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34A
new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By
this shall all men
know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13)
Just
what is
this thing called love?
I
see the word
everywhere. I see it written on billboards. I see it written in the
sky. I see it in the Bible. I see it written at the end of letters. I
see it on the cover of porno magazines.
I
see and hear
the word everywhere. But just what is
it? What is
this thing that everyone talks about?
"We
love
everybody" I read in magazine articles. "We love you all" says the
performer on stage as he or she blows a kiss to the audience. "We love
our customers" reads the sign over the door of the meat market.
Everybody
loves everybody it seems. But just what is this
thing called love?
A
man is
brought to court for beating his wife and kids. The unfaithful husband
pleads with his wife not to divorce him. All this, according to the one
who has offended, out of that thing called "love."
A
man has a
reputation for having had sex with hundreds of women. He is called a
"Great Lover." Is sex then a definition of love? Is it a physical union
between just as many people as one is capable of? Is that what the sign
over the door of the meat market is referring to? Is this what the
performer on stage means when he or she says they love their audience?
According to the tabloids it appears as if that is what they hope
it means.
Just
what is
this thing called love?
This
may seem
to be a facetious question I'm asking because you, in your heart, know
just what you mean when you say you love someone. But as you can see
above, not everyone means the same thing when they say "I love you."
Love is different things to different people. And that attitude might
well change toward any given individual over time, yet the words used
would remain the same.
Much
of the
use of the word love is merely a formality. Certain things are expected
at any given time. For instance a letter is expected to begin with
"Dear So-'n-So," even though the recipient of the letter is not even
known to the writer of the mass-produced form letter. It is expected.
On
the other
end of the letter the word "Love," or "All my love" is written, and
thus expected in order to properly conclude a letter.
This
is what
is expected. But just what is
this thing called love that is expected of us?
The
Bible
tells us that we should love one another:
34A
new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By
this shall all men
know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John
13:)
It
is even
commanded of Jesus that we love one another. If we don't have this
thing called love, then we are not a disciple of Jesus. We are not in
the family of God, and we have no assurance whatever that we are saved.
It is imperative that we have this thing called love.
But
just what is
this thing called love?
31But
covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more
excellent way.
1Though
I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I
am become as
sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And
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. 3And
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. (1Cor 12:
& 13:)
Is
love an
action? This is apparently what the "Great Lovers" believe. And if they
are correct, then the prostitutes are the ones who know best what love
is. Is love beating one's family? If this is so then we go to the
abusive parent to discover the meaning of love.
According
to
Paul in the Scripture above, love is not a physical behavior.
Regardless of what we do,
we do not possess love. Love is something besides
that which we do.
It
appears to
me that love is not something so easily understood as we would suppose.
Besides and beyond this, we humans have confused the issue even farther
by making the word love a word to be tossed about as one would toss a
kiss to the wind.
LOVE
LOST
As
a child, my
life was devoid of love. As far as I can recall, the word was never
mentioned in my family, nor was it ever exhibited. I heard the word
mentioned elsewhere. I witnessed what might be considered love in homes
that I visited. But for me the word had no meaning.
When
my mother
was young, she being the oldest, had to care for the family when her
mother was ill. Her mother was always ill. Illness was feigned in order
to escape a life she was unable to handle. Because of this, my mother
had to be the mother when she was yet a child.
Her
mother
would tell her how much she loved my mother. The words where present,
but there was no action behind her words. My mother's thinking was: if
she really loved me, she would get out of that bed and take the burden
of motherhood off my shoulders.
Love,
the word
and the demonstrative behavior behind the word had no meaning to my
mother. In order to deal properly with her own children, my mother
decided to do just the opposite of what her mother had done. She gave
no apparent show of affection.
A
pendulum
moves from one extreme to the other, eventually coming to center if not
disturbed. The hope is that over time, and with considered effort, our
behavior will find its proper place and balance. However, in the
process of our experimenting and making many errors, lives are
effected, and the perfect is lost within those faulty attempts.
Having
no
example to follow, I became just the opposite of my parents. I sought
love, but I neither knew where to find it, nor, because of having it
not shown toward me, I felt totally unlovable. I made many errors in my
attempt to understand what love is, and where to find it. In the
process, I left many troubled souls in my wake.
Is
love
physical?
