All About Love

[Sue J Love]

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:12-14 NASB).

There are three main components to our Lord’s commandment that I see here, and so I am going to look at each of the three parts individually, but then I’ll also look at how the three must all be a part of the same whole.

Love One Another

Now, for us who are English speaking people, we must understand that this word “love” is not of human flesh. It is not centered in our emotions nor in the ones we are loving. We love others regardless of whether or not others love us in return, or even if they hate and despise us, in return. For this is loving like God loves, like Jesus loves us. For Jesus didn’t give his life up for us on that cross because of how wonderful we are, but while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. So this love is self-sacrificial, and it is unselfish.

And this word translated in the English language as “love,” in the Greek interlinear it is the word “agapē,” which means “to prefer.” It is used in the Bible in the context of either preferring what is evil (this one very little) or preferring what God prefers (which is how it is used primarily). And what God prefers is all that is holy, righteous, godly, morally pure, upright, honest, faithful, and obedient to our Lord’s commands. So this love is morally pure, upright, honest, and faithful in its love for other people.

Lay Down Your Life

And, as already was mentioned, this love is self-sacrificial and unselfish, and it is willing to die to show the love of Christ for the people of this world. It is willing to be hated by other humans in order to love them with the love that Christ had and has for us. And in what ways did Jesus demonstrate this love? Well, he spoke the truth in love to the people, whether they wanted to hear it or not, and whether they liked him or hated him in return. He told them the truth they needed to hear even though, for him it meant his death.

So, when we love others like Jesus loved us, it is not about a popularity contest. It has nothing to do with whether people love us in return. It is all about what they need and us supplying them with what they truly need (not necessarily want), as we are able, and as we are led by the Spirit to do so, even if it costs us friends, family, church family, and other humans who might reject us and turn away from us, because we are just too weird for them. It is what it cost Jesus in order for him to show us his love for us.

Do What God Commands

If we are going to love God and our fellow humans with this kind of love, the way in which God loves us, we must be those who are walking (in conduct) in obedience to our Lord’s commands. This is not to say that we will always do this perfectly, or that we will never fail (1 John 2:1-2), but the Scriptures make it quite clear that if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to our Lord and to his commands (New Covenant), that we do not know God, we are not in fellowship with Christ, and we will not inherit eternal life with God.

So, obedience to our Lord’s commands is not something to be dismissed, nor is it just a recommendation which we are free to ignore. It is a requirement of God, not as a means of earning our salvation, but as a love response to God for saving us from our sins. Yet, it is not optional. In the Scriptures we learn that obedience to our Lord’s commands = faith, and that disobedience to his commands = unbelief, which results in separation from God and us not having the hope of salvation from sin and eternal life with God in heaven.

The Scriptures Teach

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

For by God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

In Harmony

Based off Romans 12:9-21; 1 Peter 3:8-17
An Original Work / September 2, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Love each other truly.
Cling to what is good.
Hate all that is evil.
Never lack in zeal.
Serve the Lord with fervor.
Joyful in hope be;
Patient in affliction;
Praying faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people
Who are found in need.
Do not be conceited.
Sympathetic be.
Love, and show compassion
In humility.
Keep your tongue from evil.
Peaceful you must be.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;
Listens to their prayers.
But He’s against evil –
Is His to avenge.
Do not fear what they fear.
Suffer patiently.
In your hearts, make Christ Lord.
Serve Him faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

All About Love
An Original Work / December 9, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

[Gerbolski]

Love One Another

Now, for us who are English speaking people, we must understand that this word “love” is not of human flesh. It is not centered in our emotions nor in the ones we are loving. We love others regardless of whether or not others love us in return, or even if they hate and despise us, in return. For this is loving like God loves, like Jesus loves us. For Jesus didn’t give his life up for us on that cross because of how wonderful we are, but while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. So this love is self-sacrificial, and it is unselfish.

Yep very true.

Love is rightly motivated, and does things to the glory of God.

Although love as many aspects to it.

(Strong's concordance)

(G26
ἀγάπη
agapē
ag-ah'-pay
From G25; love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.
Total KJV occurrences: 116)

Even though love is not dependent on emotions in order to act, it sure does have affections and has emotions.

And love is not emotionalism, but neither is it emotionless.

Jesus had very much affection towards people.

1Co 13:3
(3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Here it uses the word charity for the word love, which some preachers have mentioned the reason being is because love is an action word, and it sure is.

But here in verse 3, it shows that you can bestow all your goods to feed the poor, and have no love.

So an action all by itself, does not necessarily equal love.

The actions have to be rightly motivated.

But in saying all of this, we know that God is love.

1Co 13:6
(6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

And in love there can be righteous anger at times, and love rejoiceth in the truth.

Joh 14:15
(15) If ye love me, keep my commandments.

And in love, you will keep his commandments, and they will not be grievous to you.

But in order to walk in this love that has affection and actions, you must get yourself out of the way, you must be surrendered to God, than he can use you in this agape love, for we cannot truly love with God's kind of love, without God.

And of course the bible says this:

Php 1:9
(9) And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

You can always abound more and more in his love.

