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Your Question:
When love is put to the test, what is revealed?
Answer:
When love is put to the test, what is revealed? **The Nature of Love and Its Role in Testing** Love is the surest test of having life, as it has already been shown to be the test of being in the light (2:10). It is the final objective test of our Christian profession, for true love, in the sense of self-sacrifice, is not natural to human beings in their fallen state. Its existence in anyone is evidence of new birth and spiritual life (1 Jn 3:14). In other words, when love is put to the test, it reveals whether we have been born again and are living a life that reflects our new birth in Christ. **The Evidence of Love in Action** True love, as demonstrated in self-sacrifice, is not something that comes naturally to us, but it is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Believers are commanded to love each other as evidence of genuine faith (1 Jn 3-5). Showing love to brothers and sisters in Christ is one of John's three tests to assess or know where one stands in one's Christian profession. This love is not a feeling, but a choice to put the needs of others before our own (Phil 2:3-4). When love is put to the test, it reveals whether we are willing to make sacrifices for the sake of others and prioritize their needs above our own. **The Imperishable Nature of Love** Love never fails (1 Cor 13:8). It is the one thing that endures even when other things pass away (1 Cor 13:3). This is because love is not just a feeling or a physical response, but a choice to put the needs of others before our own. It is not rooted in our emotions or physical responses, but in our commitment to Christ and our desire to please Him (2 Cor 5:9). When love is put to the test, it reveals whether we are committed to living a life that reflects our love for Christ and our desire to serve others. In this sense, love is the ultimate test of our Christian profession, and it is the one thing that will remain when all else passes away.
Sources:
letters of john
john stott
new testament background and message
thomas lea
proverbs
lindsay wilson
introduction biblical ethics
robertson mcquilkin
systematic theology
wayne grudem
christian apologetics
douglas groothius
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