I
discovered
that it is not. In fact the physical display of love can counter,
distort, and nullify the reality of love. Most people it appears never
discover this. And because they have not done so, they continue
searching in this illusive arena.
Is
love
emotional?
It
would
appear on the surface that love is indeed an emotional experience. It
seems the closest any person can experience of love is that of the
emotions. However, emotions are fickle. They wax and they wane as they
please, leaving the one in possession of the depleted emotion to make
recompense for the promises and the actions taken in the heat of the
now past emotion.
Emotion
is the
closest I have come to love. I rarely express myself in a "loving" way
except when I am experiencing the emotion of love. However, even at
these junctures, I am full aware that the feeling will pass, and my
exclamation of love will have been proven a lie.
What
is love?
Love,
I have
found, is none of those things I would associate with love. Love is not
what I have thus far explored or experienced. The only reality I have
of love is that I do not possess it. And because I am aware that I do
not possess it, I refrain from expressing it except when I express the
emotion of the moment.
What
is love?
LOVE
DIAGNOSED
Love
is a
word. Love is a word misconstrued, misapplied, and certainly
misunderstood. It would appear then, since love is a word, that the
first place to look for understanding of the word is in the dictionary.
LOVE -noun
1. a
profoundly tender,
passionate affection for another person.
2. a
feeling of warm
personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or
friend.
3.
sexual passion or
desire.
4. a
person toward whom
love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.
5. (used
in direct
address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you
like to see a movie, love? 6. a love affair; an intensely amorous
incident; amour.
7.
sexual intercourse;
copulation.
8.
(initial capital
letter) a personification of sexual affection, as Eros or Cupid.
9.
affectionate concern
for the well-being of others: the love of one's neighbor.
10.
strong predilection,
enthusiasm, or liking for anything: her love of books.
11. the
object or thing
so liked: The theater was her great love.
12. the
benevolent
affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from
them to God.
13.
Chiefly Tennis. a
score of zero; nothing.
14. a
word formerly used
in communications to represent the letter L.
-verb (used with object)
15. to
have love or
affection for: All her pupils love her.
16. to
have a profoundly
tender, passionate affection for (another person).
17. to
have a strong
liking for; take great pleasure in: to love music.
18. to
need or require;
benefit greatly from: Plants love sunlight.
19. to
embrace and kiss
(someone), as a lover.
20. to
have sexual
intercourse with.
-verb (used without object)
21. to
have love or
affection for another person; be in love.
--Verb
phrase
22. love
up, to hug and
cuddle: She loves him up every chance she gets.
--Idioms
23. for
love, a. out of
affection or liking; for pleasure.
b.
without compensation;
gratuitously: He took care of the poor for love.
24. for
the love of, in
consideration of; for the sake of: For the love of mercy, stop that
noise.
25. in
love, infused
with or feeling deep affection or passion: a youth always in love.
26. in
love with,
feeling deep affection or passion for (a person, idea, occupation,
etc.); enamored of: in love with the girl next door; in love with one's
work.
27. make
love, a. to
embrace and kiss as lovers.
b. to
engage in sexual
activity.
28. no
love lost,
dislike; animosity: There was no love lost between the two brothers.
It
would
appear then that those who write the dictionary have about as much
understanding of love as I do. However, besides presenting even more
confusion over the word, there are two aspects briefly mentioned here
that has yet to be covered, that is concern for another, and the love
God has for His creation. Let us explore these potentialities.
First,
let us
further investigate what the Bible means by the word "love."
LOVE
G25 agapao Perhaps
from agan (much; or compare [H5689]); to love (in a social or moral
sense): - (be-) love (-ed). Compare G5368.
G5368
phileo From G5384;
to be a friend to (fond of [an individual or an object]), that is, have
affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment
or feeling; while G25 is wider, embracing especially the judgment and
the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and
propriety: the two thus stand related very much as G2309 and G1014, or
as G2372 and G3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart
and the latter of the head); specifically to kiss (as a mark of
tenderness): - kiss, love.
It
seems to me
that what we have here is, first the social love, that is a concern for
people in general or specifically; and the affectionate display of
caring, whether it in fact exists or not. I think of those cultures
that greet one another with a kiss, whether they like the person
or
not; and the kiss of Judas when he was in the process of betraying his
Lord.
