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What is scriptural love?


Introduction. Some may find this question unnecessary, after all, all know what scriptural love is! Of course, not all know; in fact, it seems comparatively few know.

Scriptural love will cause one to perform unpopular acts. "He that spareth his rod hateth his son," Solomon writes, "but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes" (Prov. 13:24). Beloved, disciplining children is not popular today, but true love will produce needed discipline. In fact, the Bible teaches, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he is he that loveth me..." (John 14:21). It is a commandment of God to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them: (Eph. 5:11).

The excellence of love. The excellence of love is seen in the fact that love will motivate one to keep God's commandments (John 14:23), work no ill to his neighbor (Rom. 13:10), produce confidence (1 John 4:17, 18), cause Christians to serve one another (Gal. 5:13), and love is the bond of perfectness (col. 3:14). Moreover, true love is seen in Paul's characteristics (1 Cor. 13:1 – 8).

Love and God's commandments. There is and inseparable relationship between love and God's commandments. Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Jesus continued to say, "...if a man love me, he will keep my commandments..." and, "he that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings..." (John 14:23,24). John exclaimed, "for this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments..." (1 John 5:3).

Conclusion. Scriptural love does not even resemble the selfish, irresponsible permissiveness called love today. Furthermore, true love is not religious compromise, convictionlessness, and any-thing-goesism. Without true love, we cannot be saved (1 Cor. 13:1-3).
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