From the series “The Love of God: Revealed, Received, and Radiated”
It is one thing to speak of the love of God.
It is another to receive it.
But it is something far more profound to live it.
The love that created the world, the love that was nailed to a cross, is not meant to remain distant—admired but unreachable. The risen Christ did not ascend to leave us longing. He sent the Holy Spirit to abide with us, teach us, and form His love within us.
“The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
— Romans 5:5
This is not a metaphor.
It is not a poetic way of saying we feel better when we believe.
It is the supernatural reality of regeneration.
Through the Holy Spirit, the love of God ceases to be a doctrine we study and becomes a presence we carry.
Many speak of love, but very few walk in it.
Why?
Because it cannot be manufactured by discipline, religious knowledge, or human willpower.
The love that forgives enemies, blesses persecutors, shows mercy to the undeserving, and remains faithful in suffering is not natural. It is the result of divine indwelling.
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”
— Matthew 5:44
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
— John 13:35
These are not ideals for the spiritually gifted—they are commands for every believer. But without the Spirit, they are impossible.
When the Holy Spirit takes up residence in a believer, He does not merely convict and comfort. He conforms us to the image of Christ. He produces what we cannot:
“The fruit of the Spirit is love…”
— Galatians 5:22
Notice where it begins: love. Not a feeling. Not attraction. Not tolerance.
A supernatural, self-denying, enemy-forgiving, holiness-seeking love that mirrors the life of Jesus Christ.
It is this kind of love that stunned the Roman Empire. The early Christians didn’t argue the culture into submission—they loved their enemies, cared for the sick during plagues, rescued abandoned infants, and refused to curse their executioners. And this wasn’t because of their willpower. It was the Spirit of Christ within them.
Tertullian (c. 160–220 AD) recorded that the pagans exclaimed:
“See how they love one another… and how ready they are to die for one another!”
— Apology, Chapter 39
They loved with a kind of love the world could not explain—because it did not originate in them.
It came from heaven.
It flowed from a Person.
And it burned even when they were burned at the stake.
This is the love that dwells in every true follower of Christ.
It is not optional.
It is not theoretical.
It is not silent.
Where the Spirit is, there is love. And not merely for the brethren. The true test of love is not how we treat our friends, but how we treat our enemies.
“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar…”
— 1 John 4:20
The early Church didn’t love one another because it made sense. They loved one another because the Spirit of the risen Christ had made them one. They didn’t love enemies to win debates—they loved them because they had died with Christ, and it was no longer they who lived, but He who lived in them.
This is what the Holy Spirit does.
He makes the love of God a living reality—poured out, overflowing, unstoppable.
Without Him, we cannot love as Christ loves.
With Him, we cannot help it.
Sources & References
Love Empowered: The Holy Spirit and the Life of Christ Within
Scripture (NASB 1995):
- Romans 5:5 – “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit…”
- Galatians 5:22 – “The fruit of the Spirit is love…”
- Matthew 5:44 – “Love your enemies…”
- John 13:35 – “By this all men will know…”
- 1 John 4:20 – “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar…”
Ante-Nicene Sources:
- Tertullian, Apology, Chapter 39.
“See how they love one another… and how ready they are to die for one another!”
[Available at: NewAdvent.org/fathers/0301.htm]
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