Is not love the answer?
Introduction. The term "love" has a wide range of meanings for many people to include, merely liking of something or someone, a inexplicable Irresistible warm feeling ("falling in love"), or a euphemism for sex ("making love"). It has been used to justify not properly disciplining children ("I love them too much to punish them"), having an affair ("I don't love my spouse any more."), living in an adulterous marriage ("But, I love them."), and disobeying other aspects of God's law ("I know God still loves me.") But how does the Bible define the concept?
A look at Biblical love. While the Greeks of Jesus' day used several different words, the most common one in the New Testament is agape. This type of love is defined as: "Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments... Love seeks the welfare of all..." (W.E. Vine). Love is the activator of saving faith. As the Holy Spirit through Paul wrote: "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love" (Gal. 5: 6). Love truly prompts obedience (1 John 5: 3).
Love must be properly directed. Generally viewed, love must have the right direction. We must not love darkness (John 3: 19-20), the world (1 John 2: 15-17), sinful pleasure (2 Tim. 3: 4), or human praise (John 12: 42-43). Conversely, we are to love God (Matt. 22: 37), God's commands (Ps. 119: 127), our enemies (Matt. 5: 43-48), and the truth (2 Thes. 2: 10-12). When true love is present there will be no envy or no joy in sin, but hope and endurance (1 Cor. 13: 4-7).
The value of Biblical love. Biblical love motivates to serve God (John 14: 23), produces true confidence (1 John 4: 17-18), and works not ill toward another (Rom. 13: 10). Love causes one to serve another (Gal. 5: 13). Biblical love is so great it is said to be the "bond of perfectness" (Col. 3: 14). Love unites all things worthwhile and makes them complete.
Conclusion. We must never use "love" in such a way as to make it exclusive of anything God has required (such as obedience). We must also understand what Biblical love actually is. Biblical love is the answer!
A look at Biblical love. While the Greeks of Jesus' day used several different words, the most common one in the New Testament is agape. This type of love is defined as: "Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments... Love seeks the welfare of all..." (W.E. Vine). Love is the activator of saving faith. As the Holy Spirit through Paul wrote: "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love" (Gal. 5: 6). Love truly prompts obedience (1 John 5: 3).
Love must be properly directed. Generally viewed, love must have the right direction. We must not love darkness (John 3: 19-20), the world (1 John 2: 15-17), sinful pleasure (2 Tim. 3: 4), or human praise (John 12: 42-43). Conversely, we are to love God (Matt. 22: 37), God's commands (Ps. 119: 127), our enemies (Matt. 5: 43-48), and the truth (2 Thes. 2: 10-12). When true love is present there will be no envy or no joy in sin, but hope and endurance (1 Cor. 13: 4-7).
The value of Biblical love. Biblical love motivates to serve God (John 14: 23), produces true confidence (1 John 4: 17-18), and works not ill toward another (Rom. 13: 10). Love causes one to serve another (Gal. 5: 13). Biblical love is so great it is said to be the "bond of perfectness" (Col. 3: 14). Love unites all things worthwhile and makes them complete.
Conclusion. We must never use "love" in such a way as to make it exclusive of anything God has required (such as obedience). We must also understand what Biblical love actually is. Biblical love is the answer!