There
are some
words used in the Bible that are derivatives of love, or are akin to
love, but are differently interpreted. John for instance uses the word
"charity" when describing his concept of love. Let's take a look at
these other words and draw them into the discourse.
CHARITY
G26 agape From
G25; love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a
love feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.
It
would
appear that the word John uses is very similar to the first Greek
definition for the word love, and it appears to stem from the same word
as well. It would also appear as if they both have the same meaning,
and that is to have a concern, a caring for another.
AFFECTION
G794 astorgos
From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of stergo
(to cherish affectionately); hard hearted towards kindred: - without
natural affection.
As
I read
this, the word interpreted "affection" here is actually the state of
being without
affection (Rom 1:31; 2Tim 3:3).
G4698
splagchnon
Probably strengthened from sple¯n (the "spleen"); an intestine
(plural); figuratively pity or sympathy: - bowels, inward affection, +
tender mercy.
All
through
ancient, and even some modernt cultures, different emotions were
thought to be derived from various parts of the body. This is true of
thought as well. For instance, the American Indian believed that
thought was from the heart rather than the head because that's where
the feeling is experienced, or the physiological result of the thought
occurred. Many cultures believed the head was merely to hold the eyes,
nose and mouth.
G5426
phroneo From
G5424; to exercise the mind, that is, entertain or have a sentiment or
opinion; by implication to be (mentally) disposed (more or less
earnestly in a certain direction); intensively to interest oneself in
(with concern or obedience): - set the affection on, (be) care (-ful),
(be like-, + be of one, + be of the same, + let this) mind (-ed,
regard, savour, think.
G2442
himeiromai Middle
voice from himeros (a yearning; of uncertain affinity); to long for: -
be affectionately desirous.
G5387
philostorgos From
G5384 and storge (cherishing one's kindred, especially parents or
children); fond of natural relatives, that is, fraternal towards fellow
Christians: - kindly affectioned.
This
appears
to be referring to a concern for others, but in a higher form than that
which we experience for those outside our circle of attachments. Again
this word stems from the first word in this series of definitions:
Philo.
G3806
pathos From the
alternate of G3958; properly suffering ("pathos"), that is,
(subjectively) a passion (especially concupiscence): - (inordinate)
affection, lust.
Now
we've
entered into high emotions being expressed, but it does not appear to
be a proper form of emotion that we should be desirous of lending our
self to. I would say that this word might be akin to the sexual word
for love: eros.
G3804
pathe ¯ma
From a presumed derivative of G3806; something undergone, that is,
hardship or pain; subjectively an emotion or influence: - affection,
affliction, motion, suffering.
It
would
appear to me that this is the kind of love we're looking for. I should
think this love is what Jesus experienced for His disciples. However,
according to Gal 5:24 and Col 3:5 this is not always the case. Yet 1Pet
5:9; Heb 10:32; 2:Tim 3:11:Heb 2:9 and 2Cor 1:5-7 as examples show us
that this is
the very love Jesus has for us, and that we are to have for Him, and
for one another. This love is one that takes us to the cross for the
one we express love for. Is this the love, do you suppose, that is
being expressed over the meat market door that says "we love our
customers"?
THE
BIBLE AND
LOVE
There
are many
verses of Scripture dealing with the word love, far too many to present
here. For a more complete investigation of the word I would suggest
consulting a good concordance such as the Strongs' (which is the one I
use and prefer). I am only going to present a sampling of occasions the
word is used, and I'm sure there are other verses better suited to
exemplify my presentation than the one I settled on.
34A
new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By
this shall all men
know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John
13:34)
1Be
ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And
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. (Eph
5:)
5Husbands,
love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself
for it; 26That
he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27That
he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or
wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish. (Eph 5:)
15If
a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16And
one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which
are needful to the body; what doth
it profit? 17Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:)
20If
a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he
that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom
he hath not seen? 21And
this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his
brother also. (1John 4:)
We
show our
love for the Lord by demonstrating our love for His family, His sheep.
Words are of no value if there is no action behind them. And if the
performance of love is present, there is no need for words.
5Jesus
answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in
my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26But
ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27My
sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:)
Those
who
don't follow Jesus, regardless of their claim to know and love God, do
not hear the voice of God. Those who follow their Shepherd become
accustomed to hearing His voice and will respond to no other. Those who
do not follow the Good Shepard will be led astray by false shepherds.
