Part 29 of 31 from "Christ our Righteousness".
By Carl Oluf Rosenius.
(1816-1868)
Translated from ekris.net
“ – And to brotherly kindness, love.” (2. Peter 1:7)
So saying, the apostle gives us one more characteristic of the proper brotherly kindness. The love which loves for Christ’s sake, loves not only one’s brothers, but all people – as Christ also loves all and gave his life even for his enemies.
Neither can I compel myself to love here. Only by being born of God, “participate in the divine nature”, can I get a disposition which haven’t got enough with oneself. A disposition which is filled of an hitherto unknown tenderness and care for everything which is called man. This is love towards everybody.
The love towards everybody holds not only the brotherly kindness, confidence and friendship. Because with it we love even our enemies, as you know. Jesus didn’t show the world confidence, and neither was he in friendly relations with it. Nevertheless, he loved it with the compassion of a burning heart, straight into the death. We are indebted to do the same.
The love towards everybody is closely connected with all the fruits and deeds of a Christian. One of the two commandments on which all the law hangs, as you will remember, is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” “Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.”
Translation Gert Gravgaard
