LOVE
1. God is love, & He loves us:
1 John 4:8b God is love
A. God’s love for us:
Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee
Romans 8:38,39 I am persuaded, that [nothing] shall be able to separate us from the love of God
Ephesians 2:4-6 God…for His great love wherewith He loved us…hath raised us up
1 John 3:1 What manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us
1 John 4:10 Love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us
(See also Zephaniah 3:17)
B. How God showed us His love:
John 3:16 God so loved the world, that He gave His only…Son
Romans 5:7,8 God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God…God sent His Son into the world, that we might live through Him
C. Jesus’ love for us:
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man…that (he) lay down his life2 Corinthians 8:9 Though He (Jesus) was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye…might be rich
Ephesians 3:19 Know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge
Revelation 1:5 Jesus Christ…loved us, & washed us from our sins in His Own blood
D. Dwelling & abiding in God’s love:
John 14:21 He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, & I will love him, & will manifest Myself to him
John 14:23 If a man love Me…My Father will love him, & we will come unto him, & make Our abode with him
John 17:26 That the love…may be in them, & I in them
1 John 2:5 Whoso keepeth…Word, in him is love of God perfected
1 John 4:19 We love him, because He first loved us
Jude 21b Keep yourselves in the love of God
2. The first great commandment–to love God:
Deuteronomy 6:5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, & with all thy soul, & with all thy might
Deuteronomy 10:12 What doth the Lord require of thee, but to love Him…with all thy heart & with all thy soul
Deuteronomy 30:20 Love God, &…cleave unto Him: for He is thy life
Proverbs 22:5 Take diligent heed to…to love the Lord your God, & to cleave unto Him
Proverbs 23:11 Take good heed unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord
Matthew 22:37,38 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart…this is the first & great commandment
(See also Deuteronomy 30:6; Mark 12:30.)
3. The second great commandment–to love thy neighbour:
Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
Matthew 22:39 The second (commandment) is like unto it (the first), Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
John 13:34 Love one another; as I have loved you
John 15:12 This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you
John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another
1 John 3:11 This is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another
1 John 3:23 His commandment, That we should…love one another
4. Love one another:
A. God loves us so we should love one another:
John 13:34 As I have loved you…ye [ought to] love one another
Ephesians 5:2a Walk in love [one to another], as Christ also hath loved us, & hath given Himself for us
1 John 4:7a Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God
1 John 4:11 If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another1 John 5:1b Every one that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him
B. God gives us love to love others:
Romans 5:5 The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us
Galatians 5:22 The fruit of the Spirit is love…longsuffering
1 Thessalonians 3:12 The Lord make you to increase & abound in love one toward another, & toward all men
1 Thessalonians 4:9 Ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another
2Thessalonians 3:5 The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God
2 Timothy 1:7 God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of love
(See also Ephesians 6:23)
C. To love is the greatest law of God:
Mark 12:33 To love (God)… & to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all…offerings & sacrifices
Luke 10:25,27,28 To inherit eternal life…love God with all thy heart… neighbour as thyself. This do, & thou shalt live
Galatians 5:14 All the law is fulfilled in…this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
D. Love is the most important virtue:
1 Corinthians 13:13 Faith, hope & love…the greatest of these is love
1 Corinthians 13:2b Though I have faith…& have not love, I am nothing
Galatians 5:6 Faith…worketh by love
Ephesians 3:17 (Be) rooted & grounded in love
Ephesians 3:19 The love of Christ…passeth knowledge
Colossians 3:14 Above all these things put on love
Revelation 2:3,4 For My name’s sake hast laboured…(but) I have somewhat against thee…thou hast left thy first love
(See also Ephesians 1:15,16; Colossians 1:3,4; Philemon 5.)
E. Love one another fervently:
1 Thessalonians 3:12 Increase & abound in love one toward another
1 Peter 1:22b Love one another with a pure heart fervently
1 Peter 4:8 Above all things have fervent love among yourselves
F. Love sincerely & genuinely:
Judges 16:15a How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me?
Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation (hypocrisy)
1 Peter 1:22a Obeying the truth…to unfeigned love of the brethren (See also 2 Corinthians 6:6; 8:8.)
Philippians 1:9,10 That your love may abound yet more & more…that ye may be sincere & without offence
G. The benefits that loving others brings us:
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another
2 Corinthians 13:11 Live in peace; & the God of love shall be with you
Ephesians 3:17-19 Ye, being rooted & grounded in love…might be filled with all the fulness of God
1 John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren
1 John 4:7b Every one that loveth is born of God, & knoweth God
1 John 4:12 If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, & His love is perfected in us (See also 1 John 2:5)
1 John 4:16 God is love; & he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, & God in him
5. Real, genuine love:
A. Whatever you do, do it in love:
1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all your things be done with love
2 Corinthians 5:14 The love of Christ constraineth (compels) us
B. The qualities that genuine love will have:
1 Corinthians 8:1b Love edifieth (builds up, strengthens)
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love envieth not; vaunteth (exalts) not itself, is not puffed up (proud)
1 Corinthians 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil
1 Corinthians 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth
Colossians 3:14 Love…is the bond of perfectness
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love…love casteth out fear
C. Genuine love results in unity of believers:
Colossians 2:2a That their hearts might be…knit together in love
(See also 1 Samuel 18:1; Ephesians 4:15,16; Philippians 2:1,2.)
D. Real love will not give up or fail:
Song 8:7 Many waters [troubles] cannot quench love…drown it
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love suffereth long
1 Corinthians 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things
1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never faileth
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue (keep up, not fail)
E. Love is not pushy:
Romans 12:10 With brotherly love; in honour preferring one another
Philemon 8,9a Though I might be bold…to (command, impose upon) thee…yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee
F. Love is considerate of others’ weaknesses:
Romans 14:21 It is good [not to do] any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak
Romans 15:1 We…ought to bear the infirmities of the weak
Romans 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good
Galatians 5:13 By love serve one another
Ephesians 4:2 With longsuffering, forbearing one another in love
G. Love will not hurt or do wrong to others:
Romans 13:9,10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour
H. If we have love, we will be kind & courteous:
1 Corinthians 13:4a Love suffereth long, & is kind
Ephesians 4:15 Speaking the truth in love [not inconsiderately blunt]
Ephesians 4:32 Be ye kind…tenderhearted, forgiving one another
1 Peter 3:8 (Have) compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous
6. Real love results in good deeds:
A. Putting love into action:
Matthew 14:14 Jesus…was moved with compassion toward them, & He healed their sick
Matthew 25:35 I was an hungered…I was thirsty, & ye gave
Luke 6:31 As ye would that men should do to you, do ye to them
Luke 10:30-35 [The good Samaritan took loving action & helped]
Galatians 6:10 Let us do good [deeds] unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith
1 John 3:18 Let us not love in word [only]…but in deed & truth
2John 6 This is love, that we walk after His commandments
B. Sacrificial love, giving our lives for others:
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends
1 John 3:16 He (Jesus) laid down His life for us: & we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren
Acts 15:25,26 Barnabas & Paul…hazarded their lives for the name of Jesus (See also Acts 20:24)
Philippians 2:30 For the work of Christ he was nigh unto death
C. Be concerned about others’ welfare; not just your own:
1 Corinthians 13:5 (Love) seeketh not her own
Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others
1 Thessalonians 4:9 As touching brotherly love…love one another
D. Selfishness shows a lack of love:
1 John 3:17 Whoso…seeth his brother have need, & shutteth up his…compassion, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
James 4:17 To him that knoweth to do good, & doeth it not, to him it is sin
E. Doing good to our brethren is doing it to Jesus:
Matthew 25:35-40 Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of My brethren, ye have done it unto Me
Hebrews 6:10 Love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints
(See also Ephesians 6:5-8; Colossians 3:22-24.)
