Some think the Sabbath is the sign by which non-Christians will know that we are Christians:

" And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. . . . It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed " (Exodus 31:12-13, 17. All scriptures quoted are from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted).

The Sabbath is a sign between God and His people, but it is not necessarily a sign by which the world will know we are Christians. Yes, people will notice that we keep the Sabbath and the Holy Days, but this does not prove anything. The members of the Jewish faith also observe these days, and they are not Christians. According to Jesus, how would people know that we are His disciples?

" A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another " (John 13:34-35).

The love Christians show to one another is a sign to the world that we are Jesus' disciples.

Obviously, the Sabbath is important. Those individuals who come to understand the importance of observing the Sabbath will look for a group of people who observe the Sabbath. But after a while, if they do not see these people loving one another, they will quit fellowshipping with them.

The love we show fellow Christians is a sign to the world that we are Christ's disciples. To better understand how to love one another and the importance God places on this, we will examine a number of scriptures dealing with this subject. The following scriptures teach us that God wants Christians to love one another. This does not mean that we should not love non-Christians; we should, but that is a subject for another study.

Laying Down Our Life In Service

" A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. " (John 13:34).

" This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." (John 15:12).

We are to love one another as Jesus loved each one of us. How did Christ love us?

" Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do what I command you. " (John 15:13 -14).

Jesus is saying that we express our love for one another by laying down are lives for one another. The apostle John writes more about this laying down of life in 1 John:

" We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. " (1 John 3:16).

Christ loved us by dying for us; thus, we should be willing to lay down our lives for our brethren. John is not speaking of literally dying for someone else, but rather of laying down our life in service to others, as the following verses show:

" But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him, in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. " (1 John 3:17-20).

Commanded To Love One Another

" A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. " (John 13:34).

" This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." (John 15:12).

" This I command you, that you love one another. " (John 15:17)

Jesus commands His disciples to love one another. This command is repeated three times during Jesus' final discourse with His disciples before His death (see John 13-17). This shows how important it is to Jesus for His disciples to love one another.

Devoted To One Another

" Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. " (Romans 12:10).

Webster's New World Dictionary defines "devoted" as "1. dedicated; consecrated 2. very loyal, loyal, faithful. " How devoted are we to fellow Christians? Do we express brotherly love only to those who belong to the same church organization that we belong to? Is our loyalty and faithfulness to a brother based on his organizational affiliation?

Ongoing Debt To Love One Another

" Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled {the} law. For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of {the} law " (Romans 13:8-10).

We have an ongoing debt to love one another, a debt we will never by able to pay off. We express this love by keeping the Law of God, as verses 9 thru 10 show.

Serve One Another

" For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. " (Galatians 5:13).

As Christians, we are to serve one another, following the example of Jesus who came to serve humanity:

" And He said to them, The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called Benefactors. But not so with you, but let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. " (Luke 22:25 -27).

" Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. " (Philippians 2:5-8).

We need to be on guard against the attitude of wanting fellow Christians to serve us. We should approach our involvement in a congregation from an attitude of what we can give to the group, not what we can get from it.

Forbearance Towards One Another

" I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. " (Ephesians 4:1-3).

The meaning of the word "forbearance" is: "1. the act of forbearing 2. the quality of being forbearing; self-controlled; patient restraint, " Webster's New World Dictionary. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary the word "forbear" means: "1. To refrain from; resist. 2. To desist from; cease. 3. Obsolete. To avoid or shun. - intr. 1. To hold back; refrain. 2. To be tolerant or patient in the face of provocation. - forbearer n."

Following are other translations of "showing forbearance to one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2):

" . . . bearing with one another, and making allowances because you love one another. " (Amplified Bible)

" . . . putting up with one another's failings in the spirit of love. " (Revised English Bible)

" . . . Show your love by being tolerant with one another. " (Today's English Version)

As Christians, we need to be tolerant with each other's idiosyncrasies, eccentricities, peculiarities, habits we might find a bit odd, and personality quirks. We need to put up with each other's shortcomings and, occasionally, personal faults and sins. If someone's actions are truly hurting us, such as physical, emotional or sexual abuse, we should not tolerate this. The scriptures talk about going to a sinning brother and bringing the sin to his attention (Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20). This is not what Ephesians 4:1-3 is talking about. These verses are talking about the day-to-day ways we rub each other the wrong way. During the course of any relationship we get to know the shortcomings and faults of another person. There are times to when we need to speak up, but often we need to mind our own business and put up with the other person.

