What is love?

Mark

Mark

Member
Love is something the world is familiar with, but what is love according to scripture? What is God's love? I really need some clarity guys.
 
1 Cor 13:4; Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
1 Cor 13:5; does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
1 Cor 13:6; does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
1 Cor 13:7; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Cor 13:8; Love never fails;

In short.. love is caring about someone else more than you care for yourself.
It doesn't hold grudges, it doesn't have to have it's own way.
It doesn't get jealous, it doesn't keep score.
 
In my meditation on love, I remember Judas. Even though Jesus knew he would eventually betray him, he loved him still. Imagine if every one you preach to would stone you to death, but even with that knowledge you love them still. Just like God loves us. John 15:13
 
B-A-C said:
1 Cor 13:4; Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
1 Cor 13:5; does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
1 Cor 13:6; does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
1 Cor 13:7; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Cor 13:8; Love never fails;

In short.. love is caring about someone else more than you care for yourself.
It doesn't hold grudges, it doesn't have to have it's own way.
It doesn't get jealous, it doesn't keep score.
Click to expand...
That also could be seen as the fruit of love
 
@Mark Hello and welcome Brother to TJ. I am looking forward to the fellowship with one another over the days

God is Love
We Love God
We love the things of God
We Love people
Everything else we enjoy or like

as scripture says Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ( 1 John 2:15 )

God tells us not to love these things out side of Him - did not say we can not enjoy
God says if any man loves the world then the Love of God is not in Him. This does not say God does not love him but it does say this person does not truly understand or know the depth of Gods love. He has yet to learn this.

With out love Faith is useless - With out Forgivness Love is useless. Those traits or fruit of Love are because Love forgives. You can read each attribute of Love and after each one add " Because Love Forgives"

God Bless
James
 
Wired 4 Fishen said:
That also could be seen as the fruit of love
Click to expand...

That's a good way to look at it.
Love, like faith.. is a verb... not merely a noun. It requires action, proof.

Hypothetical love.... not my situation at all. But for illustration...
I could say I love my wife. I could tell her I love her everyday. Maybe she would believe it, but...
I never bought her flowers in the last 10 years. I never asked her on a date in the last 10 years.
We haven't held hands or kissed in the last 10 years. We haven't been physically intimate in the last
10 years. I haven't really talked to her or listened to any of her problems in the last 10 years.
When she asks me for help, I put her off or ignore her. I haven't acknowledged her birthday or
our anniversary in the last 10 years. I make her do all the chores. If she wants the dishes washed or the trash taken out... I tell her to do it.
Do I love her? Am I putting her before myself?
Maybe I did all those things when we first got married... but I just don't feel it's necessary anymore.
She should know I love her. I tell her all the time.

Love isn't what you say. Love is what you do.
It's much like faith. Faith isn't what you say you believe, it's what you show you believe. (fruit).

Maybe you tell Jesus you love Him. Or maybe you told Him 10 years ago.
But what are you doing to show Him?
 
Bendito said:
Oh That's good!! Love as a verb again...:thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Well sir Faith with out works is dead. Faith needs love to operate or function and Love is not whole with out forgiveness so therefore Love too must have works or coressponding actions. We know God is Love and God is THEE God or the great I am that I am. So then we can not have a bunch of different types of Love running around - sooooooooooo love does not insist on it's own way because it forgives. Love does not see the fault in some one because it forgives and so forth.

You can NOT walk in Love as commanded and bad mouth others. The later defeats the first. Oh shoot - that will take us into "Our WORDS" ;)
 
Mark said:
Love is something the world is familiar with, but what is love according to scripture? What is God's love? I really need some clarity guys.
Click to expand...

Well according to scripture the greatest love is mentioned in John 15:13. So we just need to grasp this and then work our way down from it to establish how much we love or are loved.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

What is God's love? It is the fulfillment of the above John 3:16.
 
The way that I see love is when you are willing to die for someone else. That is love and we saw it when Jesus died for us on that cross.
 
Victor9509 said:
The way that I see love is when you are willing to die for someone else. That is love and we saw it when Jesus died for us on that cross.
Click to expand...
It's a lot harder to live for someone else, and we see Jesus living for for us now too

Hebrews 7:25 (KJV)
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

So then love is a total giving of self for someone else?
 
Now on a funny note I could start singing but....

I believe that love is when you would do anything for someone.
 
What is love? Well, the very best definition that I have ever gotten was from my older brother (He's one of Gods front line soldiers also) He said "Love doesn't see it's self"

My version now (after hearing him tell me that is this) Love doesn't end. There aren't any limitations or requirements. It forgives & never thinks of itself"

Let that sink in for a moment.
 
