Christ’s atoning work done on the cross reconciled believers to God’s love. 1 Corinthians 5:19 says, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation”. To be reconciled means to be reunited to someone who has been alienated. The book of Matthew records that the primary purpose of the incarnation of Christ was to offer mankind salvation and to reconcile man to God.  “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins”, Matthew 1:21. Considering this, it is important to note that, as Dr. Lockyer puts it, “Love is the premier teaching of Christianity, and an undying expression of Jesus’ doctrine. It is more potent for the building of the Church than any, or all, of the various manifestations of God’s power”.[i] For the purpose of this paper, love encompasses unconditional sacrifice for others. As such, Jesus is the believer’s benchmark for love. 

Jesus’ Example

Jesus’ example teaches the believer to put the needs of others before personal needs. God sending His Son to die on the cross is the ultimate example of what love is. “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends”, John 15:13. John also writes in John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. Jesus displayed on the cross that true love has no boundaries. “Jesus had no sin of his own. It was not his own penalty that he bore, but he was a substitute for others, for those who would be joined to him by faith.”[ii] Through His humility and active obedience to the Father’s will, Jesus expression of love to us as sinners encourages believers to look at the interests of others above themselves. Philippians 2:4 says “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others”. “The call of love begins here, when we get outside our own needs and preferences, looking beyond ourselves, to see and move toward the interest of others”.[iii] The atonement of Christ depicts an example of self-sacrificing love that serves as the believer’s benchmark.

Jesus’ Instruction 

Jesus commands all who professes to know Him to love each another. “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another”, John 13:34. Jesus also declared that the love believers have for each other, will tell whether they are His disciples. John 13:35 says “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”. Further, in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, He instructed those in attendance to love each other despite whether it was received. Jesus said in Matthew 5:44 to, “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”. The love the believer has for their enemies is a representation of God’s mercy and grace. Extending favor to someone who is underserving, is exactly what Christ did as it relates to Salvation. The believer must make every effort to love because of the instruction from Jesus. 

Jesus’ Commitment 

Charles R. Swindoll once wrote, “One of the immediate joys we will find as we dig into the Scriptures is that God is speaking directly to us. There are promises in the Bible – personal promises we can claim as a result of learning the Scriptures”.[iv] God’s promises towards those who trust Him are never-ending. One of His major promises is that He will return some day for those who belong to Him. John 14:3 says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”. God never breaks His promises and is committed to complete every work He has started. Peter writes in 2 Peter 3:9 that “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. As a follower of Christ, the believer is also challenged to love as Christ does by keeping their promises. As Christ has kept His promise towards the believer, His promise is the benchmark of love. 

“Love is the essence of God’s nature, as well as the perfection of human character. Love is the most powerful, ultimate force in the Universe”.[v] Although the enemy tries to distort the image of love, believers have the perfect picture of love in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the believer’s benchmark for love through His example of what He did on the cross. Jesus is the believer’s benchmark for love through His instructions and what he has taught in Scripture. Jesus is the believer’s benchmark for love by His promises.

References:

1 Dr. Herbert Lockyer, All of the Teachings of Jesus, (Massachusetts: Hendrickson 

Publishers, 1991), 173

2 John Piper, “Penal Substitutionary Atonement”, desiringGod, February 19, 2013, https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/penal-substitutionary-atonement   

3 David Mathis, “How to Love Hard People at Christmas”, desiringGod, December 13, 2018, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-to-love-hard-people-at-christmas   

4 Charles R. Swindoll, Searching the Scriptures, (Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 2016), 63 - 64

5 Dr. Herbert Lockyer, All of the Teachings of Jesus, (Massachusetts: Hendrickson 

Publishers, 1991), 173