Who God is: Love
God is spirit and invisible. He is the creator. God is love (1 John 4:7,8; I John 4:16). He is right, just, holy, faithful, mercy, truth, righteous, etc. All these attributes flow from love. Faith worketh by love (Galatians 5:6).
He is in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 1 John 5:7,8
1. The English language has many definitions for love. Dictionaries have taken the way we use words and put them in as definitions. It is not a good idea to have different definitions for one word. There is really only ONE definition for love- God.
A. Here are some "erroneous" definitions:
love as a noun : a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person ; attraction that includes sexual desire; the strong affection felt
by people who have a romantic relationship; a person you love in a romantic way.
love as a verb: feel tender affection for somebody; feel desire for somebody; like something very much; show kindness to somebody;
have sex with somebody.
B. Most people's intention: When we say that we love someone, basically we mean that we have an affection for them. It is an intent to
hold them in high esteem, do good to them, be faithful, etc. and have good feelings about them.
C. All people seek and want love. Many know that love is what they need and it truly conquers all. But they are misdirected in the
concept of love. People have turned love into what feels good, whatever they want to hear and what they want. If a person's interaction
with them isn't pleasing, they think you don't love them or that you even hate them. Also, the term unconditional love has been twisted
and people believe that their choices should be accepted, it is part of "who they are" and if you don't accept their choice or behavior
then you aren't "unconditionally" loving them.
Is there such a thing as unconditional love? What about God, does He love unconditionally? Love is always unconditional or it isn't
love.
What about the people God sends to hell, is that love?
2. BUT what does the bible say love is?
A. 1 John 4:7,8,16
4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God
in him.
B. In the greek and hebrew, there are 19 words for love. Even though some of the definitions are stated as a noun, they are classified as
types which make it a noun but is actually a demonstration which is a verb.
3. Our definition of love: Love is God. He is a noun and He is the highest good. Love is a noun until He demonstrates it. When love flows from God as an attribute, it is a verb. The highest good is given.
A. Love as a noun: God is love. Love is who He is.
B. Love as a verb: All that God is emanates from love: righteousness, truth, holiness, purity, faith, etc. When He gives us judgment,
wrath, or chastisement that is also love.
The fruit of the Spirit in action (Galatians 5:22,23), which is God flowing to and through us. When we are giving love it is by God's Holy
Spirit flowing through us to give people their highest good. This is an action (a verb).
When the word love is used, unless it is directly about God, it is a verb.
C. Highest good. Good doesn't always feel good. What we NEED is what is good. What we need sometimes can be punishment,
correction, hardship, sickness, etc.
The purpose of adversity is to teach us, grow us, and most importantly to glorify God. Our choice to react/act to adversity gives us the opportunity to glorify God. God gives us our highest good so that we might glorify Him. He is right and just.. Our highest good is to magnify/glorify God.
Even if we lost our arms and legs, it is right to still magnify Him; if everyone in our family died; if we are wrongly imprisoned; homeless, etc. It is what He wants in life, not what we want that is important and it is always for our highest good.
Job. What was the purpose of Job's trials? That he would not curse God and would continue to glorify Him. Job was a perfect and upright man that feared God and eschewed evil yet it was glorifying to the Lord to have Job tested.
*Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
*Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
*James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh
patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
*1 Peter 4:14-16 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God But let none of you suffer
as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not
be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
4. If God is love and He is not living inside you, then how do you have or give love? You don’t. We cannot love without love in us. We can feign (fake) love because of God's law written in our heart and mind. We can seemingly do right acts, but it is not love.
Chart 7
5. A working definition of how we love: Love is God flowing through a believer to do the other person's highest good.
A. Love is a choice. We access and then do not access love because our walk is in and out of the Spirit. We have to make a conscious
decision of every thought to love (walk in the Spirit). We are to give others their highest good- whether your brother or your enemies.
Their highest good may be disassociation, civil or criminal recourse, or compassion by seeking to meet their need. It varies from
situation to situation.
*Do the highest good. Sometimes we let something slide that should be addressed or not let something slide that should be
covered. We don’t tell our friend when they do something wrong because we are afraid they will get mad. That is selfish because
we are not doing what is best for them, we are doing what is easiest for us.
example: A co-worker's work standard is low and causing others to carry more of a load. Or we tell their faults to others instead
of covering. Love covers one's faults. We tell and complain to other co-workers about the low standard and don't approach the
one who needs correction.
*Highest good is to tell someone something instead of "sparing them". Allow them to spiritually mature by learning to handle life
situations by focusing and drawing on the Lord.
example: Husband not telling his wife about a financial choice because she would worry or be upset with him.
B. We grow in love. Love is taught and we grow in the maturity of love. We are called to maturity or completeness.
*1 Thessalonians 4: 9...for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
*1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected...
*1 John 4:12 If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
*1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made
perfect in love.
*1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen,
how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
We actually don't have different degrees or levels of love. It is a moment by moment decision to love or not. Those that "love much", actually are diligent to make a decision to love.
6. Chart 2
He is in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 1 John 5:7,8
1. The English language has many definitions for love. Dictionaries have taken the way we use words and put them in as definitions. It is not a good idea to have different definitions for one word. There is really only ONE definition for love- God.