Mark said:
what is love according to scripture?
Click to expand...


“Love”



“Love” 7x *310x



  • Deuteronomy 10:19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.


  • Proverbs 20:13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.


  • Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;


  • Luke 6:27 ¶ But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,


  • Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.


  • 1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.


  • 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.


“for love's sake” 1x



  • Philemon 1:9 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.


“loved” 98x



“lovedst” 2x



  • Isaiah 57:8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.


  • John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
“lovely” 4x



  • 2 Samuel 1:23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.


  • Song Of Solomon 5:16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.


  • Ezekiel 33:32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.


  • Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


“Lover” 1x *4x



  • 1 Kings 5:1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.


  • Psalms 88:18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.


  • Titus 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;


“loves” 3x



  • Psalms 45 Superscription To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.


  • Proverbs 7:18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.


  • Song Of Solomon 7:12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.


“Lovest” 1x *12x



  • Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.


  • Judges 14:16 And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?


  • 2 Samuel 19:6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.


  • Psalms 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.


  • Psalms 52:3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.


  • Psalms 52:4 Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.


  • Ecclesiastes 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.


  • John 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.


  • John 21:15 ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.


  • John 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.


  • John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.


“loveth” 65x



“loving” 3x



  • Proverbs 5:19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.


  • Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.


  • Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.


“lovingkindness” 26x



  • Psalms 17:7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.


  • Psalms 26:3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.


  • Psalms 36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.


  • Psalms 36:10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.


  • Psalms 40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.


  • Psalms 40:11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.


  • Psalms 42:8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.


  • Psalms 48:9 We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.


  • Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.


  • Psalms 63:3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.


  • Psalms 69:16 Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.


  • Psalms 88:11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?


  • Psalms 89:33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.


  • Psalms 92:2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,


  • Psalms 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;


  • Psalms 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.


  • Psalms 119:88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.


  • Psalms 119:149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.


  • Psalms 119:159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.


  • Psalms 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.


  • Psalms 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.


  • Jeremiah 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.


  • Jeremiah 16:5 For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.


  • Jeremiah 31:3 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 32:18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,


  • Hosea 2:19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.




“lovingkindnesses” 4x



  • Psalms 25:6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.


  • Psalms 89:49 Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?


  • Isaiah 63:7 ¶ I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.
 
Leviticus 19:18 ¶ Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 5:10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deuteronomy 7: 7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Deuteronomy 7:13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

Joshua 22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Psalms 18:1 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

Psalms 31:23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

Psalms 70:4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

Psalms 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

Psalms 116:1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

Psalms 119:97 מ (MEM). O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Psalms 119:113 ס (SAMECH). I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.

Psalms 119:127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Proverbs 15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

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

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

(There are many more not listed. I hope this was helpful)
 
What is God's love?

God's love for His covenant people in the Old Testament is expressed by the Hebrew word hesed (checed), hesed has a much narrower definition than the English word "love" conveys.
God shows His hesed for his covenant children by the blessings he confers upon them and, similarly, God's covenant children "know God" when then observe the covenant obligations and show their gratitude for God's blessings and return His love: ...then you will understand what the fear of Yahweh is, and discover the knowledge of God. For Yahweh himself is giver of wisdom, from his mouth issue knowledge and understanding. He reserves his advice for the honest, a shield to those whose ways are sound; he stands guard over the paths of equity, he keeps watch over the way of those faithful to him (Proverbs 2:5-8).

In the Greek language, as in Hebrew, there are several terms used for the emotion "love." Eros is passionate or physical love; phileo is expressed as love of family or love of mankind and agape is the Greek word for spiritual or divine love. As the word agape is used in the New Testament, agape can express the love that God has for mankind in general as in John 3:16: For God so loved the world... The second way agape is used is not only for God's love for us but also for the human response to God's love as well as for love shared and expressed between covenant believers, brothers and sisters in the covenant family. For example in John 21:15 Jesus asks Peter: "do you love (agapas) me more than these?"
 
Mark said:
Love is something the world is familiar with, but what is love according to scripture? What is God's love? I really need some clarity guys.
Click to expand...
God loved Mark so much, that though he was a sinner and not worthy, God sent his son to earth to die on a cross, that Mark could still have eternal life.
 
I wonder if a demonstration of love is different from the definition of love itself?

I might demonstrate love by buying flowers or a gift for someone.
But is buying flowers love?

Jesus demonstrated love by dying for our sins.
But is dying love?
 
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