Love, Condemnation, And Salvation Poem by Yehoshua Shim'onai

'A love for the self
is that which hath brought
condemnation unto men; '

This refers to the love that Adam and Eve had for themselves when they ate the fruit of knowledge between good and evil. When Eve was told by the serpent that eating the forbidden fruit will make her and Adam become like God, she loved herself so much in that moment to the point of desiring the idea of being equal to God (Genesis 3: 4-6) . It is apparently safe to assume that she told Adam the same things and apparently, Adam did the same thing as Eve did. And that is the very moment that sin became the essence of man's fallen nature.

It is so sad think that their love for themselves made them forget Who God is - the One Who, in all that He is, deserves their love and devotion. It is so sad they chose to break a very simple rule rather than choosing to love God by obeying His simple commandments. The love for the self, indeed, is not the greatest love of all, like what a song claims.

'A love for others
is that which bringeth
salvation unto people.'

This refers to the love that Jesus Christ has for sinners when He died on the cross. Before the creation of the universe, He was God, existing with the Father eternally (John 1: 1-2) . Every created thing was created through Him (John 1: 3) and for Him (Colossians 1: 16) . Yet in the grace of His Deity, he chose to empty Himself of the all glory of His Deity, taking a form of a poor man (Philippians 2: 6-7) . And when He became a man, He lived His life on earth sympathizing with the sorrows of the fallen man. All throughout the 33 years of His life, He journeyed His way to the cross, where He bled and died to atone for the sin of the world (John 1: 29) so that those who believe in Him will be saved from their sins (John 3: 16) .

This is the love that the true believers of Christ must espouse in their spiritual walk - a love by which one lays down his own interest for the sake of others (Philippians 2: 4) .