Love is . . .

Jordan says in one of his recent TV shows, “In college us preacher boys would get together and ask each other about, ‘What is real, true spirituality?’ Back then were books written by that title. It’s fascinating that there still are all these books about it when God already wrote a Book to explain it.

“If you want to know exactly what the Christian life is designed to look like when it is lived in human flesh in human relationships and life, Romans 12 is the template.

“You’ve got 11 chapters in the Book of Romans of doctrine. The doctrine of salvation, justification, total forgiveness, eternal security, sanctification. And he puts us under this operating system called ‘grace.’

“Then you come to chapter 12 and he says, ‘Therefore, based on all that understanding of how God has equipped you to be a member of the Body of Christ and live on Planet Earth for His glory . . .

‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.’

“Did you notice that the word ‘service’ doesn’t appear in the vocabulary of the Christian until he gets to Romans 12? I heard a preacher just this past week say, ‘You know, when people come to church you want to get them serving immediately, quickly.’ Why? Because it assimilates them into your group, makes them feel like they have ownership and they’re important, like you want them.

“Paul waited 12 chapters. You know why? Because he knew the Christian life wasn’t gained on the basis of the sense of somebody thinking somebody else wanted them. Because if they’re going to serve and stand for the Lord because they think you want them, what happens when you ignore them?

“Paul wants you to serve based on an internal compulsion that comes by the energizing of some sound doctrine in your inner man. That’s why he says in verse 2, ‘Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.’

“In Romans 12 he’s giving you a series of instructions that describe the practical application in the details of life of the identity that the first 11 chapters detail you have.

“If you want to profile what a Christian really is, what he looks like, here it is. Romans 12 divides it up into five sections, and in each section it talks about a relationship you have. Life is about relationships.

“Eternal life is not just living forever because everybody’s going to live forever. In John 17 Jesus is talking to His Father and He says, ‘This is eternal life.’ I read that verse one time and said, ‘Wow, I want to know what that is.’ The verse goes on, ‘that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.’

“Eternal life is knowing God. It’s not like, ‘Hi, how are you?’ and shake your hand. It’s to know Him more than just an acquaintance. It’s to understand Him. It’s to know how He thinks.

“It’s like marriage. I know my wife different now than I knew her 40 years ago when we married. I know her more intimately, more personally, more dynamically, more thoroughly. I know what she thinks about. I know what she likes, what she doesn’t like. I know how she feels about things.

“Eternal life is understanding and knowing the Father. Know how He thinks. Eternal life is God’s life. And God wants to share His life. How does God live? Who does He seek to exalt all the time? Himself? No. The Father lives to exalt His Son. He wants His Son to have the preeminence in all things. That’s what brings pleasure to the Father’s heart. Col. 1:19.

“When you exalt the Son, you exalt the Father. Every member of the godhead lives to glorify the other members of the godhead. You see the life of the godhead is spontaneously living for others, having their interests above their own. That’s the way God lives and that’s the eternal life He gives to us.

“Eternal life isn’t just living forever; it’s having this relationship where we live for other people.”