The Love of God

If we would love with the love of God, then let us not accept sin in ourselves but mortify it. A righteous life tells the world of your love for God. And if we would love with the love of God, then “let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. … Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:7-11). Amen.

The Bond of Peace

In other words, maintaining peace in the local church is not a cause to fight for but an act of worshipful service to our Triune God. As we live out our faith in Christ in the local church “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,” the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” is revealed.