Love & Charity Page

Love

John 3:16
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.

The New Commandment
Jesus said that he did not come to destroy the Old Testament (the law and the prophets), but came to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17). The most important commandments are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. He not only stressed the continuing validity of these principles, but also added a new dimension to them. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, he stressed the point that "neighbor" means all people, regardless of race, creed, or nationality (Luke 10:25-37). His new commandment is "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples" (John 13:34). He also stressed that love is action, saying, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16 ).

The Gospels show Jesus' conception of love in action. He is the good shepherd who knows and cares for his sheep, even laying down his life for them. He healed all who came to him; he had compassion for the lost and the burdened. He came to befriend and save sinners (Lk. 5:32; 7:34); to bring salvation to the world; to offer himself as the last sacrifice for the sins of all (Matt. 20:28; Rom 5:6; Heb. 9:27-28; Heb. 10:12-14). This kind of love is necessary, for he who does not love in this deeper sense does not know God, for God is love (I John 4:8). Love is the greatest gift. It endureth all things; it never fails (I Cor. 13:1-8).

God's benevolent concern for humankind. All religions have some idea of the importance of love. Christian theology stresses the importance of love because God has revealed that he is love (I John 4:8, 16). Love is both what God is and what he has done; God always acts in love.

Love is a transitive reality--that is, it requires an object. In the Bible, love is described as personal (between persons) and selfless (desiring the best for others). Christians see God's love in sending his Son to die on the cross to save sinners (Rom. 5:8; John 3:16; I John 4:10).

Christians are to be known by the fact that they love God and others (John 13:34-35). Their love is not to be like the love the world has (Luke 6:32, 35). Love is best seen in actions and in most cases is to be identified with what we do--in our compassion and commitment to those around us, attitudes and behavior are to reflect God's love. Jesus said that only two commands are needed to govern our lives: love of God and love of neighbor. If such love is demonstrated, all the law and prophets are fulfilled.

Luke 6:27-36
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not [to take thy] coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask [them] not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend [to them] of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Luke 10:27
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 5:43-48
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, 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. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

I John 2:15-17
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 all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Song of Solomon 8:6-7
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.

II Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Ephesians 5:1-2
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 saviour

Galatians 5:13
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

I John 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.