I describe this occasion because it produced the experience and context out of which the present book appeared. _Herein Is Love_ is, I believe, an outward and visible sign of the fellowship of the Holy Spirit experienced on that occasion; and I offer it as a means of opening to others the possibility of participating in this fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The theme of the book grows out of that experience: As the love of God required incarnation in Jesus of Nazareth in order that it might be received by us, so the Word of God's love in our day calls for persons in whom it may be embodied. The church, as the embodiment of divine love in human relationships, has tremendous responsibilities and opportunities in our modern culture. The old and familiar biblical symbols and stories do not always communicate their meanings to men today, and we must find a language that does. The language of the lived life of both man and God is the one that we shall use here in an attempt to open to us the meaning of the life of man and of God. Reuel L. Howe January 10, 1961 CONTENTS PAGE FOREWORD 7 CONTENTS 9 I SOME FRIGHTENED FRIENDS 11 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." --_1 John 4:18_ II GOD IN THE WORLD 26 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son...." --_John 3:16_ III HEREIN IS LOVE 43 "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God."--_1 John 4:7_ IV SOME OBJECTIVES OF LOVE 61 "Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth."--_1 John 3:18_ V THOSE WHO WOULD LOVE 82 "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren."--_1 John 3:14_ VI LOVE IN ACTION 99 "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." --_1 John 3:16_ I SOME FRIGHTENED FRIENDS "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear."--_1 John 4:18_ "It seems to me that the church has lost its influence. Nobody pays much attention to it any more, except some of its own members; and they don't seem to be interested in anything except their own activities. The time was when the word of the minister carried weight. Some may not have agreed, but when the church spoke they paid attention. It's not true now, though."