Wednesday, February 28, 2018

What is Love?



Today I want to talk about Love, What is it? How do we as Christian's express love, etc.

All throughout scripture we are told to Love. Whom are we to Love? Well, the first commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart,soul,mind,and strength (Mark 12:28-30). We are to Love our neighbors as ourselves.
(Lev 19:18, Gal 5:14,  James 2:8), the stranger (Lev 19:34),
Our enemies by blessing, doing good to and praying for them, we shouldn't recompense evil for evil nor should we avenge ourselves because vengeance belongs unto the Lord. That's why if our enemy is hungry/thirsty we should help them. (Matt 5:44, Luke 6:27-36, Rom 12:14,17-21).

We should love our brother (1 John 4:21), Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, yea even as their own bodies and Wives are to love their husbands & children (Eph 5:25,28, Titus 2:4). God loved us so much that he sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-10,
Rom 5:8).

Sometimes in the bible when it speaks about hate on the other hand; such as Jacob hating Leah or God hating Esau (Gen 29:30, Rom 9:13)  it doesn't necessarily mean that they want the person's to die or suffer but rather they prefer someone more than them. A perfect example is when we learn in Luke 14:26 that we cannot be Jesus disciple if we don't hate our father,mother, etc. Jesus isn't telling his disciples to neglect or despise their parent's but rather that they can't follow him if they Love their parents or children more than him. (Mat 10:37).

The homosexuals may try to twist the scriptures and quote 1 Sam 18:1 and 2 Sam 1:26 and say that David and Johnathan were gay, because of how these verses describe how strong their love for each other was. This is to try and Justify a homosexual's sinful behavior. The bibles stance on Sodomy is that it is clearly sinful, and homosexual's are incapable of loving each other because they are constantly tempting each other with and indulging in fornication. They don't care that they are putting themselves and their partners under God's wrath. Thus Johnathan and David were not sodomites.

 We are told not to hate but rather rebuke our neighbors and not suffer sin upon them. (Lev 19:17). Rebuke is seen in the scripture as an act of love/concern for another's well being. Sinners oppose themselves (2 Tim 2:25) We as Christians only want what's best for others. We know a man reaps what he sows (Rom 2:6-10, Gal 6:7-8). Thus, we warn them to turn from their coarse. God loves us and thus rebukes/chastens us when we sin (Heb 12:6, Rev 3:19).

In Gal 5:22 we learn that love is a fruit of the Spirit. So how do we show love? We are not to love others by mere talk but by action (1 John 3:18). We are to treat others the same way we would like to be treated (Luke 6:31). If we have it and someone comes to us in need of food and clothing and we don't help them how can we say that we have the love of God in us? (1 John 3:17, Jam 2:15-16). If we love God we are commanded to Love our brother also that is because if we do something to the brethren it's the same as doing it to Jesus (1 John 4:21, Matt 25:31-46). This will show that our love is not feigned (2 Cor 6:6, 1 Pet 1:22). We love God because he first loved us (1John 4:19). As Great as love is there are a few things that we are not to love, namely the world or the things that are in the world (1 John 2:15),

In Conclusion the difference between having Grace and being Anathema is determined on whether or not we love the Lord Jesus. (Eph 6:24, 1 Cor 16:22) and if we truly love/know him we will keep his commandments (John 14:15, 1 Joh 2:4, 5:3), such as not committing adultery, killing, stealing, bearing false witness, or coveting (Rom 13:8-10).



FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT THESE VERSES BELOW.




God's Love

Job 10:12, Psa 63:3, 136:23 -26, Mal 1:2, Joh  15:9 -10, 17:26
Rom  8:37 -39, 1Jn  4:19

Commandment To
Mat  22:36 -40, Joh 13:34, 15:12, 15:17, 1Pe 2:17, 2Jn 1:5

People in the Bible who 
Gen 24:67, Luk 7:47

About
Psa 18:1, 109:4, Pro 10:12, Son 1:2, 8:7, Joh 15:13 -14, 15:19
1Th 3:12, 4:9, Heb 13:1
1Jn 2:10, 4:7, 4:8, 4:11, 4:12, 4:18, 2Jn 1:3

How to Show
Pro 17:17, 18:24, 27:5, Zec 7:9 -10, Mat 5:46 -48, Act 7:60
Eph 5:2,  5:33, Heb 10:24, 1Jn 2:5, 4:16 -17, 4:20, 2Jn 1:6

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