I was thinking about a thread like this yesterday when I came across a list of the the Scriptures that speak of love in the NT. Reading them all together like that, one after another, is really quite affecting and suddenly puts many things into perspective. So I thought we could have a thread where we basically list, over time, our favourite Scriptures with regard to love and how that relates to the Christian way of life and make some comments about it.
It may seem to some that there is little to say on the matter and that we understand it fully. But I really don't think so. At least, I know I dont. I think there is a universe of meaning in that little word 'Love'. After all, "God is love"
The question I want to bring up for discussion in time is: love who, and what does that really mean? But 'Ill post up a few Scriptures and ask that again later. Any comments or further Scriptures would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise, I'll just keep ramblng on till somebody stops me
"7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. " 1 John 4: 7 -21. NASB
Much Philia
Phi.
Post edited by: Phi, at: 2005/03/04 02:01
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Aaron
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Posts: 13
Re:LOVE - 2005/03/04 10:00Greetings Phi,
May you have peace.
Love truly is the greatest 'gift' of the Spirit and as the scripture you have quoted has said, it is true-God IS love. Love is not just a 'way of life' for God. The truth is God IS love. Love is "who" he is.. in all cases at all times. Everything he does is always out of love.. always. God has such great love that he wishes to SHARE this love.. with others. For since there is 'more' joy in GIVING than there is in receiving; God finds more joy in GIVING love.. than in receiving love.
Such love that God has, he willingly gives it to all flesh, if all were willing to receive such love. For the love of God is to truly.. in your HEART.. love your neighbor and to do what is good for him, even if it brings nothing back to you. Give what is good to others and hope for nothing back, for there is GREATER joy in giving than there is in receiving. Love seeks what is beneficial for the OTHER person and what can be done for the other person. It is not concerned for itself or for what is best for 'its skin.' It always looks out for the interests of others and to do what is best.. for others. Love also cares for itself as to what is beneficial to itself even if it is very uncomfortable or even displeasing to itself physically. It desires what is 'best' for all and it willingly serves to the benefit of others.
Our Father did this when he ministered to Israel and others learned from him and ministered to others. His Son also manifested this when he too ministered to Israel and all those whom he loved (which was everyone.. even his persecutors), he loved them to the very end. If we desire to come 'in union' with him and in union with his Father, than rather than trying to 'carrying on' a 'way of life'.. we would prefer to actually "become" what they are, that is, love.
The love of God also means the 'rejoicing with the TRUTH' and forgiving the errors of our brothers. Those who love God, rather than judge their brothers for their sins, offer up supplications and petitions for their brothers and forgive them of their sins and make themselves 'servants' of their brothers and seek to do what is best for them. They do not 'keep account of the injury' but rejoice with the truth and forgive the errors of those committed. It does not hide what is true but forgives even the greatest error because 'mercy triumphs over judgment.' These are things that the Father is and he has manifested such things in his Son. He, who is the image of the God, has given his life and suffered in the flesh in our behalf that.. by means of HIM. we can attain righteousness. When he 'came' into the earth, he did not judge the world (which is why many religious peple had a 'problem' with him) but came that the world might be saved THROUGH him. Therefore, when sinners and harlots and tax-collectors came.. he did not judge them. He forgave them and showed MERCY and healed their wounds and was partial to no one. This sent a 'strong message' to the disciples and others because they did not know that the God could have that much compassion that he would be WILLING to overlook the sin of others.. no matter "how grievous" to the flesh it seemed.
This love is the GREATEST love and we who desire to be 'in union' with him should also "want" to BE love.. even as he is love. We would want to 'become' love and with this love, be loving one another even as he himself has loved us. In this way, we too could cover a multitude of sins.
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Eden
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Posts: 195
Re:LOVE - 2005/03/04 10:47Wow Aaron! Really enjoyed that! Thank you! Welcome to the forum!
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Epignossis
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Posts: 151
Re:LOVE - 2005/03/04 11:29Hey Phi this is the perfect thread topic. Thank you for starting this one.
And hey welcome Aaron. I haven't seen any posts from you before either here or eW but your points here are just excellent! Really appreciate them.
The thing I really like about love is that it never fails, despite our failings. It can and will overcome them. So to me even if we are the most sinful sinner, love can overcome this.
Phi I think you are right to say there is so much deep stuff in this whole thing of love. It is as deep as God himself since he is love. You mentioned in the omnipresence thread a really good poin IMO that when Jehovah created, what materials did he have to create with - only himself. Therefore love must permeate the whole creation.
What this implies to me is that love is a complete fail-safe to the universe. You cannot get out of it. It also has some deeper implications to me of what sin truly is and what happened in the Garden of Eden. As you know, that essay in resepct of the ransom by hermeneutics ministries.noncom was a real eye opener. Its connection to love is a lot different to what we may have formerly thought. Anyway, I will post some further thoughts on this later.
Much love and spirit
Thanks again Aaron for those incredible insights you posted
ePig
Post edited by: epignossis, at: 2005/03/04 11:38Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone thinks he has acquired knowledge of something, he does not yet know it just as he ought to know it. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by him - 1 Cor 8:1-3
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Epignossis
User Platinum Boarder
Posts: 151
Re:LOVE - 2005/03/04 11:41Phi said
Otherwise, I'll just keep ramblng on till somebody stops me
As if!!??? Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone thinks he has acquired knowledge of something, he does not yet know it just as he ought to know it. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by him - 1 Cor 8:1-3
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Aaron
User Senior Boarder
Posts: 13
Re:LOVE - 2005/03/05 13:33Thank you for the welcome, it is an honor to share with you. Yes, I am new to this community and it was my first post. Thank you for the welcome and may you all have peace.
Forum 
Really appreciate them.
