(1 John 4:8) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

The phrase “God is Love,” in this verse reveals who God is in his eternal being. He is “Love” in his eternal essence (ontological being). God loves us out of who he is.

So, as 1 John 4:8 tells us, we do not know God if we do not love others. This all sounds good, but there is much more to understand. In fact, you might already feel condemned.

Over almost 50 years as a Christian, I have read the many exhortations in the Bible to love others, even our enemies. I have heard many passionate sermons that highlight that Christians must love one another, even those we do not like. 

This all sounds great and pious, but the fact is, we cannot produce and live-out God’s radical love as if it was another “Christian behavioral rule” for us to follow. 

FACT: Left to ourselves—our own self-efforts—we cannot live out the love of God toward others. 

What is often overlooked in the Bible is “God’s love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit living within our hearts.”

The powerful source of God’s love is the Holy Spirit, not ourselves. 

As Romans 5:5 tells us, God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 1:7 reads, The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us love. 

We can only love others when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and walk-out our daily lives through the Holy Spirit (Colossians 1:8). 

We have to stop thinking that living out the radical love of God is a “religious behavior” we must do. Stop! Stop! Stop! No more religious self-efforts and pious words.

If we want to truly live a lifestyle of love—God’s love—we must allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to love. Once again, it comes down to us opening up our hearts to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. 

Pray this: Lord, fill my heart today with the power of the Holy Spirit so I can love others like you love me. Without you being active in my heart—giving me the power to love—I can do nothing. Come, Holy Spirit!