Is This Even Possible?

This morning as I drove to get a little “sumpthin-sumpthin” from Rise & Grind for my wife and her boss, I was behind a car with this window decal on the back. “Love Like Jesus” with a big smiley-face. It was very big, and very cute. Fit the car nicely. As it stared at me most of the way, it made me think of so much Christ has done for me, and I couldn’t help but think of the reasons why this person stuck this to her window.

Maybe she thinks God should just forgive people who wronged Him and let their sin go. I mean, we’re only human anyway, right? Maybe she thinks that since Jesus sat down with sinners and tax collectors in Zacheus’ house that we should do the same. Maybe she thinks that Jesus just let people do what they wanted and not “stir the pot” as the saying goes telling people they’re — wrong.

His love is unconditional

But, maybe it’s because she believes that Jesus loves unconditionally and that we as human beings should love unconditionally no matter who it is that we are to love. This is true. Did you think I would say something otherwise? God’s love for mankind is clearly unconditional, and Jesus is the manifestation of that love. He demonstrated His unconditional love by choosing to die on the cross for the sins of the world, while we were yet sinners and enemies of God. Scripture says much about this:

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person–though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die– but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:6-11 ESV

Just think, God sent His one and only Son to die a horrifying death so that we could be reconcilled to Him. That is a love that is so beyond you and I. That He died for us while we were enemies of God because of our wicked deeds. He died for ungodly wicked people who couldn’t give a rats behind about Him. He died for us while we were dead in our tresspasses and sins, children of wrath following our own sinful desires of the body and mind. But what did God do:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved– and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:4-10 ESV

God’s default is not wrath, condemnation, punishment, or chastening; but love, mercy, grace, and volumes of other positive, amazing, awesome words that describe Him. God sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, not to condemn the world, but that through Him we might be saved (John 3:16-17). It’s true that all we have to do is believe in Jesus (John 3:18). Those who practice evil hates the light and does not come to the light. They loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil and they don’t want them to be exposed (John 3:19-20). It’s not that we have to be good in order to be saved, but we will do good because we are saved, and that God does the works through us. Scripture teaches:

“But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

John 3:21 NKJV

Can we love like Jesus?

Which brings me to the core of this statement. Can we as human beings—love like Jesus? Could you willingly lay down your life on a cross, a Gentile Roman torture device, by people who hate you so that those same people who were calling for your blood and killing you had the possiblity of eternal life? Could you sacrifice your only child to suffer that same punishment for those same people who absolutely hate and dispise you? Frankly, I’m starting to think this car window decal is not only ludicrous, but—impossible!

As followers of Jesus, we are called to love others just as Jesus loves us. His love is sacrificial, selfless, and—unconditional. Jesus even commands us to love our enemies. Jesus said:

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? “And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Matthew 5:44-48 NKJV

Not that we would ever be perfect on this side of heaven, but we would display His heart perfectly. David Guzic points out that, “If a man could live the way Jesus has told us to in this in [Matthew 5], he would truly be perfect.

• He would never hate, slander, or speak evil of another person.
• He would never lust in his heart or mind, and not covet anything.
• He would never make a false oath, and always be completely truthful.
• He would let God defend his personal rights, and not take it upon himself to defend those rights.
• He would always love his neighbors, and even his enemies.

If a man could keep just what Jesus said here, he would truly have a righteousness greater than the scribes and the Pharisees (Matthew 5:20).” (Guzic)

This type of love is not easy and may require us to forgive those who seriously done us wrong. Remember in my article, “The Promises of God No One Wants” where I talked about the story of Corrie Ten Boom, who was given the choice to forgive a Nazi that helped in her family’s execution? She writes, “When He gives the command to love our enemies, He gives the power to see it through, no matter how difficult it is in our human frailties. Forgiveness and suffering like this is genuinely unique to Christianity.

It is obvious that we in our humaness cannot love like Jesus. But through the Holy Spirit, we can.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-25 NKJV

Although it won’t be easy, as we submit to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in our lives, die to ourselves and live for Christ (Galatians 2:20), and take up our cross and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24), we can love others with the love of Christ.

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Guzik, David. “Study Guide for Matthew 5.” Blue Letter Bible. 6/2022. Web. 20 Dec, 2024. https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/matthew/matthew-5.cfm.