Increase And Abound In Love For One Another

" Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. " (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13).

Our love for one another can grow and increase. This increase in love comes from God through the Holy Spirit:

" [A]nd hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. " (Romans 5:5).

To receive more of the Holy Spirit, we must ask for it:

" And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. " (Luke 11:9-13)?

It is important to remember that the Holy Spirit is like a fire (Acts 2:1-4); we can extinguish or quench its influence in our life:

" Do not quench the Spirit. " (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

Occasionally we must stir up the Holy Spirit and, thus, stir up Godly love in our lives.

" And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh {"stir up," New King James Version} the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. " (2 Timothy 1:6-7).

Love is a fruit or a by-product of the Holy Spirit working in our lives:

" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. " (Galatians 5:22).

The ability to love others in a Godly way, to have Godly love, comes from God. We must ask for love, and once we receive it, use it.

Expand The Circle Of Those We Love

" Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more. " (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10).

The Thessalonians needed no instruction from Paul on how to love one another; God had taken care of that. How did God teach them to love one another? God gave them His Spirit, through which they received the ability to love others (Romans 5:5). They also learned about Godly love through reading the Old Testament (the only scriptures they would have had at the time), which taught "you shall love your neighbor as yourself " (Leviticus 19:18). Nevertheless, Paul wanted them to look beyond their small part of the world, Macedonia. He wanted them to show this same love towards brethren who did not live in their region. Exactly what Paul had in mind for them to do is unclear, but there is an important principle for us to learn. We should not limit loving one another to only those Christians we fellowship with regularly.

Love Can Grow Deeper

" Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater. " (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).

Paul praises the Thessalonians because the love they have for one another was growing. This teaches us that the love we have for one another is something that can also grow deeper. This Godly love comes through the Holy Spirit:

"The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5).

We need to ask God for more of that Spirit, which He will give us:

" If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? " (Luke 11:13).

Once given the Spirit and love of God, we must use it.

Fervently Love One Another

" Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart. " (1 Peter 1:22).

Peter in his letter to the Christians living in Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1), tells them that spiritual purification comes through "obedience to the truth. " This purification makes it possible for them to be able to love their fellow brethren. Because they have this ability, Peter tells them to "fervently love one another." One receives the impression that these Christians were not fervently loving one another. This difficulty in showing love might have been the result of the trials these Christians were experiencing (1 Peter 1:6-7). Unfortunately, trials can sometimes cause us to focus on ourselves and what we are going through, neglecting the people around us. As Christians, we must remember that we have the ability to fervently love our brethren, no matter what we are going through.

Love Covers A Multitude Of Sins

" Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. " (1 Peter 4:8).

Peter again brings up this idea of fervent love for one another. He goes on to show that this love involves covering a multitude of sins. There are at least two ways we can do this. First, we can keep our mouths shut about the sins and shortcomings of others. Just because it happened, and we know about it, does not mean we have to tell others:

" Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions. " (Proverbs 10:12).

" He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. " (Proverbs 17:9).

We can also cover over a multitude of sins by helping a brother to understand that his actions and behavior are not right:

" My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins. " (James 5:19-20).

Physically Express Brotherly Love

" Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ. " (1 Peter 5:14).

The apostle Paul writes something similar to the Christians in Rome and Corinth:

" Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. " (Romans 16:16).

" All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. " (1 Corinthians 16:20).

" Greet one another with a holy kiss. " (2 Corinthians 13:12).

