L O V E

[B-A-C]

Love, we all know about it. We all talk about it.

The word "love" is in the Bible over 345 times in over 300 verses.
It's in 180 verses in the New Testament alone.
It's mentioned in every book in the New Testament.
Very few things are talked about more than love. Paul spends a whole chapter talking about love.
The two greatest commandments in the New Testament are about love. Love God, and love your neighbor.
Jesus mentions love over 50 times. Paul mentions it over 40 times.

If you think about it. Love is the core of the gospel.
Jesus the way the world will know we are Christians is by our love for one another.
Paul said faith and hope are important, but the greatest is love. Love is more important than your faith according to Paul. ( 1Cor 13:13; )

What is the main thing Jesus taught? Loving people.
What is the main thing Jesus did, and gave us an example to do? Loving people.

John says the one who doesn't love - doesn't know God.

1Jn 4:8; The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Some people think that believing in Jesus is all you have to do to be saved. But Muslims believe in Jesus, demons believe in Jesus, Mormons believe in Jesus.
That doesn't mean they are saved. There is more.

1Jn 3:14; We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

John says the way we know whether we have eternal life or not... is if we love people. If we don't love, we are still going to die (the second death)

Peter says "above everything else" keep fervent in love.

1Pet 4:8; Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

John also says if you say you love God, but you don't love people, you're a liar.

1Jn 4:20; If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Our love for people is the proof we are Christians.

The way people know we are Christians is by our love. ( John 13:35; )
The way God judges whether you are a Christian, is by your love.

1Jn 3:10; By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

There are a lot of people who claim to be Christians, but they are un-loving, un-compassionate, un-considerate... and the Bible say.. they are un-saved.

 

[B-A-C]

Heb 12:15; See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

Rev 2:4; 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Matt 24:12; "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

If I'm honest, I see a lot of cold Christians these days. I see bitterness, and not love.
Even here on talkJesus some people insult each other, and want to have nothing to do with each other.
The Bible says this bitterness can defile us, and cause us to "come up short" of the grace of God.

In Rev 2:4; Jesus tells the church of Ephesus, they have left their first love. (Him)
It is possible for Christians to lose their first love.

The is the same church Paul wrote the book of Ephesians to.
Paul calls them faithful saints.

Eph 1:1; Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:

But Jesus says unless they repent.. come back to their first love...

Rev 2:5; 'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

 

[Dave M]

There are a lot of people who claim to be Christians, but they are un-loving, un-compassionate, un-considerate... and the Bible say.. they are un-saved.

you forgot arrogant and rude, and let see

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

I can think of some right here on TJ that do nothing but boast and are nothing but rude and arrogant in there replies. With spiritual eyes one can see right through there post., but it is easy to get sucked in to them also.

 

[B-A-C]

1Cor 13:1; If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1Cor 13:2; If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
1Cor 13:3; And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

Anything we do without love is useless. Anything we say without love is just noise. Anything we do without love receives no reward.
If I may paraphrase here just a little... anything I post here on TalkJesus without love... is just words. Love is what puts power in words. When people know you love them, they listen to you.

1Cor 13:4 Love is patient,...

Love is patient.... what does that mean to you? I am open to any answers, I'm not sure there is a right or a wrong... but I ask anyone who is reading this... how is love patient?
In what way, is love patient to you or from you?

 

[complete]

Heb 12:15; See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

Rev 2:4; 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Matt 24:12; "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

If I'm honest, I see a lot of cold Christians these days. I see bitterness, and not love.
Even here on talkJesus some people insult each other, and want to have nothing to do with each other.
The Bible says this bitterness can defile us, and cause us to "come up short" of the grace of God.

In Rev 2:4; Jesus tells the church of Ephesus, they have left their first love. (Him)
It is possible for Christians to lose their first love.

The is the same church Paul wrote the book of Ephesians to.
Paul calls them faithful saints.

Eph 1:1; Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:

But Jesus says unless they repent.. come back to their first love...

Rev 2:5; 'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

'And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking,
be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.'
(Ephesians 4:30-32)

Hello @B-A-C,

If we do not want to grieve the Holy Spirit, we must have love one for another. We are told to bear with one another in love. The word 'bear' indicates that this will not be an easy task. For we are all human beings with differences of opinion and characteristics which will be annoying to some. Yes, the spirit we are called upon to manifest is characterised by lowliness, meekness, longsuffering and forbearance (Ephesians 4:.1-2), isn't it? Our chief purpose being to glorify God in our manner of walk and witness.

Our 'standing' before God is one of grace: and it is sure, for it is grounded on the promise of God in Christ Jesus. Yet our 'state' manifested in our walk before God, will be judged, and it is possible that we could suffer loss. Loss of the prize, the crown to lay at His feet, the reward for faithful service and for enduring to the end. We will all 'live', but we may not all 'reign' with Christ.

