THE MARK OF THE CHRISTIAN

March 28

Bible Reading: John 13:31-35

John 13:33-34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

In anticipation of His impending suffering and death, Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment that was to govern their relationships from then on.  The glorious nature of this new commandment was such that it brought a new word into the church’s vocabulary — “agape”.  Vine’s Expository Dictionary calls agape “the characteristic word of Christianity” and notes that it was used to “express ideas previously unknown.”

The “old” commandment was: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).  But as with any of God’s commands, there is a tendency for man to look for loopholes.  Just as the man seeking to justify himself had asked, “And who is my neighbor” (Luke 10:29)?  Most of us do not find it too difficult to love (in a “love your neighbor as yourself” manner) those who reciprocate.  The standard is not that high. But the new commandment is no longer, “love your neighbor as yourself,” and instead love “just as I have loved you” (John 13:33).  Jesus’ command elevates love to a previously unimaginable height, for God showed His love for us “while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:7-8).

“God is love” (1 John 4:8).  Love in innate to His being and personality.  Jesus, in His sacrifice on Calvary, manifested that which is inherent to God.  Apart from His sacrifice, and the Spirit’s work in revealing to us the truth of it, we would forever lack the capacity to comprehend God’s kind of love (1 John 3:16). The world throws that “love” term all around and uses it in sorts of questionable ways, but Jesus has defined true love for us.  What does true love look like?  It looks like the God-man dying on a cross for our sins.  It looks like sacrificially putting the needs of others ahead of one’s own (Philippians 2:3).  It looks like Jesus.

How loving of a person am I?  That’s kind of a trick question.  If I am so foolish as to measure my capacity to love by how others are doing, I might not fare too badly in my self-examination (2 Corinthians 10:12), but others are not the standard.  He commands us to love others just as He has loved us (Ephesians 5:1-2). God points us to the cross and says—look there to My Son, remember what He has done for you, walk in that same manner!  The challenges of this endeavor are too big for any of us.  Apart from the Spirit’s empowering and instructing presence, we could never hope to love this way (John 15:5, 12).  But He has indwelt us that His fruit might be born in us (Galatians 5:16, 22).

As Francis Schaeffer once said, Christlike love is “the mark of the Christian” (1 John 3:10, 4:7-8, 4:20-21).  To love as Jesus loved is to bear the mark that points to Jesus and the greatest act of love this world has ever seen.

“The church is to be a loving church in a dying culture.” — Francis Schaeffer

THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one int he Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.

Chorus: And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.

We Will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride.

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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