David H. Stern author of The Jewish New Testament Commentary, Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc., Clarksville, Maryland, fifth edition 1996, page 440, comments on Romans 16:16:

" [A] Middle-Eastern custom. In recent years hugging and holy kissing has come back in vogue in some other countries as well, after centuries of being out of fashion (a handshake is obviously a much weaker expression of body language). When between members of the opposite sex, care must be taken that it is a holy kiss and not an unholy one! More generally, in an age of transition when customs are changing, the principle of Chapter 14, not causing distress to another for whom the Messiah died, applies here: those who experience discomfort from a given form of body expression should not be made to suffer it against their will. "

Craig S. Keener author of The IVP Bible Background Commentary New Testament, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, 1993, page 448, adds this further comment on Romans 16:16:

" Kisses were a common form of affectionate greeting for family members, intimate friends or those who were objects of respect (e.g. Gen 33:4; 45:15; 1 Sam. 20:41). Due to abuses, in subsequent centuries the church limited the practice of the liturgical kiss of fellowship to men kissing men and women kissing women, although this was not the initial practice. "

During the first century it was common for close friends and family members to greet one another with a kiss. It was also a way to express respect for someone held in honor. Peter and Paul are teaching Christians to look upon one another as close friends and family members, expressing brotherly love and respect through the giving of the "holy kiss" or "kiss of love." The modern equivalent might be a handshake or, better yet, a hug. This would depend on one's culture. The essential thing is to greet our brethren as family members. If we have a hard time expressing this love for someone, then maybe we need to examine our attitude towards this person.

Love For Others Is A Sign We Are Christians

" By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous. Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. " (1 John 3:10-15).

John writes that the "children of God," Christians, are those who "practice righteousness," which means obeying the commandments of God (Psalm 119:172). Those who are the "children of God" also love their Christian brothers (1 John 3:10). Before the beginning of the Church (verse 11), during His last Passover, Jesus spoke of the importance of His disciples loving each other (John 13:34; John 15:12, 17). But we should not love one another in the way Cain "loved" Abel (1 John 3:12). Cain demonstrated his lack of brotherly love by killing his brother (Genesis 4:1-9). Loving our brethren is a sign by which each one of us can know we are Christians who have "eternal life abiding in" us (1 John 3:13-15). This love is also a sign to the world that we are Jesus' disciples (John 13:35).

A Condition For Answered Prayer

" Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. " (1 John 3:21-23).

Keeping the commandments of God is one of the conditions for receiving an answer to our prayers. Two specific commands are: faith in Jesus as our savior, and loving one another. Loving our brethren is one of the requirements for answered prayer.

Proof Of Our Christianity

" Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son {to be} the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. " (1 John 4:7-13).

Our love for one another is proof that we are Christians. We know that God abides in us, i.e., the Holy Spirit is in us, by the fact that we love our brethren.

We Express Love By Obeying God

And now I ask you, lady, not as writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it (2 John 1:5-6).

The following translations of 2 John 1:5-6 help us to better understand the meaning of these verses:

" And now, Lady, I have a request to make of you. Do not think I am sending a new command; I am recalling the one we have had from the beginning: I ask that we love one another. What Love means is to live according to the commands of God. This is the command that was given you from the beginning, to be your rule of life. " (Revised English Bible).

" I beg you now, dear lady, not as though I were issuing any new order but simply reminding you of the original one, to see that we continue to love one another. Real love means obeying the Father's orders, and you have known from the beginning that you must live in obedience to him. " (The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips).

" And now I beg you, lady (Cyria), not as if I were issuing a new charge (injunction or command), but [simply recalling to your mind] the one we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And what this love consists in is this, that we live and walk in accordance with and are guided by His commandments - His orders, ordinances, precepts, teaching. This is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you continue to walk in love - guided by it and following it. " (The Amplified Bible).

We express love for one another by obeying the commandments of God. It is through the Law of God, the letter and intent, that we express love to others, especially those of the faith. This ties in with what Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans:

" Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled {the} law. For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. " (Romans 13:8-10).

Conclusion

In this study we have seen that the Bible makes numerous references to the need for Christians to love one another, as well as the importance God places on brethren loving one another. This brotherly love becomes a sign to the world and to ourselves, that we are disciples of Jesus Christ.

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