TRUTH AND LOVE

In Paul's letters to the Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians he mentions love and truth together.

  In Eph 1 he says, In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ.  Paul prays that God would grant the saints there, a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, Eph. 1.17.  In Philippians 1 Paul says Epaphras has informed him, of your love in the Spirit.  For this reason...we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

  I've highlighted the words love and knowledge.  Evidently the apostle sees both together.  I wonder if we do.  Traditions which are committed to relationships seem to sacrifice truth; traditions which are committed to the truth seem to sacrifice love.

  Why would the apostle want to put truth and love together in the same people?  Could it be to produce the fruit of righteousness?  To the Colossians Paul says he prays for the saints there, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord to please Him in every respect, bearing fruit, Col. 1.10.  To the Philippians Paul says the reason is, so that you may approve the things that are excellent...having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God, Phil. 1.11.  To the Ephesians Paul says the reason is that, we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, Eph. 2.10.

  Evidently the truth of God is given to us to do the works of love and love is given to us to receive His truth.  Possibly if we were to consider the truth of our relationship to God as based on His forgiveness we would have a basis for relationships.  And if we would see the love of God as the basis for our calling we would see the truth as the basis for love.

  Paul seems to be saying this to the Ephesians.  In chapter 2 he speaks of the people there that they, formerly walked according to the course of the world.  Did God leave them there to die?  No, But God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us...made us alive together with Christ.  God forgave them in order to bring them to Himself--this is His love.  Then, immediately Paul says, For by grace you have been saved through faith...it is the gift of God. 

  Paul says this to unite the love of God (being rich in mercy) with the truth that God did this.  We know His love by His truth.  He goes on for the entire chapter to privide the details of how God did this.  The truth that God brought us to Himself was to explain His love in forgiving us so He could do just that.

  His truth explains His love; but does His love explain how He chose us?  He chose us before the foundation of the world, so that His love always had us in mind and in His heart.

  If we could teach predestination as love and love understood by truth, possibly we could have the church Paul envisioned.