F. Failing to do good to our brethren is failing to do it to Jesus:
Matthew 25:41-45 Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me
7. Love vs. hate:
A. We do not truly love God if we don’t love our fellow man:
1 John 4:20 He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God Whom he hath not seen?
Titus 3:3-5 [Before we were saved] we…(lived) in malice & envy, hate ful, & hating one another
James 3:9-12 Bless we God…& curse men. My brethren, these things ought not so to be (See also James 3:14; 1 John 3:17.)
1 John 4:21 This commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also
(See also Matthew 5:23,24)
B. We are commanded not to be hateful:
Leviticus 19:17,18 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart…but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
C. When we don’t love one another:
1 John 2:9,11 He that hateth his brother is in darkness…blinded
1 John 3:10 He that loveth not his brother…is not of God
1 John 3:14b He that loveth not his brother abideth in death
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer
1 John 4:20a If a man say, I love God, & hateth his brother…liar
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love
D. The bad fruit of hatred:
Genesis 37:4 They hated him, & could not speak peaceably unto him
Proverbs 10:12a Hatred stirreth up stifes
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer
(See also Genesis 4:3-8; Proverbs 26:26; Ezekiel 25:15.)
8. Special categories of love:
A. We are to love all men:
Matthew 5:46,47 If ye [only] love them which love you…what do ye more than others? (See also Luke 6:32,33)
1 Thessalonians 3:12 Increase & abound in love…toward all men
Hebrews 12:14a Follow peace with all men
B. We are to especially love brothers & sisters in the Lord:
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another
Galatians 6:10 Especially unto them who are of the household of faith
1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood
(See also Hebrews 13:1; 1 Peter 4:8. also compare Titus 3:15; 2John 1; 3John 1 re: “loving in the faith”.)
C. Examples of unusually great love &/or admiration:
1 Samuel 18:1 The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, (he) loved him as his own soul (See also 20:17)
2 Samuel 1:26 [David declared his deep love for Jonathan]
Mark 10:17-21 [Jesus was moved with love for the rich young ruler]
John 11:3,5 [Jesus’ special love for Mary, Martha & Lazarus]
John 13:23 [Jesus had a special love for the apostle John] (See also John 19:26; 21:7,20.)
1 Thessalonians 5:13 Esteem them very highly in love for their [good] work’s sake
D. We are even to demonstrate God’s love to our foes:
Proverbs 25:21,22 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread…& if he be thirsty, give water…& the Lord shall reward thee
Matthew 5:43-47 Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good…that ye may be the children of your Father
Luke 6:27-30 Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, & pray for them
Luke 6:32-35 If ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? Sinners also love those that love them
Luke 10:30-37 A Samaritan [adversary of the Jews]…when he saw him [a wounded Jew], he had compassion on him
9. Love, forgiveness & mercy:
A. To love means to be forgiving:
Proverbs 10:12b Love covereth all sins
1 Peter 4:8b Love shall cover the multitude of sins
B. God is merciful to us:
Numbers 14:18a The Lord is longsuffering, & of great mercy, forgiving iniquity & transgression
Numbers 14:19 Pardon…the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy
Psalms 103:8 The Lord is merciful & gracious, slow to anger, & plenteous in mercy
Psalms 103:10,11 He hath not dealt with us after our sins…great is His mercy toward them that fear Him
Lamentations 3:22,23 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not…new every morning
Isaiah 63:7 The great goodness…He bestowed on them according to His mercies, &…multitude of His lovingkindnesses (See also 2 Samuel 24:14; Isaiah 54:7,8.)
(Re: God’s lovingkindness, see Psalms 25:6; 36:7; 40:11; 69:16; 103:2-4; 119:149; Jeremiah 9:24.)
