It's All About Love ( part 1 ) by Ted Robertson - July 2010
The Bible has some words regarding romantic love
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. Proverbs 15:17
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. Song of Solomon 8:6-7
But this isn’t necessarily the kind of love we want to address today – though, certainly it is not to be underestimated
The Greeks had three concepts of love
- Agape – the love of God or Christ for mankind
- Philia – a human response to something that is found to be delightful. Also known as "brotherly love."
- Eros – attraction of a desirous nature.
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What does the Bible have to say about the agape kind of love?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (The meaning of commend is that God gave his love to us with confidence and in our charge in that He sent Christ to pay the price of our sin.)
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Proverbs 8:17
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: Job. 5.17
for whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; Rev. 3.19
even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Heb. 12.5, Proverbs 3:11-12
the LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: Psalms 146:8
We are to love others
Mark 12:28-34 – Discussion between the scribe and Jesus regarding loving God and loving our fellow man.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, Lev. 19.18 and hate thine enemy.
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; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:43-44
These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15:17
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 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 sweet smelling savor. Ex. 29.18 Ephesians 5:1-2
Let brotherly love continue. Hebrews 13:1
1 John 3:11-24 – Love one another
1 John 4:7-21 – God is love
Husbands, love your wives, Col. 3.19 · 1 Pet. 3.7 even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Ps. 90.4
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribution, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or Sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all day long: we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter
Nay, in all these things we are nore than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, not things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 8: 35 - 39
Comments from Sister White:
You are as a child born into the family of God, and He loves you as He loves His Son. – Steps to Christ, chapter 6.
The Father loves those who believe on Christ, even as he loves the Son, for they are made one with Christ. – Signs of the Times, August 24, 1891.
Go to It's All About Love - Part 2
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