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LOVE. The Greatest Commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength Mt 22:36, Mk 12:30, Deut 6:4,5 The Next Greatest Commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves Mt 22:39, Mk 12:31, Lev 19:18. LOVE. Who is our neighbor?
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LOVE The Greatest Commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength Mt 22:36, Mk 12:30, Deut 6:4,5 The Next Greatest Commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves Mt 22:39, Mk 12:31, Lev 19:18
LOVE Who is our neighbor? • From Lk 10:30-37 – a neighbor is someone in need • It doesn’t matter – we are to love our enemies as well Mt 5:44 • Bless those who curse you • Do good to those hate you • Pray for those who spitefully use you
LOVE Jesus commands our love for one another • “Love one another as I have loved you” • Jn 15:12 • “By this all will know you are my disciples, if you love one another” – Jn 13:35
LOVE But what is LOVE? • “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us, we also ought to lay down our lives for our brethren”– I Jn 3:16 • “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.” • I Jn 5:2, 3
LOVE I Cor 13:4 – 8 Love : • Suffers long • Is kind • Does not envy • Does not parade itself • Is not puffed up
LOVE I Cor 13:4 – 8 Love : • Does not behave rudely • Does not seek its own • Is not provoked • Thinks no evil • Does not rejoice in iniquity
LOVE I Cor 13:4 – 8 Love : • Rejoices in the truth • Bears all things • Believes all things • Hopes all things • Endures all things • NEVER FAILS
LOVE Many would add that love: • Always compromises • Is never critical • Always gives in • Never engages in conflict • Never punishes wrong behavior
LOVE We see this more and more in society • Parents raise children without punishment, giving in to their desires in the name of love • Those who treat addiction recognize the role of the “enabler” – friends and family who post bail, provide food and shelter, and otherwise “enable” the addicted person by minimizing consequences
LOVE • Spouses fail to report or file charges of domestic abuse because they “love” their spouse Children, addicts, and abusive spouses take advantage of this whenever possible!
LOVE Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, recognized that true love involves conflict • Invokes the Corinthian church to oppose the one who is sinning I Cor 5:1-13 • “deliver to Satan” v5 • “purge out the old leaven” v7 • “not to keep company…” v11
LOVE Paul also wrote similar instructions to others: • “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” Romans 16:17-18 • Timothy was to withdraw himself from the ungodly, including those who once were of the faith I Tim 6:3-5, 20-21
LOVE Paul also points out that opposition and punishment must be done in love • Punishment is sufficient if it causes repentance, and forgiveness and comfort is commanded II Cor 2:5-7
LOVE God provides the ultimate in love, and is the best example of how we should love “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son…” Jn 3:16 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8
LOVE Yet, God’s love includes rebuke and chastening “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when your are rebuked by Him; Whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” - Heb 12:5,6 and Prov 3:11,12 Christ also will say to those outside of His kingdom “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” - Matt 25:41
LOVE Lessons in Love from the book of I John • “If you love the world, the love of the Father is not in you.” I Jn 2:15 • “We know love because Christ gave His life for us, and we should lay down our lives for one another.” I Jn 3:16 • “Love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” I Jn 4:7
LOVE Lessons in Love from the book of I John • “He who loves God must also love his brother.” I Jn 4:21 • “We love the children of God when we love God and keep His commandments.” I Jn 5:2 • “The love of God is that we keep His commandments – and His commandments are not burdensome.” I Jn 5:3
LOVE We must love one another. We must love God and His commandments. Love means wanting the best for one another. Love does not mean giving or allowing evil gifts without conflict, but rather teaching, rebuking, and exhorting one another, and provoking one another to good works.