Christian Love

1. Introduction I John 4:8 "God is love"
2. Importance
1. Mat. 22:36-40
   Matt. 22.36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
   Matt. 22.37 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.
   Matt. 22.38 This is the first and great commandment.
   Matt. 22.39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
   Matt. 22.40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
2. I Cor. 13:1-3 and 13
   I Cor. 13.1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
   I Cor. 13.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
   I Cor. 13.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
   
   I Cor. 13.13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
3. Something That We Do
4. I Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
3. Characteristics
1. I Cor. 13:4-8
   I Cor. 13.4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
   I Cor. 13.5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
   I Cor. 13.6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
   I Cor. 13.7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
   I Cor. 13.8 Charity never faileth:
2. Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
4. Love for God
1. I Cor. 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
2. Eph. 5:1-2
   EPH 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
   EPH 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
5. Love for all men
1. Gal. 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
2. Phil. 2:1-5
   Phil. 2.1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
   Phil. 2.2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
   Phil. 2.3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
   Phil. 2.4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
   Phil. 2.5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
3. Heb. 13:1-3
   Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
   Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
   Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
4. "Love Your Enemies" Matt. 5:43-47
   Matt. 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
   Matt. 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
   Matt. 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
   Matt. 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
   Matt. 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
   
6. Love for brothers and sisters in Christ
1. Rom. 12:9-10
   Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
   Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
2. Gal. 6:1-2
   Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
   Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3. Eph. 4:1-3
   Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
   Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
   Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4. I Thes. 3:12-13
   1Th 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
   1Th 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
5. Heb. 10:24-25
   Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
   Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
6. I Pet 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
7. I John 3:11-24
8. I John 4:7-21
9. John 15:12-14
   Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
   Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
   Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
7. Family
1. Eph. 5:22-33
2. Col. 3:17-21
   Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
   Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
   Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
   Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
   Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
3. Pro 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
8. Conclusion I Cor. 16:14 Let all your things be done with charity.

Gospel