 

[Sue J Love]

Yep very true.

Love is rightly motivated, and does things to the glory of God.

Although love as many aspects to it.

(Strong's concordance)

(G26
ἀγάπη
agapē
ag-ah'-pay
From G25; love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.
Total KJV occurrences: 116)

Even though love is not dependent on emotions in order to act, it sure does have affections and has emotions.

And love is not emotionalism, but neither is it emotionless.

Jesus had very much affection towards people.

1Co 13:3
(3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Here it uses the word charity for the word love, which some preachers have mentioned the reason being is because love is an action word, and it sure is.

But here in verse 3, it shows that you can bestow all your goods to feed the poor, and have no love.

So an action all by itself, does not necessarily equal love.

The actions have to be rightly motivated.

But in saying all of this, we know that God is love.

1Co 13:6
(6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

And in love there can be righteous anger at times, and love rejoiceth in the truth.

Joh 14:15
(15) If ye love me, keep my commandments.

And in love, you will keep his commandments, and they will not be grievous to you.

But in order to walk in this love that has affection and actions, you must get yourself out of the way, you must be surrendered to God, than he can use you in this agape love, for we cannot truly love with God's kind of love, without God.

And of course the bible says this:

Php 1:9
(9) And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

You can always abound more and more in his love.

The point is that agape love is not dependent on how we feel. For we may not always feel like treating people with love. We don't have to have strong emotions toward anyone to show them love. For we are to love even our enemies, and those who do evil against us. And sometimes when we show love to those who treat us with hate it helps us to love them even more, and perhaps even to develop emotional feelings toward them. So, we can't depend on or go by how we feel, but we need to demonstrate the love of Jesus even when our emotions are not there, and we don't feel like it. And we can't go by how others treat us. We need to do what is right even if others do what is wrong to us, in return.

 

[Gerbolski]

The point is that agape love is not dependent on how we feel. For we may not always feel like treating people with love. We don't have to have strong emotions toward anyone to show them love. For we are to love even our enemies, and those who do evil against us. And sometimes when we show love to those who treat us with hate it helps us to love them even more, and perhaps even to develop emotional feelings toward them. So, we can't depend on or go by how we feel, but we need to demonstrate the love of Jesus even when our emotions are not there, and we don't feel like it. And we can't go by how others treat us. We need to do what is right even if others do what is wrong to us, in return.

Yep agreed, we show the care of God not matter what, whether a feeling is there or not.

Love obeys God no matter what, it does not matter if you feel like it or not.

Although in agape love there is indeed affection, it is even in the definition, and will produce such things.

And you indeed feel the care of God in our lives.

I myself, and I am not saying you are, am not against feelings, for God gave us feelings, but you must bring you feelings in check.

So I am not for emotionalism, but neither am I for emotionlessness.

But we must rightly discern what is motivating our feelings, and have them in check.

 

[Gerbolski]

Even since I read stuff from A.W. Tozer which was the pursuit of God, I have not been afraid of that subject of feelings.

And in truth whether I feel like it or not, I will obey God's truth.

But also I do not ignore all feelings, but seek to be discernful in everything, and seek to rightly apply everything.

Because some go too far the other way, were almost all feelings are wrong.

 

[Gerbolski]

Going too far

This is not said towards anyone, just sharing thoughts.

If you go too far in the no feelings realm, then end result can be this:

Rom 1:31-32
(31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
(32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

A certain website mentions the words "without natural affection" as meaning this: "If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Without natural affection refers to a lack of natural, innate feelings of love, care, and attachment, particularly towards family members or close relations."

And of course in Romans, it is showing this being without natural affection as being a bad thing.

And often times when you see serial killers, it is like they are without natural affection, they are empty, feeless, no empathy.

But then if you go too far in the all about feelings realm, the end result can be this:

Jud 1:18-19
(18) How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
(19) These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Some key words that it gives towards the word sensual, are : "sensitive that is, animate".

And here is a comment on this:

(Adam Clarke)

(...Sensual - Ψυχικοι· Animal - living as brute beasts, guided simply by their own lusts and passions, their Bible being the manifold devices and covetousness of their own hearts;...)

Sensuality in a big way has to do with the senses, but in such a way, that they are being led by their senses, and not being led by the word.

And you tend to see extreme emotionalism in many Charismatic, prosperity type churches, were it seems almost like a carnival, and you can tell that it is very fleshy.

 

[Gerbolski]

Obviously, if you love God you will keep his commandments, and if a feeling comes your way, to were it is drawing you away from obeying God, it is obviously not of God.

One preacher that I would watch now and again was David Wilkerson, and one time, I think I might have read it in one of his books, (I am paraphrasing) how he said that if the bible says something is clearly wrong, and you know that it says this, you do not need some big conviction to know that you should not abide in these ways, if you know the truth about this or that, that is reason enough to obey what God says.

And does God convict from sin? Yes.

Do you even feel convicted at times ? Yes.

But there are some who know the truth of this or that, yet do not obey it, and use the excuse of, well I was not convicted of it.

Which obviously that is not of God.