We fail more often within the privacy of our own homes very often, and the picture we portray to our nearest and dearest is not always the one that the outside world sees. If that were the measure of my witness I fear that I would fall short. Though I repent of that look or word which manifests irritation or impatience, I cannot deny that they are there. I can only pray:-

May the mind of Christ my Saviour
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and pow’r controlling
All I do and say.

May the Word of Christ dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His pow’r.

May the peace of Christ my Saviour
Rule my life in every thing,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me,
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory.

May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

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1 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
like the wideness of the sea.
There’s a kindness in God’s justice,
which is more than liberty.

2 There is welcome for the sinner,
and more graces for the good.
There is mercy with the Saviour,
there is healing in His blood.

3 But we make God’s love too narrow
by false limits of our own,
and we magnify its strictness
with a zeal God will not own.

4 For the love of God is broader
than the measures of the mind,
and the heart of the Eternal
is most wonderfully kind.

5 If our love were but more simple,
we should rest upon God’s word,
and our lives would be illumined
by the presence of our Lord.

 

[B-A-C]

Love is kind. What does this mean to anyone?

 

[twcstp111]

Love is kind. What does this mean to anyone?

It means that love is considerate; one who loves another will consider them unto themselves, and so also they will render accordingly.

 

[Dave M]

Love is kind. What does this mean to anyone?

it means we can see who has love by the way we treat each other, kindness is easy to spot

, so is rudeness and arrogance

 

[Gregoryp]

wow. I have no friends, no not one, I keep to myself and rarely interact with people, I certainly dont socialise or go where there are large crowds of people. I am estranged from my naricssist mother and my brother, and have been for many years. And yet here I am comfortable, happy, and secure in Christ Jesus. I have also made a deliberate attempt to totally seperate myself from the world. In the world, not of the world. My fervent desire , that none shall perish but have eternal life. Is mankind stupid and evil, yes most defitinately, do I want to hang with such people? NO. I sit back on the sofa with my bag of popcorn, watch the evening news and see mankind destroy himself. Propogandah, outright lies, wars, greed, corruption, even bad inconsiderate driving that destroys other peoples lives.

 

[B-A-C]

I am comfortable, happy, and secure in Christ Jesus. I have also made a deliberate attempt to totally seperate myself from the world.

Do you think this is what Jesus did? Do you think this what He wants us to do?

Avoid people, not love anyone, not bear anyone's burdens, not pray for anyone, not have anyone praying for you, not be accountable to anyone, ... do you really think this what a Christian life is?

You say you are happy in Jesus, but you call mankind stupid and evil, you say your mother is a narcissist, it makes me wonder how happy you really are?
You say you want to be isolated from the world, but here you are posting messages on TalkJesus. I'm not criticizing you (I have been there) in fact I think it's great you are here interacting with us.
But I wonder if you are really happy being alone?

 

[twcstp111]

wow. I have no friends, no not one, I keep to myself and rarely interact with people, I certainly dont socialise or go where there are large crowds of people. I am estranged from my naricssist mother and my brother, and have been for many years. And yet here I am comfortable, happy, and secure in Christ Jesus. I have also made a deliberate attempt to totally seperate myself from the world. In the world, not of the world. My fervent desire , that none shall perish but have eternal life. Is mankind stupid and evil, yes most defitinately, do I want to hang with such people? NO. I sit back on the sofa with my bag of popcorn, watch the evening news and see mankind destroy himself. Propogandah, outright lies, wars, greed, corruption, even bad inconsiderate driving that destroys other peoples lives.

how awful

from my perspective, it looks like your life sucks

 

[Gregoryp]

how awful

from my perspective, it looks like your life sucks

far from it, I am free from slavery, free from oppression, dont have the burdens of the world upon me, I pray and read the bible often, I am in constant communication with Jesus, and I have freedom, as I travel often. I feel I am blessed to be in this position, and can see the world from an entirely different perspective.

 

[twcstp111]

far from it, I am free from slavery, free from oppression, dont have the burdens of the world upon me, I pray and read the bible often, I am in constant communication with Jesus, and I have freedom, as I travel often. I feel I am blessed to be in this position, and can see the world from an entirely different perspective.

why is it then that your table looks like this?

NO. I sit back on the sofa with my bag of popcorn, watch the evening news and see mankind destroy himself. Propogandah, outright lies, wars, greed, corruption, even bad inconsiderate driving that destroys other peoples lives.

friend,

let all the **** go and go live your life.