A. Here are some "erroneous" definitions:
love as a noun : a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person ; attraction that includes sexual desire; the strong affection felt
by people who have a romantic relationship; a person you love in a romantic way.
love as a verb: feel tender affection for somebody; feel desire for somebody; like something very much; show kindness to somebody;
have sex with somebody.
B. Most people's intention: When we say that we love someone, basically we mean that we have an affection for them. It is an intent to
hold them in high esteem, do good to them, be faithful, etc. and have good feelings about them.
C. All people seek and want love. Many know that love is what they need and it truly conquers all. But they are misdirected in the
concept of love. People have turned love into what feels good, whatever they want to hear and what they want. If a person's interaction
with them isn't pleasing, they think you don't love them or that you even hate them. Also, the term unconditional love has been twisted
and people believe that their choices should be accepted, it is part of "who they are" and if you don't accept their choice or behavior
then you aren't "unconditionally" loving them.
Is there such a thing as unconditional love? What about God, does He love unconditionally? Love is always unconditional or it isn't
love.
What about the people God sends to hell, is that love?
2. BUT what does the bible say love is?
A. 1 John 4:7,8,16
4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God
in him.
B. In the greek and hebrew, there are 19 words for love. Even though some of the definitions are stated as a noun, they are classified as
types which make it a noun but is actually a demonstration which is a verb.
3. Our definition of love: Love is God. He is a noun and He is the highest good. Love is a noun until He demonstrates it. When love flows from God as an attribute, it is a verb. The highest good is given.
A. Love as a noun: God is love. Love is who He is.
B. Love as a verb: All that God is emanates from love: righteousness, truth, holiness, purity, faith, etc. When He gives us judgment,
wrath, or chastisement that is also love.
The fruit of the Spirit in action (Galatians 5:22,23), which is God flowing to and through us. When we are giving love it is by God's Holy
Spirit flowing through us to give people their highest good. This is an action (a verb).
When the word love is used, unless it is directly about God, it is a verb.
C. Highest good. Good doesn't always feel good. What we NEED is what is good. What we need sometimes can be punishment,
correction, hardship, sickness, etc.
The purpose of adversity is to teach us, grow us, and most importantly to glorify God. Our choice to react/act to adversity gives us the opportunity to glorify God. God gives us our highest good so that we might glorify Him. He is right and just.. Our highest good is to magnify/glorify God.
Even if we lost our arms and legs, it is right to still magnify Him; if everyone in our family died; if we are wrongly imprisoned; homeless, etc. It is what He wants in life, not what we want that is important and it is always for our highest good.
Job. What was the purpose of Job's trials? That he would not curse God and would continue to glorify Him. Job was a perfect and upright man that feared God and eschewed evil yet it was glorifying to the Lord to have Job tested.
*Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
*Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
*James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh
patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
*1 Peter 4:14-16 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God But let none of you suffer
as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not
be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
4. If God is love and He is not living inside you, then how do you have or give love? You don’t. We cannot love without love in us. We can feign (fake) love because of God's law written in our heart and mind. We can seemingly do right acts, but it is not love.
Chart 7
5. A working definition of how we love: Love is God flowing through a believer to do the other person's highest good.
A. Love is a choice. We access and then do not access love because our walk is in and out of the Spirit. We have to make a conscious
decision of every thought to love (walk in the Spirit). We are to give others their highest good- whether your brother or your enemies.
Their highest good may be disassociation, civil or criminal recourse, or compassion by seeking to meet their need. It varies from
situation to situation.
*Do the highest good. Sometimes we let something slide that should be addressed or not let something slide that should be
covered. We don’t tell our friend when they do something wrong because we are afraid they will get mad. That is selfish because
we are not doing what is best for them, we are doing what is easiest for us.
example: A co-worker's work standard is low and causing others to carry more of a load. Or we tell their faults to others instead
of covering. Love covers one's faults. We tell and complain to other co-workers about the low standard and don't approach the
one who needs correction.
*Highest good is to tell someone something instead of "sparing them". Allow them to spiritually mature by learning to handle life
situations by focusing and drawing on the Lord.
example: Husband not telling his wife about a financial choice because she would worry or be upset with him.
B. We grow in love. Love is taught and we grow in the maturity of love. We are called to maturity or completeness.
*1 Thessalonians 4: 9...for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
*1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected...
*1 John 4:12 If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
*1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made
perfect in love.
*1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen,
how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
We actually don't have different degrees or levels of love. It is a moment by moment decision to love or not. Those that "love much", actually are diligent to make a decision to love.
6. Chart 2
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love does not envy
Love is not boastful
Love is not puffed up
Love does not act improperly
Love is not selfish
Love is not easily provoked
Love thinks no evil
Love does not rejoice in iniquity
Love rejoices in the truth
Love bears all things
Love believes all things
Love hopes all things
Love endures all things
Love never fails
Love is kind
Love does not envy
Love is not boastful
Love is not puffed up
Love does not act improperly
Love is not selfish
Love is not easily provoked
Love thinks no evil
Love does not rejoice in iniquity
Love rejoices in the truth
Love bears all things
Love believes all things
Love hopes all things
Love endures all things
Love never fails