C. God loves mercy more than “justice” & retribution:
Micah 7:18 God…pardoneth iniquity…He delighteth in mercy
Matthew 9:13 I will have (desire) mercy, & not sacrifice (See also Hosea 6:6)
James 2:13b Mercy rejoiceth against judgment
Romans 5:20 Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy & truth iniquity is purged
D. He often refrains from justly punishing us:
Exodus 32:14 The Lord repented of the evil which He thought to do unto His people
Psalms 103:9,10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities
Psalms 130:3,4 If Thou…shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee
2 Samuel 24:16 The Lord repented of the evil, & said to the angel that destroyed the people, Stay now thine hand
(See also Genesis 18:20,23-26; Jonah 1:1,2; 3:10; 4:11.)
E. God mercifully forgives our sins:
Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us
Isaiah 1:18 Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…as wool
Micah 7:19 He will have compassion upon us…& cast all their sins into the depths of the sea
Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions
Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy…sins
Hebrews 8:12 I will be merciful…& their sins…remember no more
(See also Psalms 32:1,2; Isaiah 38:17.)
F. God is especially merciful to those who love & fear Him:
Exodus 20:6 Showing mercy unto…them that love Me, & keep My commandments
Deuteronomy 7:9 God…keepeth covenant & mercy with them that love Him
Psalms 103:11 As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him
Psalms 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him
Psalms 103:17 The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him
Luke 7:47,48 Her (many) sins, are forgiven; for she loved much
Acts 26:18 Turn…from darkness to light…that they may receive forgiveness of sins
10. We are to be merciful & forgiving:
Micah 6:8 What doth Lord require of thee, but to…love mercy
A. We should forgive others as God has forgiven us:
Matthew 18:33 Shouldst not thou also have…had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Luke 6:36 Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful
Ephesians 4:32 (Forgive) one another, even as God…hath forgiven you
Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, & forgiving one another… even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye
B. Have longsuffering & great mercy & keep forgiving:
Luke 17:4 If he trespass against thee 7 times in a day, & 7 times… repent; thou shalt forgive him
Matthew 18:21,22 Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, & I forgive him? Until 70 times 7 (times)
Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth (passes over) a transgression seeketh love
C. Make mercy a rule in your heart:
Proverbs 3:3,4 Let not mercy & truth forsake thee: write them upon the table of thine heart
D. Forgive sincerely; don’t harbour grudges or hatred:
Leviticus 19:17,18 Thou shalt not bear any grudge…but thou shalt love
Matthew 18:35 From your hearts forgive…every one his brother
Ephesians 4:31,32 Let all bitterness…be put away from you, with all malice: forgive one another (See Hebrews 12:15)
James 5:9 Grudge not against another, brethren
E. God shows mercy to us if we are merciful & forgiving:
Psalms 18:25 With the merciful Thou wilt show Thyself merciful
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy
Matthew 6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors
Matthew 6:14 If ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you
Mark 11:25 Forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father… may forgive you your trespasses
Luke 6:37 Condemn not, & ye shall not be condemned: forgive, & ye shall be forgiven
F. But woe to the unmerciful:
Matthew 6:15 If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will (God) forgive your trespasses (See also Mark 11:26)
Matthew 18:23-35 So…shall (God) do also unto you, if ye…forgive not every one his brother their trespasses
James 2:13 He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy
G. The self-righteous feel they don’t sin & don’t need forgiveness; therefore they are unloving & unforgiving to others:
Luke 7:47b To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little
Luke 15:25-30 [The faithful older brother was angry that his father forgave the penitent prodigal son]
Luke 18:9 Certain trusted in themselves that they were righteous, & [therefore] despised others
11. The limits of forgiveness:
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord…is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should (repent)
A. Even God’s forgiveness is balanced with justice:
Numbers 14:1-3,11-23 [Although God pardoned them (vs.19,20), the Jews weren’t allowed to enter the promised land]
2 Samuel 12:7-14 [God forgave David, but because his sin was so serious, he was still punished & his child died]
1 Chronicles 21:1-14,17 [David sinned, then repented & begged forgiveness, but the Lord still sent a severe punishment]
2 Chronicles 36:15,16 He had compassion…but they mocked, despised…wrath of the Lord arose…till there was no remedy
Proverbs 29:1 [Hardened rebels] destroyed, & that without remedy
Matthew 21:33-41 [After showing mercy & patience, God destroyed the unrepentant wicked] (See also Mark 12:1-9)
(Compare 2 Chronicles 33:1-19; Jeremiah 15:1-4 & compare Matthew 5:44,45; Hebrews 6:7,8.)