 

[Dave M]

far from it, I am free from slavery, free from oppression, dont have the burdens of the world upon me, I pray and read the bible often, I am in constant communication with Jesus, and I have freedom, as I travel often. I feel I am blessed to be in this position, and can see the world from an entirely different perspective.

man I never new I was lonely, until I got into ministry work, and got around a bunch of true born again believers WOW there is nothing like it,, I had been missing out big time.., people who care and love on each other as one family under God should do. No hidden agendas, no trying to impress each other. Before this I was pretty much a loner and was good with it, I was changed new heart out of the bondage of sin, but man there is more awesomeness to be had. Fellowship is such a joy with real Born again believer, encouraging one another. we are not supposed to do this journey alone.

 

[Brad Huber]

wow. I have no friends, no not one, I keep to myself and rarely interact with people, I certainly dont socialise or go where there are large crowds of people. I am estranged from my naricssist mother and my brother, and have been for many years. And yet here I am comfortable, happy, and secure in Christ Jesus. I have also made a deliberate attempt to totally seperate myself from the world. In the world, not of the world. My fervent desire , that none shall perish but have eternal life. Is mankind stupid and evil, yes most defitinately, do I want to hang with such people? NO. I sit back on the sofa with my bag of popcorn, watch the evening news and see mankind destroy himself. Propogandah, outright lies, wars, greed, corruption, even bad inconsiderate driving that destroys other peoples lives.

Although God doesnt want you to be like those people or like what they do, He does want you to love them enough to pray for them, and interact with them enough to witness to them and let your "love" shine despite your understandable distaste of their bad habits.

 

[complete]

Love is kind. What does this mean to anyone?

'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 6:33-36)

Hello B-A-C,

There is a verse that I love concerning God's kindness towards us in the age to come, in Christ Jesus:-

'And hath raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace
in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.'
(Ephesians 2:6-7)

How wonderful that is, isn't it? and it will be shown to us, through Christ Jesus our blessed Saviour and Lord.

In the Old Testament there is much praise to God for His lovingkindness. I am sure that each one of us has a testimony to give of the lovingkindness of God that has been manifested in our own lives: not always in a form that we would necessarily associate with kindness, for it sometimes requires that we suffer a little, but of necessity that His will for us may be done. We are very much His workmanship, and the work of the chisel and the plain, the sandpaper and the polish is not comfortable, but the finished article is a joy to behold, and will last for eternity. God is a Father to us, and treats us as His children. He scolds and chides as well as comforts us, for our wellbeing.

Yes, His lovingkindness is better than life! (Psalm 63:3)

Praise His Holy Name!

With love in Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

Hello B-A-C,

I have had extensive conversations both yesterday and today, with my relative, who is 13 yrs my senior. She came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour at the age of 16 yrs in a Billy Graham rally in Cardiff, here in Wales, She immediately told her fiance, who was on military service abroad at that time, and his reaction was disparaging, so her joy was squashed, and her newly found hope was immediately hidden deep inside. She married him, and they had children and she lived for many years with this knowledge locked inside her, with no means of expression or growth. Then following the death of a dearly loved daughter, while in her sixties, she and I began to talk about the Lord, and it was as though the Lord woke her up from a sleep, and she began to thirst after knowledge of Him. I have witnessed her growth in Him, step by wonderful step, seen His hand at work on her life, and it has been such a blessing to me. That 'sleep' was of Him, and was a necessary part of His work in her, strange as it may seem to us. She has not had an easy life either physically or emotionally, and recent difficulties have resulted in the conversations we have shared yesterday and today. She has had a bitter pill to swallow, but the Lord has shown her that it is all of Him, and a necessary part of His work in her, and she has been overflowing with praise to Him for His lovingkindness and His grace, and thankfulness that He is treating her as a 'son'.

She knows and joyfully declares, that His lovingkindness is indeed better than life itself !!!

Praise His Holy Name!

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

 

[complete]

@Gregoryp
@Brad Huber
@Dave M
@twcstp111
@B-A-C

Hello there,

We are all God's workmanship, and one man's life experience will not be the same as another. If @Gregoryp is the Lord's then the Lord will lead him and direct him, He will guide Gregory in the way he should go. The words he expresses are the out pouring of his own heart, influenced by his life-experiences, which are different than our own, so we are in no position to judge him on any level.

What matters is His fellowship with the Father and the Son in the Spirit, and His growth into Him: as it is with ourselves. The fellowship we have with each other should be the overflow of the fellowship we have individually with them.

He is our brother in Christ, which is not influenced by distance, for we are all joined together in Christ Jesus our Lord, and all receive our sustenance from Him. Perhaps isolation is God's will for Gregory, and if not He will show Gregory that, not you or I.

With love in Christ Jesus
Chris (-tine)