How does Ephesians 6:24 connect with the theme of love in 1 John? Ephesians 6:24—Love That Will Not Die “Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.” - “Undying” (Greek en aphtharsia) speaks of love that is incorruptible, imperishable, not subject to decay. - Paul ends his letter by blessing believers who already display this kind of steadfast devotion to Christ. - Grace fuels such love; it is love received and returned, not self-generated. 1 John—Love Perfected and Proven Key notes in 1 John: - 1 John 4:7-8: “Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God…God is love.” - 1 John 2:5: “If anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been perfected in him.” - 1 John 3:14: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.” - 1 John 4:16-17: “Whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him. In this way, love has been perfected among us.” Here, love is both the evidence of new birth and the arena in which believers are matured. Threading the Two Passages Together - Same Source - Ephesians: grace enables love for Christ. - 1 John: new birth enables love for God and others. Both insist that genuine love originates in God’s initiative, not ours. - Same Permanence - “Undying” (Ephesians 6:24) = love that lasts. - “Abide/abiding” (1 John 2:24; 3:24; 4:16) = love that remains. The vocabulary differs, the idea matches: authentic Christian love is permanent. - Same Testimony - Paul blesses “all who love our Lord”—love marks the true Christian. - John writes so “you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13)—love likewise marks assurance. - Same Obedience Link - Ephesians’ context of spiritual warfare (6:10-17) shows love keeping believers loyal amid conflict. - 1 John ties love to keeping God’s commands (2:3-6; 5:2-3). Steadfast love shows itself in obedient living. - Same Community Impact - Loving Christ “with incorruptibility” naturally overflows into loving His body (Ephesians 4:2; 5:1-2). - 1 John makes love for brothers inseparable from love for God (4:20-21). Echoes Across Scripture - John 15:9-13—abiding in Christ’s love and laying down life for friends. - Romans 8:35-39—nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. - 1 Peter 1:22-23—love one another deeply from a pure heart, born again of imperishable seed. - 2 Corinthians 5:14—“For Christ’s love compels us.” Living the Connection Today - Receive grace daily; undying love springs from God’s prior love (1 John 4:19). - Guard the heart against corruption; keep love “incorruptible” by rejecting sin’s decay (Ephesians 6:10-18). - Abide through Scripture and prayer; permanence is nurtured in constant fellowship with Christ. - Express love tangibly within the church; visible brotherly love confirms invisible love for Christ (1 John 3:17-18). - Rest in assurance; when love for the Lord and His people remains, it testifies that eternal life is present and active. |
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