Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality “36: Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38: This is the first and great commandment. 39: And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40: On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 22).

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Upon examination, many statements in the scriptures regarding love are not compatible with the common definitions. “15: And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2 Cor. 12).

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Namby-pamby defined: “Weakly sentimental…insipid…lacking in character, directness, or moral or emotional strength…without firm methods or policy, weak or indecisive” (R.H.C.D., p. 884).

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Greek definition : The Greek words for love found in the New Testament are: agapao, agape (noun form), phileo, and stergo (Rom. 12: 10). “Verb,25, agapao and the corresponding noun agape…present ‘the characteristic word of Christianity,’ and since the Spirit of revelation has used it to express ideas previously unknown, inquiry into its use, whether in Greek literature or in the Septuagint, throws but little light upon its distinctive meaning in the NT….

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Definition continued: …‘Agape and agapao are used in the NT (a) to describe the attitude of God toward His Son, John 17: 26; the human race, generally, John 3: 16; Rom 5: 8; and to such as believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, particularly, John 14: 21; (b) to convey His will to His children concerning their attitude one toward another, John 13: 34, and toward all men, 1 Thess. 3: 12; 1 Cor. 16: 14; 2 Pet. 1: 7; (c) to express the essential nature of God, 1 John 4: 8….’”

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Definition continued : “…In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant ‘love’ and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential ‘love’ in them towards the Giver, and a practical ‘love’ towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver....”

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Definition concluded: “‘…Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God's love is seen in the gift of His Son, 1 John 4: 9,10. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects, Rom. 5: 8. It was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself, Cp. Deut. 7: 7,8...’” (W.E. Vines).

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality The excellence of Bible love: 1. Love motivates – Gal. 5: Love works not ill – Rom. 13: Love produces confidence – I John 4: 17, 18.

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality The excellence of Bible love: 4. Love is the bond of perfectness – Col. 3: Serve one another by love – Gal. 5: Excellence seen in characteristics.

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality “4: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5: Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” (I Cor. 13).

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality The Bible governs love: Not to love: Darkness (John 3: 19, 20); world (I John 2: 15-17); pleasures (2 Tim. 3: 4); praise (John 12: 42, 43); self (2 Tim. 3: 2); pre- eminence (3 John 9); riches (I Tim. 6: 10, 17). We are to love: God (Matt. 22: 37); commands (Ps. 119: 127); enemies (Matt. 5: 44f.); truth (2 Thes. 2: 10-12); neighbor (Matt. 22: 39); brotherhood (I Pet. 2: 17).

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Why would Paul say: “15: And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2 Cor. 12).

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Bible love involves obedience: “23: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14, cp. vs ).

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Bible love requires respect for authority: “46: And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47: Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock” (Luke 6).

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Bible love requires discipline: “24: He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Prov. 13, cp. Eph. 6: 4, cp. 2 Thes. 3: 6).

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Bible love requires confrontation: “3: Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him” (Luke 17, cp. I Thes. 5: 14).

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Bible love requires forgiveness: “3: Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him” (Luke 17).

Bible Love, Not Namby-pamby Sentimentality Bible love not namby-pamby because: 1. Involved man’s obedience. 2. Necessitates respect for authority. 3. Requires discipline. 4. Involves confrontation. 5. Demands forgiveness.