What is love?

[complete]

What is love? Christian love? How is it expressed?

 

[Brother Paul]

What is love? Christian love? How is it expressed?

\

Agapeo (translated as one form of love) is not about an emotion. It is about how we treat one another! We see its expression in how God treats us and He tells us how in many scriptures (Isaiah 58:6-12; Matthew 25:31-46: 1 Corinthians 13, and more). It is the fulfillment of loving our neighbor as we ourselves would ant to be loved.

 

[MedicBravo]

Loving the sinner hating the sin as Jesus did and taught the Disciples.
As He is Divine and we are human, mortal, flawed, etc. we can only "love" on a certain level.
It is NOT supporting a loved one or friend's sins. It is NOT supporting ALl of their choices b/c you are their parent, sibling, child, etc.
God gave humanity rules and standards. We MUST repeat what the Creator, Judge, and Authority has said and is in fact, a commandment.
If you love another as yourself, even if they are mean or whatever you have to learn to look past all the limited human beliefs and see people as Jesus did. That is not easy.

 

[complete]

Agapeo (translated as one form of love) is not about an emotion. It is about how we treat one another! We see its expression in how God treats us and He tells us how in many scriptures (Isaiah 58:6-12; Matthew 25:31-46: 1 Corinthians 13, and more). It is the fulfillment of loving our neighbor as we ourselves would want to be loved.

Hello @Brother Paul,

Thank you so much for responding to this question. I had forgotten about it I'm afraid, having started two threads at the same time, the one being taken up and responded to straight away, while this one seemed to have been overlooked.

Yes, I agree, the Gr. 'Agape' is defined as, a spontaneous love, irrespective of rights. I have read that the verb, 'Agapao,' (that you used) is to be found in classical Greek, but the noun, 'Agape,' is not used outside the Scriptures: so there is something peculiarly sacred in this word for 'love' (agape), isn't there?

Looking up the Scriptures that you referred to (Isaiah 58:6-12; Matthew 25:31-46; and 1 Corinthians 13), 1 Corinthians 13, is one that I would have expected you to have quoted, for it is well known as being a declaration of the nature of the love of God, but Isaiah 58:6-12 and Matthew 25:31-46 were unexpected, and I thank you for them, for I would not have thought of quoting them myself.

There is a sacrificial element in the love of God, isn't there? unlike our own: for, 'we love Him, because He first loved us' (1 John 4:19) whereas, 'while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us' (Romans 5:8).

If any other thoughts come to mind on this subject that you want to share, please do.

Thank you so much, it has been a blessing.
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

Loving the sinner hating the sin as Jesus did and taught the Disciples.
As He is Divine and we are human, mortal, flawed, etc. we can only "love" on a certain level.
It is NOT supporting a loved one or friend's sins. It is NOT supporting ALl of their choices b/c you are their parent, sibling, child, etc.
God gave humanity rules and standards. We MUST repeat what the Creator, Judge, and Authority has said and is in fact, a commandment.
If you love another as yourself, even if they are mean or whatever you have to learn to look past all the limited human beliefs and see people as Jesus did. That is not easy.

Hi @MedicBravo,

Thank you for your contribution. It is appreciated.

No it is not easy to love the unlovely. Yet, I believe such love is not necessarily the expression of a feeling that emanates from our own heart, so need not be expected, but is an action born of love for God. We are told aren't we:- ' ... let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.' (1 John 3:18).

I have just within the last half hour rung a man who very often visits us at times which are just not convenient: and on two occasions, we were either just about to sit down to have a meal, or had a family member visiting, whom we had pre-arranged to have a meal with us. So the visit was shortened and the man left. My conscience has been bothering me about this, for I had not thought to ask him to stay and have a meal with us, it had not crossed my mind to do so. So I have just wrung him and apologised for not including him, and inviting him to join us. My only excuse being that my husband and I see so few people that we are not in the habit of thinking in that way. It is worse, because he is living alone, and his wife is in hospital with dementia. I did not show the love of God to him, and I feel really bad about it.

He accepted my apology gracefully, and said not to worry, he was fine, but it has taught me a lesson.

The love of God is so much associated with 'giving' isn't it? e.g., 'God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son'(John 3:16) ; and this is reflected in His Son, 'The Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me' (Galatians 2:20) .

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[B-A-C]

What is love? Christian love? How is it expressed?

Love is simply caring about someone else, more than you do yourself.

 

[complete]

Love is simply caring about someone else, more than you do yourself.

Thank you, @B-A-C,

It is probably simply that: but yet there is so much that could be gleaned from God's word concerning this subject, that would give greater light upon God's love, and how it is manifested through those who have been saved by God's grace in Christ Jesus.

Within the love of Christ our Saviour,
our Lord and Head.
Chris

 

[complete]

'He that loveth not knoweth not God;
for God is love.'
(1 John 4:8 )

' 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.'
(1 John 4:16)

Praise God!

 

[B-A-C]

John 15:13; "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

John 3:16; "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Rom 5:8; But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God loved us enough to send His Son to die for us. But there are some differences between us and God ( we aren't god for one thing! )
In our love for Him we are told to deny ourselves. Deny our "self will" and follow the will of God.

Matt 16:24; Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
Mark 8:34; And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
Luke 9:23; And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Yet Jesus can not deny Himself.

2Tim 2:13; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

Jesus cannot "not" follow the will of God.

 

[B-A-C]

Luke 10:27; And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
Luke 10:28; And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE."
Luke 10:29; But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus told him he has to LOVE his neighbor. So the man asks "who is my neighbor"? ( probably thinking it would reduce his responsibility to love others )
The story of the good Samaritan is in Luke 10:30-37; Of course the Samaritans and Jews didn't really like each other much, and that's what makes the story
hard for some people to accept. But Jesus doesn't only tell who the neighbor is... He tells HOW to love them.

 

[Waggles]

John 21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
21:16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

verse 15: love - JESUS - G25 ἀγαπάω agapaō 1) of persons 1a) to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
2) of things 2a) to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing
Peter's reply - G5368 φιλέω phileō 1) to love 1a) to approve of 1b) to like 1c) sanction 1d) to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, befriend
2) to show signs of love 2a) to kiss 3) to be fond of doing

verse 16: love - same as previous verse BUT in verse 17 Jesus changes the word to phileō [human love, affection for another]
Joh 21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you phileō me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you phileō me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I phileō you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

So what is going on here ???

 

[watertolive]

Yes

Now do we love Him, as He loved us?
Are we willing to lay down our life for Him?

All praise glory and honor be unto God. Amen

 

[Hekuran]

John 21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
21:16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

verse 15: love - JESUS - G25 ἀγαπάω agapaō 1) of persons 1a) to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
2) of things 2a) to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing
Peter's reply - G5368 φιλέω phileō 1) to love 1a) to approve of 1b) to like 1c) sanction 1d) to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, befriend
2) to show signs of love 2a) to kiss 3) to be fond of doing

verse 16: love - same as previous verse BUT in verse 17 Jesus changes the word to phileō [human love, affection for another]
Joh 21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you phileō me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you phileō me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I phileō you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

So what is going on here ???

Its a mysterious and intriguing passage. Here's how I read it.

Agape is a stronger, more committed and personal form of love than philos love. Peter is so full of shame at his betrayal that he cannot any more say that he loves Jesus with agape love.

Do you love me?
I am very fond of you.

In the end Jesus steps down and asks Peter again if he has this weaker form of love. Painful.

Nevertheless, Jesus commissions Peter to lead the new community of believers.

John leaves us to guess the emotional tenor of the conversation - tender? confrontational? anguished? All we know is that it was deeply uncomfortable for Peter - and that he was restored.

 

[Waggles]

1John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.
8 Who loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. [sacrifice]
10 Herein is love, not that WE have loved God, but that HE loved us, and sent his Son as propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one hath ever beheld God: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:
13 hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have beheld and witness that the Father hath sent the Son as Saviour of the world.
15 Whoso shall confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.
16 And WE know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and who abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.
17 Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as HE is, even so are WE in this world.
18 No fear is in love: but perfect love casteth out the fear, because the fear hath punishment; and who feareth is not perfected in love.
19 WE love, because HE first loved us.
20 If one say that I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for who loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.
21 And this commandment we have from him, that who loveth God love his brother also.

 

[B-A-C]

Nevertheless, Jesus commissions Peter to lead the new community of believers.

Well... the Jewish Believers. Peter (and most of the other apostles) were for the Jews, Paul was for the Gentiles.

Gal 2:7; But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised
Gal 2:8; (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles),
Gal 2:9; and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Paul said..
Rom 11:13; But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
1Tim 2:7; For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Matt 15:24; But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

John 21:15; So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Tend My lambs."
John 21:16; He *said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."
John 21:17; He *said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus *said to him, "Tend My sheep.

 

[Br. Bear]

What is love? Christian love? How is it expressed?

Greetings Chris
@complete

have you considered this:

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Matthew 6:22

in His love
wherewith He loved us


Bless you ....><>

 

[B-A-C]

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails;

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:

 

[complete]

John 21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
21:16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

verse 15: love - JESUS - G25 ἀγαπάω agapaō 1) of persons 1a) to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
2) of things 2a) to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing
Peter's reply - G5368 φιλέω phileō 1) to love 1a) to approve of 1b) to like 1c) sanction 1d) to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, befriend
2) to show signs of love 2a) to kiss 3) to be fond of doing

verse 16: love - same as previous verse BUT in verse 17 Jesus changes the word to phileō [human love, affection for another]
Joh 21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you phileō me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you phileō me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I phileō you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

So what is going on here ???

