LESSON 19 THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE


And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Corinthians 13:13

And so faith, hope, love abide [faith—conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 AMP

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 21

Keep—To guard (from loss or injury), by keeping the eye upon.

Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)—[which will bring you] unto life eternal. Jude 21 AMP

Stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you. Jude 21 TLB

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Ephesians 5:2

Walk—To live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary).

And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5

May the Lord direct your hearts into [realizing and showing] the love of God and into the steadfastness and patience of Christ and in waiting for His return. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 AMP

May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and of the patcience that comes from Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 TLB

Behold and perceive the love of God to mankind

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 1 John 3:1

Behold —To see, to know.

Knoweth—Recognize, acknowledge.

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9, 10

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.) Ephesians 2:4, 5

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:5–8

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9

All who are converted will love the hope of the Second Coming

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

Our love is to grow

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9–11

Love and faith together

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Ephesians 6:23, 24

Faith must be motivated by love

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Galatians 5:6

For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. Galatians 5:6 AMP

Love is the fulfilling of the law, and the law shows the outworking of that love

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:8–10

Brotherly love how manifested

1) Let love be without dissimulation. 2) Abhor that which is evil; 3) cleave to that which is good. 4) Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; 5) in honour preferring one another. 6) Not slothful in business; 7) fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 8) Rejoicing in hope; 9) patient in tribulation; 10) continuing instant in prayer; 11) Distributing to the necessity of saints; 12) given to hospitality. 13) Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 14) Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and 15) weep with them that weep. 16) Be of the same mind one toward another.

17) Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. 18) Be not wise in your own conceits. 19) Recompense to no man evil for evil. 20) Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 21) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 22) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 23) Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 24) Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:9–21

Dissimulation—Without hypocrisy, sincere, unfeigned.

There are 24 characteristics found in the above verses of the life and manner of those who are living in love.

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. Proverbs 17:9

Love forgets mistakes; nagging about them parts the best of friends. Proverbs 17:9 TLB

He who covers and forgives and offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends. Proverbs 17:9 AMP

There is a false love or charity that overlooks the faults and sins of others to excuse the sin; while true love holds all sin to be wrong and accountable before God, yet is kind to the sinner. Therefore let us remember love is not a cloak for unconfessed and unforsaken sin.

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Philippians 2:1–4

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 1 Corinthians 13:4–8

There are 15 attributes of true love mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13, and is the one characteristic the apostle says will last through eternity.

The command to love one another

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 1 Thessalonians 4:9

These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15:17

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:21

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:11

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. 1 Peter 3:8

Love to God is manifested in love of His word

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Proverbs 4:5, 6

Love shown by obedience

And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 2 John 1:6

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:2–3

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1 John 2:4, 5

The fruits of love

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:16–18

And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection]. 1 John 4:16–18 AMP

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

What does it mean to have a sound mind?

• It is a well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

• It is self-restraint

• It is wise discretion

• it is sound judgment

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15

For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died. 2 Corinthians 5:14 AMP

The very spring of our actions is the love of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:14 Philips

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:15
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