B. He does not forgive wicked or unrepentant offenders:
Isaiah 22:12-14 This iniquity not…purged from you till you die
Matthew 12:31,32 [Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit–rejecting Jesus, John 15:26 —not forgiven now or ever]
Romans 1:29-32 They which commit such things are worthy of death (See also Romans 2:2,3; Hebrews 10:26-31.)
C. Sometimes interceding prayer will not make Him forgive:
(See Jeremiah 7:16; 14:7-12; 16:5; Compare Jeremiah 15:1 &Ezekiel 14:14,18,20.)
D. It is right and godly to hate the anti-God wicked:
Ecclesiastes 3:8 A time to love, & a time to hate
2 Chronicles 19:2b Shouldest thou help the ungodly, & love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee
Psalms 26:5 I have hated the congregation of evildoers
Psalms 97:10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil
Psalms 139:21,22 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies
E. The unrepentant wicked are not forgiven & must pay for their evil-doing:
2Thessalonians 1:6-9 It is a righteous thing with God to (pay back) tribulation to them that trouble you
Revelation 6:9-11 [Saints in Heaven pray for God to avenge their blood on the wicked who killed them]
Revelation 16:5,6 Thou art righteous, O Lord…because Thou hast judged…for they have shed the blood of saints
(Caution: Proverbs 25:21,22; Romans 12:19,20; Deuteronomy 32:35.)
(See also Genesis 6:5-7,11-13; 7:21-23; 2 Peter 2:4-6; Jude 6, 7,14,15.)
12. Even erring Christians must repent to be forgiven:
A. No obligation to forgive unrepentant brethren:
Luke 17:3 If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; & if he repent, forgive him (See also Matthew 18:15)
(See also Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 5:11,13; 2Thessalonians 3:6,14; Titus 3:10; 2John 10,11 re: not forgiving those who wilfully sin against the truth)
B. There is a time to be firm:
1 Corinthians 4:18,21 What will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or love
Titus 1:13 Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith
C. Show mercy & patience in order to help them repent, & do not pardon them until they do:
Luke 13:6-9 [Parable of patiently tending the unfruitful tree, warning it will be cut down if it doesn’t respond]
Romans 2:3-6 [Don’t mistake God’s patience for forgiveness; “the goodness of God” is to “lead thee to repentance“]
(See also Galatians 6:1)
D. Serious offenders must change, not merely be “sorry”:
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way…& let him return unto the Lord, & [then] He will have mercy…& pardon
Matthew 3:8 Bring forth fruits meet for (worthy of) repentance
Matthew 3:10 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down [judged] (See also Matthew 7:19; Luke 3:8,9.)
(See also Psalms 51:10; 101:3; Jeremiah 3:10b; Hosea 6:4.)
E. They must confess their sin & ask for forgiveness:
Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee…& Thou forgavest
Psalms 86:5 Thou, Lord, art good, & ready to forgive; & plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee
Acts 3:19 Repent ye…that your sins may be blotted out
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful…to forgive
2 Corinthians 2:6-8 [After punishment] ye ought to forgive him, lest [he] be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow
F. Don’t use this as an excuse to be unforgiving:
Matthew 5:22 Whosoever is angry with his brother without a [legitimate]cause shall be in danger of the judgment
G. God still loves the wayward, & you should too:
Psalms 89:30-33 I will visit their transgression with the rod…[but] My lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him
2Thessalonians 3:15 Count him not as an enemy, but admonish as a brother
(See also James 5:19,20)
H. When they repent, He will love them freely:
Hosea 14:4 I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him
Special chapters:
1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 4.
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