'Then Jesus saith unto them,
Children, have ye any meat?
They answered him, No.'
(John 21:5)

Hello @Waggles,

When I turned to your reference in John 21:15-17, my eyes came to rest on the verse above: and the words of the risen Lord to six of His disciples, who had joined Peter out upon the water the evening before, for he said he was going fishing.

The risen Lord calls them, 'Children', and asks them, '... have ye any meat?' The fact that He had called them 'children', intrigued me, and also the question, 'have ye any meat'. In my marginal notes, the word 'meat' is highlighted, it is the Greek word, 'prosphagion' (G4371) which means:- 'something to eat with ( your bread), a relish (only occurring here) especially fish.'

They had fished all night and caught nothing, so answered Him, 'No'. Then He performed a miracle for them, and it was this which opened John's eyes to Whom He was. Their self-effort to catch fish came to nothing, it took the hand of the Lord to bring in a multitude of fish, and fill their nets. Peter's reaction when he heard John say that it was the Lord, was to grab hold of his fisherman's coat, for he was naked, and cast himself into the water.

When they arrived at the shore, the Lord had a fire waiting, with bread and fish, and asked them to 'come and dine', He took the bread and fish and gave it to them, as He had on previous occasions, and it was as they dined of the bounty that the Lord supplied, requiring no effort on their part, the conversation that you refer to, @Waggles, between our Lord and Peter, took place.

How could I pass over this wonderful bounty?? What a wonderful picture of man's self-effort, and of the Lord's bountiful miraculous supply this is isn't it: and I believe that it has a bearing on what followed between our Lord and Peter. For God does not say or do anything without purpose: and our Lord only said and did what God the Father (who was with Him) desired of Him.

I am not equipped to say more about this, or even answer your question, Waggles: I can only glory in what is written, and praise God for His love and grace. What a living word these pages hold? and what a Loving Living Word in God our Saviour?!

Praise His Holy Name!

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

Greetings Chris
@complete

have you considered this:

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Matthew 6:22

in His love
wherewith He loved us


Bless you ....><>

'Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.
The light of the body is the eye:
if therefore thine eye be single,
thy whole body shall be full of light.
But if thine eye be evil,
thy whole body shall be full of darkness.
If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness,
how great is that darkness!
No man can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.'
(Matthew 6:19-24)

Hello @Br. Bear,

Verses 19-24 appear to be dealing with 'riches': and the verse you quote (v.22) comes very much within it. Looking at the word, light, I see that it is Gr. luchnos ( i.e., a portable hand-lamp fed by oil, burning for a time and then going out: In John 5:35, 'luchnos' is used of John the Baptist in contrast with Gr. phos, which is underived light, used specifically of God, which is used of Christ in John 8:12 & ch.). This is interesting isn't it?

'The light of the body is the eye:​

if therefore thine eye be single,​

thy whole body shall be full of light.'​

* In my limited understanding, the words of Matthew 6:22 within it's context, means (to us) that if our eye be single, having one object of it's vision, namely the Lord Jesus Christ, at God's right hand in heavenly places, and the treasure of 'all' spiritual blessings that await us there, as God's own inheritance in heavenly places. Then our whole body will be full of light. We will have a clear vision of what He has done for us, and where we stand in relation to His purposes: and not subject to the whims and fancies of our vain imagination, or the imaginations of others. His Word being the lamp which lightens our pathway (Psalm 119:105), so that we will not be in danger of losing the way, or tripping over the obstacles that the enemy of our souls would place in the road.

* We will know our calling, and be confident in the promises of God which enlighten our way, as we look for our Lord's appearing in glory, Who is our LIFE, when we will appear with Him there.

'Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,​

I am the light of the world:​

he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness,​

but shall have the light of life.'​

(Joh 8:12)​

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

@Br. Bear,

Thoughts concerning 'light' continued:-

* The words you referred to in Matthew are found again, in Luke within a different context: in Luke 11:33-36:-

'No man, when he hath lighted a candle,
putteth it in a secret place,
neither under a bushel,
but on a candlestick,
that they which come in may see the light (Gr. pheggos - G5338)

The light (Gr. luchnos - G3088) of the body is the eye:​

therefore when thine eye is single,​

thy whole body also is full of light (Gr, photeinos - G5460);​

but when thine eye is evil,​

thy body also is full of darkness.​

Take heed therefore that the light (Gr. Phos - G5457)which is in thee be not darkness. ( Divine light ) Praise God!
If thy whole body therefore be full of light (G5460),
having no part dark,
the whole shall be full of light (G5460),
as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light (Gr. photizo - G5461).'
(Luke 11:33-36)

* This is interesting isn't it, within this context. What can you say concerning it?

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris