Christian Love Requires Freedom
In the beginning, God made man in His own image and likeness and created the Garden of Eden as the perfect environment for man to live. Since God is love, God’s desire was to have a loving relationship with man.
The Garden Of Eden
God also gave man freedom of choice by placing the, “Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil” in the Garden. Every other thing in the Garden was good because it was reflection of Gods love and blessing upon man. Because of the Tree and mans knowledge of the consequences of eating its fruit one can conclude that man has always had the freedom to choose. Therefore one characteristic of God’s love is that it offers freedom of choice, even when it comes to keeping a relationship with Him or living with Him in paradise.
It is interesting to note that the only thing in the garden that God could not give man was the knowledge of evil. This is because it represented a separation from Him and His blessings. But love can not be forced and so God had to offer man a choice. In granting us this gift, God demonstrates the attributes of love that we have presented in the postings listed below.
For example, in granting us freedom of choice, God does not seek His own, He suffers long with our choices, He bears all the things that we do, He hopes that we will have all the good blessings of this life and the next, and He never fails to be there for us when decide to choose Him. For a review of our previous work please click on the following hyperlinks:
Christian-Love-Does-Not-Parade-Itself
Christian-Love-is-Not-Puffed-Up
Christian-Love-Does-Not-Behave-Rudely
Christian-Love-Does-Not-Seek-Its-Own
Christian-Love-is-Not-Provoked
Christian-Love-Bears-All-Things
Christian-Love-Believes-All-Things
Christian-Love-Hopes-All-Things
If we think about it for just a minute we come to the realization that without freedom there is no love. Without freedom of choice we are simply slaves and how can slaves truly love those who hold them in bondage? God’s desire is for a pure love relationship with us. A relationship that is base on our choosing to seek Him with all of our heart, mind, body and spirit. One that ignores the choices for evil and seeks good in every action.
In addressing all of the above, we should examine our personal relationships from this point of view. To truly love another we must set them free. What value is there in a love that is commanded or where serious reprisals are inflicted for doing what is in one’s heart? Can we love another to the point of allowing them to leave the relationship? God did.
Simply stated, there cannot be love without freedom. Therefore, freedom of choice is required for God to love man and man to truly love God. Man’s love therefore is demonstrated in his choices in life. This in turn brings us back full cycle to the proposition that we are all here to be tested and that our eternity depends upon the choices we make in this life. Our test is to demonstrate our ability to love others as God loves us.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 2:8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
In the beginning, God made man in His own image and likeness and created the Garden of Eden as the perfect environment for man to live. Since God is love, God’s desire was to have a loving relationship with man.
God also gave man freedom of choice by placing the, “Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil” in the Garden. Every other thing in the Garden was good because it was reflection of Gods love and blessing upon man. Because of the Tree and mans knowledge of the consequences of eating its fruit one can conclude that man has always had the freedom to choose. Therefore one characteristic of God’s love is that it offers freedom of choice, even when it comes to keeping a relationship with Him or living with Him in paradise.
It is interesting to note that the only thing in the garden that God could not give man was the knowledge of evil. This is because it represented a separation from Him and His blessings. But love can not be forced and so God had to offer man a choice. In granting us this gift, God demonstrates the attributes of love that we have presented in the postings listed below.
For example, in granting us freedom of choice, God does not seek His own, He suffers long with our choices, He bears all the things that we do, He hopes that we will have all the good blessings of this life and the next, and He never fails to be there for us when decide to choose Him. For a review of our previous work please click on the following hyperlinks:
Christian-Love-Does-Not-Parade-Itself
Christian-Love-is-Not-Puffed-Up
Christian-Love-Does-Not-Behave-Rudely
Christian-Love-Does-Not-Seek-Its-Own
Christian-Love-is-Not-Provoked
Christian-Love-Bears-All-Things
Christian-Love-Believes-All-Things
Christian-Love-Hopes-All-Things
If we think about it for just a minute we come to the realization that without freedom there is no love. Without freedom of choice we are simply slaves and how can slaves truly love those who hold them in bondage? God’s desire is for a pure love relationship with us. A relationship that is base on our choosing to seek Him with all of our heart, mind, body and spirit. One that ignores the choices for evil and seeks good in every action.
In addressing all of the above, we should examine our personal relationships from this point of view. To truly love another we must set them free. What value is there in a love that is commanded or where serious reprisals are inflicted for doing what is in one’s heart? Can we love another to the point of allowing them to leave the relationship? God did.
Simply stated, there cannot be love without freedom. Therefore, freedom of choice is required for God to love man and man to truly love God. Man’s love therefore is demonstrated in his choices in life. This in turn brings us back full cycle to the proposition that we are all here to be tested and that our eternity depends upon the choices we make in this life. Our test is to demonstrate our ability to love others as God loves us.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 2:8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
SEEKING JESUS 
I really do appreciate this teaching.
Maybe or not, we would have forgotten HIS kinda Love despite with the fact that it is among our daily lessons buh surprisingly our love for HIM and to others is so faint and poor.
May God in JESUS Name help us all.
Thank you.
Amen
Papa Joe Gordon
As one who is trying to pursue purity of heart, I do not appreciate your use of artwork that includes graphic female nudity. There are plenty of artistic depictions of Eden that are more modest. Why did you choose this one?
Hi Don. I figured that if it was suitable enough to be placed on the ceiling of the cystine chapel that it was suitable for my blog. However, because of your concern, I have removed it from my post. Much love, and may God be with you in your pursuit toward purity. It is something that more of us need to work on, including me.
Joe