Live In Love

Live in Love

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Rom 12:9)

1. The Nature Of Love

- Three Greek words for love:

·Eros - passion or lust

·Philia - family or brotherly love

·Agapa - divine, self-giving, spiritual, undying love

2. The Source of Love

- (Rom 5:5) God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

- (1 John 4:19) We love because he first loved us.

- (1 John 4:7) Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

3. The Imperative of Love

- Commanded by Jesus

·(John 13:34-35) "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

- Taught by God

·(1 Th 4:9) Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

- Commended by the Apostles

·(2 John 1:5) And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.

·(Col 3:14) And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

- Recognized by the world

·(John 13:35) By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

4. The Qualities of Love

- Christian love is sincere.

·1 Pet 1:22) Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

- Christian love is moral.

·(Rom. 12:9) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

- Christian love is selfless.

·(Rom 12:10) Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

- Christian love is a testimony.

·(1 John 3:14) We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

Conclusion: Remember these timeless principles of love.

(1 Cor 13:1-8)

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels,

but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,

but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,

but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast,

it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails..