It's not
passive, and it's not a feeling. It's a verb. It requires you to do
something in order to bring it to pass. It also requires that you put
the other person's wants and desires above your own. Whenever you need a
reminder, go back and read 1 Corinthians 13. And remember, you don't
have to do it alone. God's Spirit will work through you. All you have to
do is ask.
Recommended Resources:
The Book of Romance: What Solomon Says About Love, Sex, and Intimacy by Tommy Nelson and Logos Bible Software.
