Word Study- Love
Old Testament:
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New Testament:
The word used for love in the New Testament is agape/agapao- these words are used a total of 159 times. God gave us a Spirit of love (2 Tim 1:7) to allow us to love others through the Spirit (Col 1:8). Our love is a sign we are a disciple (John 13:35). The Lord directs our heart to the love of God and steadfastness of Christ (2 Thessa. 3:5).
Thoughts
In a world where we are told we need to love people in truth I wanted to see what the Bible says about love to see if it would help me discern what it should look like when we love others. Scripture has a lot to say about love that changed my view on what it means to love others well. Below the use of love in the Bible will be broken down into what God's love looks like for us, what God says about our love for others, and what the characteristics of love are.
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Breakdown of Verses
Characteristics of love
Binds everything in harmony (Col 3:14)
Builds up (1 Co 8:1)
Comforts and brings joy (Philippians 2:1, Philippians 2:2, Philemon 1:7)
Covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)
Does no wrong to neighbor (Rom 13:10)
Doesn’t envy or boast (1 Co 13:4)
Esteems highly good works - focuses on encouraging the good (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
Encourages the heart (Col 2:2)
Keeps his word (1 John 2:5)
Never ends (1 Co 13:8)
No fear in love (1 John 4:18)
Not arrogant (1 Co 13:4)
Not rude (1 Co 13:5)
Doesn’t insist on own way (1 Co 13:5)
Not irritable (1 Co 13:5)
Rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4)
Spirit of Gentleness (1 Co 4:21)
Taught by God (1 Thessalonians 4:9)
Patient and kind (1 Co 13:4)
Fulfilling of the law (Rom 13:8,10)
Love earnestly (1 Peter 4:8)
Builds itself up (Ephesians 4:16)
Serves others (Galatians 5:13, Hebrews 6:10)
Genuine- to prove by the earnestness of others (2 Co 8:8, Rom 12:9)
Give goods you possess to brother in need (1 John 3:17)
Bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things (1 Co 13:7)
Pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5)
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Our conscience bears witness, & their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus (Rom 2:14-16) ...Oh, how I look forward to this day.
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How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14)
Lay down life for friends (John 15:13, 1 John 2:5, John 10:17)​
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Jesus laid down his life for others sin, instead of laying down our life for others we are telling others they can’t be part of the church because they need to lay down their life
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Jesus said father forgive them as he hung on the cross (Luke 23:34)
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Stephen said forgive them as he was being stoned (Acts 7:60)
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The priests were intercessors offering sacrifices saying father forgive the people of their sins, but Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and we are to say father forgive them
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If brother grieved by what you eat, not walking in love (Rom 14:15)​
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Jesus’ food was to do the will of the Father, right now people’s food is making others grieve so it can’t be the will of the Father
God's love for us
We are called God's children - 1 John 3:1
Everyone who hopes in him purifies himself because God is pure - 1 John 3:3
Poured into our heart through Holy Spirit- Romans 5:5
Rich in mercy -Ephesians 2:4, Jude 1:21
Manifested in Jesus- 1 John 4:9
For a cheerful giver- 2 Co 9:7
Gave His only Son- John 3:16
Predestined and chosen- Ephesians 1:4-5​​
Christ's love for us
Love of righteousness leads to gladness- Hebrews 1:9
Controls us- 2 Co 5:14
Surpasses knowledge- Ephesians 3:19
No one & nothing, not tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or the sword can separate us from the love of Christ.- Rom 8:35
Gave himself for us because he loved us, died for our sins
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So if we are to be in His image we need to be willing to die for someone else’s sins, if we want to save our life we will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it- Matt 16:25​
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ is the one who died- more than that, who was raised- who is interceding for us.- Rom 8:33-34
​For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.- Rom 8:38-39​
Fruit of love
Love of righteousness leads to gladness- Hebrews 1:9
Prostitute was forgiven because of her love for Jesus- Luke 7:47
Passed out of death if we love our brother -1 John 3:14
The one who needs mercy loves God more- Luke 7:42
If you love your brother, you abide in light- 1 John 2:10
If we love one another, God abides in us- 1 John 3:10
If you love God, you are known by God- 1 Co. 8:3