"..I love God.." - 1 John 4:20-21 (TPT)

Hatred in this context is about attitude; this is the Greek word “miseo” which stems from a heart of animosity or malicious and unjustifiable feelings towards others. Even though it is a verb, it speaks mostly of feelings rather than actions taken. Jesus did speak of this when He shared with His disciples about the attitude of the heart

“But what comes out of your mouth reveals the core of your heart. Words can pollute, not food. You will find living within an impure heart, evil ideas, murderous thoughts, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, lies, and slander. That’s what pollutes a person. Eating with un-washed hands doesn’t defile anyone.” 

Matthew 15:18-20 (TPT)

Jesus confronted the leaders of His day and put them in their place. He wanted more than anything for His people to be authentic rather than having a make-believe self-righteous attitude. He made it clear that phoniness or “hatred” was not tolerated by the Father.

“So Jesus addressed them directly. “You always want to look spiritual in the eyes of others, but you have forgotten the eyes of God, which see what is inside you. The very things that you approve of and applaud are the things God despises.”’ 

Luke 16:15 (TPT)

Expressing authentic (agape) love toward others, especially those whom we dislike or disagree, requires the Spirit of God in our lives. If the love of God resides within us, then we can love others with the same unfeigned love that God loves us with, we realize that God loves everyone regardless of their posture, political position, or things they have done. 

God places no limits on the love He has for His children, and neither should we. God loves because He is love. He created us to be His image-bearers, that is His intent for us from the beginning and how He will always see us.

Each of us has a calling to receive the love of Christ Jesus into our lives no matter who we are and what our background. That love is transformative and reveals to us the mind of Christ. Having the mind of Christ isn’t about the details of theology or doctrine; it is mostly about encountering His love for us and others. 

He gave His life for the sake of love, not for a detailed theology. Theology and doctrine are developed by man to provide some order to understand the ways of God; it is when these beliefs get in the way and become a hindrance to love that they need to be reevaluated to determine if God’s love is demonstrated or not.

Who is my brother? And what is the context of what John is referring to here?

Then someone said, “Look, your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to have a word with you.” But Jesus just looked at him and said, “Let me introduce you to my true mother and brothers.” Then gesturing to the disciples gathered around him, he said, “Look closely, for this is my true family. When you obey my heavenly Father, that makes you a part of my true family.” 
Matthew 12:47-50 (TPT)

Obedience to Jesus and His command to follow Him and love others is what makes us part of the family of God, not adhering to a creed or some structured belief system. 

Our religious culture has reduced following Christ down to a few statements of doctrine that if we say “yes” at the appropriate time when we are told to, "poof" we’re saved. But that is not how it works; when we come to Christ Jesus and follow Him, we realize that He loved us first and gave everything for us to become His family. 

Obedience, in this case, means surrender to the one who is alive and can live through us to become what we cannot. That is what it means “Christ in us the hope of glory.” We cannot be anything of ourselves unless Christ inhabits this body. We can’t love enough, believe enough, or serve enough unless Christ Jesus inhabits this human vessel. It is only Christ that can do all of these things through us; otherwise, we become a weak flawed replica of Christ.

What John is describing in 1 John 4:20-21 is that Christ is alive and active in the life of the believer, the place where all of us need to find ourselves fully surrendered to Him and allowing Him to transform our thoughts and animate our actions into what resonates with the love of God. It is not impossible, but a necessary part of being a Christian.

“Let this mind be in you all, which was also in Christ Jesus.” 
Philippians 2:5 (MEV)

May you know the love of Christ as He calls you His own family, and you know the depths of His love as He takes you on this journey of knowing Him more and more.

Be Blessed;

Stephen Barnett