Romans 12:9 "Let love be without hypocrisy ..."

We are to be sure that our love is genuine agape: unconditional love. Love that is insincere is not really love at all. It is to be the real thing - we are members of His body.

Ephesians 5:29 "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; ..."

As unnatural as hating the left foot and loving the right foot, regrettably this is what often happens in the body of Christ, to our shame. The husband- wife relationship speaks to the very centre of body life. The husband is to love his wife as:

Ephesians 5:25 "... even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; "

The husband is to love his wife as his own body, and he who loves his wife loves himself (Ephesians 5:28-29 ).

Ephesians 5:29,30 "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: ³⁰ For we are members of his body, ..."

It is unnatural not to love one's wife, and unnatural not to love one's own body. It is therefore unnatural not to love the members of Christ's body and to unconditionally feed and care for them.

Romans 12:9 "Let love be without hypocrisy ..."

Ephesians 5:30 "For we are members of his body, ..."

Let go of the unnatural and unreal or fake, and let the supernatural supply of the Spirit flow (Romans 5:5 ). Unconditional love is the real experience of body life in which we are to share. Interestingly, wherever grace gifts to the body are mentioned, the way or life-style of agape love is stressed.

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Ministry Gifts (Ephesians 4:11 )

Ephesians 4:2,15 "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: "

This is especially significant when we remember that the fivefold ministry gifts are all speaking gifts.

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Supernatural Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-11 )

This scripture is followed by 1 Corinthians 13, in which the whole chapter urges the exercising of gifts in the incomparable way of love.

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Grace Body Gifts (Romans 12:6-8 )

These verses are followed by the assertion of,

Romans 12:9 "Let love be without hypocrisy ..."

Love must be real or nothing. Unconditional love is the love expected of every member of the body.

Ephesians 5:25-27 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. "

As Christ loved, we are to love.

Ephesians 5:25 "... even as Christ also loved the church ..."

"Even as", Christ loved even when the church was only the promised gift of the Father.

Ephesians 3:19 "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, ..."

His unconditional, affectionate love of acceptance is the Father's promised gift of each member. None that come to Him will He cast out. That is how we are to love - unconditionally receive every member of the body, just as Christ received us.

Ephesians 5:25 "... and gave himself for it; "

He, the true lover gave Himself up first. He gave His very life blood for her.

Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; "

His unconditional sacrificial love is to flow in every member - unconditionally pour our love into others.

Ephesians 5:23 "... even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. "

Final responsibility rests with Him, the protector. Are we willing to love unconditionally, taking responsibility for members of His body, and protecting the weak? Husbands are to function in responsibility towards their wives,

Ephesians 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: ..."

The Christlike husband demonstrates the caring, protecting quality of responsible love that members of Christ's body are to exercise among themselves.

Ephesians 5:29 "... but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: "

He faithfully provides for every need of the Church. We are brought into His ministry to feed, care for and admonish one another - and satisfy the needs of the members of His body.

Ephesians 5:26,27 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. "

All the action of love towards the bride is that of seeking her benefit , improvement or her confidence. It is the love of the unselfish lover. What a privilege to be assisting Him in His purpose of advancing the well-being of body members that make up His bride. Here is the ministry of speaking the truth (His truth) in love, setting every member apart unto the heavenly Bridegroom. Love ministers unconditionally to the needs of His body at His expense, for that great presentation as His Bride. What a glorious day that will be, our hearts will rejoice (John 17:22 ) and each of us will then fully assimilate His likeness (1 John 3:2 ). Meanwhile it is our privilege to minister in unconditional love His life changing word to each other.

John 13:34,35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

The new commandment is to love one another: "as I have loved you", so you must love one another. His patient, unwearied, sacrificial love. His love was superior to the disciples' faults, it never wavered or varied, and it thought no sacrifice too great. His love is an identifying sign that cannot be counterfeited, only the Spirit of God can produce it in us. In the closeness of the small group or home fellowship, unconditional love can be exercised and experienced.

We need to learn that unconditional love:

	is not dependent on response or the mood of the moment.
	is constant and true.
	is not limited to kind and time, it is love for all people, all the time.
	is not based on performance - It loves the weak, the failure, the forgetful, and the "not so nice" people, does not wait for improvements, it accepts people just as they are.
	can love according to needs and not our expectations.
	is love which is not based on expectations of what we hope to get in return.

Leave the expectations to God, that way we are free to love, and others are free to respond. His love is released in us and through us, and will result in:

1 John 4:17 "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world."

	Would visitors to your fellowship see Jesus is truly in you?
	Does your body life fellowship reveal His unconditional love to the community in which you are placed?
	To improve body life are you praying for change in your group or are you praying for change in yourself?
	In which way does the concept of unconditional love challenge you?
	Do you think it possible to be a living organism, as His body is intended to be, without His unconditional love?
	What incident in your experience stands out for you as unconditional love?
	Is there someone you know who needs practical, unconditional love?