When we are born again, we have passed from a state of death in sin to a life in Christ Jesus. This is the sovereign work of God through the Holy Spirit that brings a sinner unable to liberate himself from that death state. One of the evidences that we possess in which we can KNOW we have experienced this new birth is that we love one another. John said, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” (I John 3:14). Love for the brethren is the evidence not the cause of the new life imparted in being born again. Paul taught that it is God that first teaches His children to love, independent of the will of man. “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” (I Thess. 4:9). Love is the very first fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Gal. 5:22. This is no accident but reveals that without love all these other fruits cannot follow. We can KNOW we are a citizen of the heavenly country and a joint heir with Christ. This does not neagate a hope in Christ at all but just strenghtens our hope in Christ. Knowledge brings our hope into focus so we can have the assurance that our hope in Christ will one day be a reality when we see Christ in glory. We love Him because He first loved us and gave Himself for us. Once again we know something about our future state but we don’t know exactly how it shall be because it hasn’t appeared as of yet; that’s when hope will become a reality. John once again said, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (I John 3:2)–Jan. 4, 2012-Elder Larry Wise
