LOVE Building character

Put on Love, Col 3:14 Abused and misdefined to mean many things opposite of love: Eroticism, sensualism, selfishness, greed, covetousness... Man-made religions have added to the confusion Love is not emotionally defined Love is not always cheerful, 2 Cor 2:4

To know God we must love as He loves us God is Love 1 John 4:8 Law and prophets hangs on love commandments, Matt 22:36-40 Characteristic of disciples of Jesus, Jno 13:34-35 Our obligation to all, Rom 13:8 Our motivation, 1 Cor 13:1-3; Gal 5:6 To know God we must love as He loves us

Love is… agape Keeping God’s commandments, 1 Jno 5:3; 2 Jno 6 Doing good to our enemies, Lk 6:35-36 As we want to be treated (Lk 6:31) Disciplining loved ones, Heb 12:5-6; Prov 13:24; 1 Co 5:5 Children, brethren, ourselves agape “unconquerable benevolence, undefeatable goodwill” Love is an action word! John 3:16

Love is… agape Forgiving brethren, 2 Cor 2:6-9 Time to rejoice Sacrificing for others, Jno 15:13 Gives itself to benefit others Helping the needy, 1 Jno 3:14-18 Uses its ability to relieve suffering agape “unconquerable benevolence, undefeatable goodwill” Love is an action word! John 3:16

Love is… Preacing the gospel, Phil 1:15-17 (Eph 4: 15; 1 Cor 13:6) W/o compromise, to save some (Gal 1:10; 1 Cor 9:22) Contributing money for work of church, 2 Cor 8:24 (8) Sign or evidence of love for God and His people agape “unconquerable benevolence, undefeatable goodwill” Love is an action word! John 3:16

Love is… agape Encouraging the saints, Phil 2:1 (4) Comfort, warn, urge to faithfulness Sacrificing for your wife, Eph 5:23, 25, 28-33 Love as Christ and as yourself Obeying your husband, Eph5:22-24 As the church to Christ (Titus 2:5) agape “unconquerable benevolence, undefeatable goodwill” Love is an action word! John 3:16

Love is… agape Being courageous in faith, 2 Tim 1:7; 1 Jno 4:17-19 Maturity and boldness Forbearing one another, Eph 4:2 Endure; “holding yourselves back from one another” agape “unconquerable benevolence, undefeatable goodwill” Love is an action word! John 3:16

Love is… Not offending weak in conscience with your liberty, Rom 14:15 (1 Cor 8:9-13) Use without regard of weak is selfish Greeting each other, 1 Pet 5:14 With glad hearts Regularly studying Bible, Psa 119:97 What we think on is what we love agape “unconquerable benevolence, undefeatable goodwill” Love is an action word! John 3:16

Love is… agape Our way of doing everything, 1 Cor 16:14 All our motives All our attitudes All our words All our actions agape “unconquerable benevolence, undefeatable goodwill” Love is an action word! John 3:16

The Uniting Principle of our Character in Christ Love is… Character is complete as we love fervently with a pure heart, 1 Pet 1:22 “And now abide faith, hope, and love, these three: but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13:13) WHY? -Because“God is love” The Uniting Principle of our Character in Christ Col 3:14 (10)