Topical Bible: The Love of God: Perfected in Saints by Obedience

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The concept of the love of God being perfected in the saints through obedience is a profound theme in Christian theology, emphasizing the transformative power of divine love as it manifests in the lives of believers. This theme is deeply rooted in Scripture, where the relationship between love, obedience, and spiritual maturity is intricately woven.

Biblical Foundation

The Apostle John, in his epistles, provides a foundational understanding of this concept. In 1 John 2:5 , he writes, "But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him." This verse highlights the connection between keeping God's commandments and the perfection of His love within the believer. The term "perfected" here implies a process of maturation and completion, suggesting that God's love reaches its intended purpose as believers live in obedience to His Word.

Obedience as a Response to Divine Love

Obedience in the Christian life is not merely a legalistic adherence to rules but a heartfelt response to the love of God. Jesus Himself articulated this relationship in John 14:15 , "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Here, obedience is portrayed as the natural outflow of love for Christ. It is through this loving obedience that believers demonstrate their allegiance to Him and their desire to align their lives with His will.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in perfecting God's love in the saints. Romans 5:5 states, "And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit empowers believers to live in obedience, transforming their hearts and enabling them to love as God loves. This divine empowerment is essential for the perfection of love, as it is not achieved through human effort alone but through the Spirit's work within.

The Fruit of Obedience

The perfection of God's love in the saints is evidenced by the fruit it produces in their lives. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These attributes reflect the character of Christ and are cultivated through a life of obedience. As believers grow in these virtues, they bear witness to the transformative power of God's love.

The Assurance of Abiding in God

The assurance of abiding in God is closely linked to the perfection of His love through obedience. 1 John 4:12-13 states, "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit." The mutual indwelling of God and the believer is affirmed through the practice of love, which is perfected as believers obey His commandments and love one another.

The Ultimate Goal

The ultimate goal of the love of God being perfected in the saints is to conform them to the image of Christ. Romans 8:29 declares, "For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers." As believers walk in obedience, they are progressively transformed into the likeness of Christ, reflecting His love and holiness to the world.

In summary, the love of God is perfected in the saints through a life of obedience, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit. This process of perfection is integral to the believer's spiritual growth and conformity to the image of Christ, serving as a testament to the transformative power of divine love.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 John 2:5
But whoever keeps his word, in him truly is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Treatise on the Love of God
... THAT THE CHARITY OF SAINTS IN THIS MORTAL LIFE EQUALS, YEA ... THE SOUL WITH HER GOD,
WHICH IS PERFECTED IN PRAYER. ... IN SACRED LOVE, YET ONE MAY LOVE GOD IN VARIOUS ...
//christianbookshelf.org/francis/treatise on the love of god/

Obedience: Its Place in Holy Scripture.
... us not to be hearers of the Word only but doers, and expounds how Abraham was justified,
and his faith perfected, by his ... This is the love of God, that we ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/i obedience its place in.htm

The Introduction to the Work, with Some Account of the Nature of ...
... sanctification, preservation, glorification, is all finished and perfected for ever!
"The Lord thy God in the ... thee with joy, he will rest in his love, he will ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter i the introduction to.htm

Twenty-Ninth Day. Holiness and Chastisement.
... His suffering; and in it makes Himself, who was perfected through suffering ... 0 ye
chastened saints! ... your heart into unity with God's Will, God's Son, God's Love. ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twenty-ninth day holiness and chastisement.htm

Love of Religion, a New Nature.
... fulfilled in us, and be able to love God without drawback ... our longings here, to praise
and serve God eternally with a ... that be, when all will be perfected in us ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon xiii love of religion.htm

The Message and Its Practical Results
... whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know ...
commandments,' but the word as one great whole"our love to God reaches its ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the message and its practical.htm

Love's Logic
... If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." Now
no man ... O love the Lord ye his saints. ... But this I cannot be unless I love God. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/loves logic.htm

Proof that God did not Appoint the Levitical Dispensation for his ...
... not desire, but mine ears hast Thou perfected; [4008] burnt ... his brother, and ye shall
not love false swearing ... Father, and since in the omnipotent God the Church ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xvii proof that god did.htm

Of the Sovereign Degree of Union by Suspension and Ravishment.
... OF THE SOUL WITH HER GOD, WHICH IS PERFECTED IN PRAYER. ... O God, thou art the only
one and only unity necessary ... dear love of my heart, unite my poor one soul, to ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iii of the sovereign.htm

Table of Contents.
... That the charity of saints in this mortal life equals, yea ... THE SOUL WITH HER GOD,
WHICH IS PERFECTED IN PRAYER. ... in sacred love, yet one may love God in various ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/table of contents.htm