Faith as a Love Story 1) Confess love to God in Truth 2) Remember your Baptism 3) Be provoked to Love in Community
A Love Story with Christ
Thesis: Our relationship with Christ should be a love story, as God calls us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. This love transcends metaphors of obedience or servitude, reflecting a deep, covenantal bond akin to a bride and bridegroom.
The Call to Love God
The Bible commands us to love God wholeheartedly: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37, ESV). This theme permeates Scripture. In the Old Testament, God portrays Himself as a bridegroom and Israel as His bride. When Israel turns to idolatry, they are likened to an unfaithful wife, as seen in Hosea: “For their mother has played the whore; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink’” (Hosea 2:5, ESV).
This love is not mere duty. While obedience is important, God desires a relationship marked by affection, not a slavemaster dynamic. After His resurrection, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15–17, ESV), not “Do you obey me?” Love transforms the Christian life, making devotion, time, and sharing natural. As we prioritize what we love—evident in our schedules and finances—so too should our love for God shape our lives.
A Deep, Committed Love
Reflecting on my university romance with my wife, Kari, I recall a love that was passionate yet immature. Over time, our relationship deepened through commitment, raising children, and embracing each other’s flaws. Similarly, God calls us to a deep, covenantal love, not a fleeting “Hollywood fling.” This love is eternal, initiated before the foundation of the world and enduring forever.
However, human love, even in marriage, is only a shadow of God’s love. Paul describes marriage as a picture of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32, ESV), but God’s love surpasses human experience in scope and quality. His infinite capacity to love invites us into a relationship far greater than any earthly love story.
Christ’s Supremacy and Invitation
The book of Hebrews presents Christ’s supremacy: “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3, ESV). He surpasses angels, Moses, Joshua, the priesthood, and the old covenant sacrifices. Yet, He is also our brother, “not ashamed to call them brothers” (Hebrews 2:11, ESV), having been “made like his brothers in every respect” (Hebrews 2:17, ESV).
Hebrews doesn’t merely teach theology; it invites us to “draw near” to God (Hebrews 10:22, ESV). Sin once separated us, but Christ’s sacrifice removes that barrier: “By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14, ESV). Through His intercession, we can enter the heavenly sanctuary spiritually, right now, with confidence (Hebrews 10:19, ESV).
Confessing Our Love
Love begins with confession. Just as I confessed my love to Kari, risking rejection, we begin our relationship with Christ by confessing His worth: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV). This confession unites us to Christ, securing eternal life.
Hebrews urges us to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23, ESV). Yet, love can grow cold, as warned in Revelation: “You have abandoned the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4, ESV). To sustain our love, we must confess Christ in truth, aligning with His nature and character. Reciting creeds, like the Apostles’ Creed, anchors us in doctrinal truth, ensuring we love the true God, not an idol.
Three practices help us confess our love:
- Agree with God’s Word: Embrace Scripture as true, guarding against cultural distortions (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV).
- Recite the Creeds: Proclaim truths about Christ’s life, death, ascension, and return, as in the Apostles’ or Nicene Creed.
- Sing Theologically Rich Songs: Worship with hymns and songs that reflect God’s full character, deepening our love.
Baptism: The Seal of Our Love
In my marriage, a ring symbolizes my commitment to Kari, a visible reminder of our vows. Similarly, baptism is the “sign and seal” of our union with Christ. Hebrews draws on priestly imagery: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22, ESV). This echoes the cleansing of priests in Exodus 29:4, enabling them to enter God’s presence.
Baptism marks us as Christ’s, confirming His work in us. It is not a mere ritual but an unalterable seal, reminding us of our cleansing on days we feel unworthy. For those unbaptized, it’s a call to make your commitment official. For the baptized, it’s a reminder to draw near with confidence, knowing Christ has washed away our sins.
Provoked to Love in Community
A love story doesn’t end at the altar; it grows through challenges. In marriage, Kari and I faced arguments that tested our selfishness. Similarly, Hebrews calls us to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24, ESV). The Greek word for “stir up” means “provoke” or “spur on,” implying discomfort, like a cowboy spurring a horse. Christian community isn’t always easy—it involves disagreements—but it refines our love for God and each other.
By remembering our shared baptism and faith, we grow together, learning to love Christ’s body, the church. This mirrors marriage, where working through conflict fosters maturity. Our love for God deepens as we spur one another on, trusting that every suffering has an expiration date, while our joys in Christ endure forever (Hebrews 10:25, ESV).
Awakening to Love
Some may struggle to feel love for God, attending church out of duty. How do we feel what we don’t? Love for Christ is a miracle of the Holy Spirit, not a checklist. Like falling in love, it’s a divine spark, ignited by beholding Christ’s glory (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV). We can open God’s Word, worship, and pray, but ultimately, the Spirit awakens our hearts.
Let us pray: Lord God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, open our hearts to see the glory of Jesus Christ. Awaken us to love You deeply, trusting in Your eternal love. Write Your love story on our hearts, that we may confess Your truth, remember our baptism, and spur one another to love and good works. In Jesus’ name, Amen.