By Todd Lockwood
God's command to love your enemies represents his love towards the elect. When God chose the elect before the foundation of the world, it was a decision he purposed in himself. It was not a decision based off of the future works of the elect. The decision to pour out his love to the elect was a decision based on loving the unlovable. It was not a decision of loving those that are deserving, it is an act of grace. Grace is receiving something that you do not deserve. God decided within himself to love the elect because that is what he desired. There is no place for deserving the love of God in election.
Loving your enemies is a picture of the grace of God in election. The command to love your enemies is not based upon them deserving love. A believer is not to wait for their enemies to start loving them before showing them love. It doesn't follow the common adage of "if you scratch my back, I will scratch yours." Believers are to pour out their love to the unlovable, just as God did in election. God did not wait for the elect to first love him but he was the one who initiated the love. Believers are to be examples of God's love by loving first.
Many express that they only love those that deserve their love. This is commonly applied by many to all aspects of life. If this was God's attitude, its implications would result in everybody going to hell. Loving your enemies might seem confusing, but remember, this is exactly how God saves the damned. The desire to love only the lovable, is a sign that you do not understand or appreciate the love of God.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35
We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19
