The Nature of LoveThe Nature of Love

agape“Unconquerable

benevolence, undefeatable

goodwill”

God is love(1 Jno. 4:8)

• We are compelled to love because God first loved us, 1 Jno. 4:19, 7-8

• Motives, character and duration of love, 1 Cor. 13

• Devoted action of the will

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The Nature of LoveThe Nature of Love

“By this we know love…”

(1 Jno. 3:16)

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Love is Observable

• Love is an action word! Jno. 3:16• To say we love someone without acting

with good will toward that person is not love, 1 Jno. 3:16-18– “Love unspoken is not love”– Love professed yet not practiced is not love–Husbands, practice your love, Eph. 5:25, 28-29

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Love is Sacrificial

• Love is not selfish: Giving, not taking, 1 Jno. 4:9-10; 3:16; 1 Cor. 13:5 (3)

• Love is willing to be spent in order to help others, 2 Cor. 12:15– Love incurs cost to itself and exhausts itself

practicing good will toward others– There is no limit to love’s reach and the

sacrifices it will make5

Love is Obedient to Authority

• Obedience to the Lord is a direct reflection of one’s love for Him, Jno. 14:15–Do not love…do not obey Him, Jno. 14:24– Jesus set the example, Jno. 14:31

• God loves the obedient person, Jno. 14:21, 23–By this we know we love God, 1 Jno. 2:3-5

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Love does not Measure itself by Others

• Love does not compare itself, 2 Cor. 10:12• Motives of love, 1 Cor. 13:1-3– Love does not concern itself with itself, but

with the welfare of others (2 Cor. 12:15)–Christ is the supreme example, Jno. 15:9-14

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Love does not Measure itself by Others

• Love on display, 1 Cor. 13:4-8–God’s love for Christ: Matt. 3:17 – Jno. 8:29–God’s love for mankind: Matt. 5:43-47 – Matt.

22:37–God’s love for sinners: Eph. 2:4-7 – 2 Cor. 5:15–Husbands and wives: Eph. 5:25-33–Parents and children: Eph. 6:1-4

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Love is Just

• Love does not free the guilty or punish the innocent, Exo. 34:5-9– Love does not say: "I love you so much I will

show favoritism toward you”– “I love you so much I will not rebuke, reprove

or correct you!”

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Love is Just

• Love disciplines when needed–Warns and corrects / Punishes to improve–Correct the child, Heb. 12:5-11; Prov. 13:24–Correct the sinning (unruly) Christian,

2 Cor. 2:3-11 (1 Cor. 5:4-5)

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The Nature of LoveThe Nature of Love

-God is love-“Love never fails”

(1 Cor. 13:8, 13)

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