It is in our listening to, and in our following the instructions of the
Shepherd's voice that we learn His voice. If we do not follow, we are
either not a part of His flock, or we become left behind as a lost
sheep: a prodigal that must hope that we will
be rescued; or else we may become lost amidst the wolves that pray on
the sheep.
21And
he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22Now
when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one
thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou
shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. (Luke 18:)
There
was a
ruler, probably a Pharisee highly dedicated to the law of Moses, and
serving God as he saw prescribed in the Word. This ruler was apparently
aware that there was something else needed beyond what he had learned
in order to obtain favor with God, and thus eternal life. Jesus
affirmed that there was something
more he must do in order to gain that which he thought he most desired,
and when he discovered his lack, he was unwilling to surrender what he
had for that which he wanted.
Another
such
Pharisee who was very devout and dedicated is Saul of Tarsus, later to
be called Paul. He was sincere in his efforts to follow the law to the
letter, and to do his utmost for what he believed: and he found all his
efforts were nothing and that he was running the wrong direction, in
spite of all his dedication and his education (Phil 3:8).
Education,
words, and dedication are not enough. Works may prove our dedication,
but it does not prove our understanding of the Truth. There are a great
many dedicated people willing to give up everything for their belief,
even to blowing themselves and other up; but their sacrifice is nothing
if not according to the will of God (1Cor 13:3).
26If
any man
come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he
cannot be my disciple. 27And
whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my
disciple. (Luke 14:)
To
be a
disciple of Jesus, we must sacrifice everything. According to the above
verses, we must not only be willing
to leave everything and follow Jesus to the cross, but to do
as He says we are to do.
In
order to
understand then what Jesus, thus God the Father, wants us to know, we
must be a part of the Lord's flock; we must listen to His voice, which
means follow Him and stay within hearing range; we must give up our
family, our desires (thus our "flesh"); and we must take up our cross
and follow the Lord even to giving up our lives. And evidence that we
have done these things is that we love one another.
Surrender
is
the way in which we may be able to understand the Words of the Lord,
that is, the Bible.
But
who can do
such a thing? We are asked to do everything that goes contrary to what
we are told by our family, by our friends, by our church, by the world,
and by our own good sense. Yet, if we do not do all that we are told,
then we will remain blind to what the Bible is saying to us.
Who,
I ask,
can do what God expects of us?
6By
pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy
Ghost, by love unfeigned, (2Cor 6:)
34Then
shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world: 35For
I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me
drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked,
and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and
ye came unto me. (Mat 26:)
The
rewards
are great for those who obey, and obedience is demonstrated by the
sacrificial love we have for one another. Our sacrifice is our badge
that tells the world that we are children of Christ. Sacrifice alone,
without love will not provide us with God's approval, nor with eternal
life as we might suppose. Sacrifice for the purpose of earning God's
approval and rewards is works, that is, it is trying to earn something
we want from God, placing Him in the position of being a debtor. God is
never the debtor owing us anything. We
are the ones who are in debt, even for our very lives and our daily
bread (not steak and ice cream as is promised by so many false
churches).
Failure
to
perform as we should is not merely losing out on rewards, it is losing
our eternal life as well. This is especially true of those who have
donned the uniform of a soldier of the Lord.
1And
I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto
carnal, even
as unto babes in Christ. 2I
have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not
able to bear it,
neither yet now are ye able. 3For
ye are yet carnal: for whereas there
is among you envying, and
strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For
while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am
of Apollos; are ye not carnal? (1Cor 3:)
5For
they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they
that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For
to be carnally minded is
death; but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace. 7Because
the carnal mind is
enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be. 8So
then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But
ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his. (Rom 8:)
The
carnal
mind can not understand the ways of God. We, with our mind of Adam will
follow the path that Adam and Eve took. We will listen to someone who
tells us what we want to hear, and who tells us that there will be no
punishment for disobeying God. The carnal mind is enmity with God. God
can not look upon us if we are at variance with Him. The more we are in
step with the will of God, the closer we are to Him, and the better we
can hear His voice. And the clearer the voice of God, the better
understanding we will have of His Word.
Without
obedience, we will try to fit God's Word to our purposes, instead of
searching the Scriptures to learn what God wants and demands of us.
31But
covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more
excellent way.
1Though
I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I
am become as
sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And
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. 3And
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. (1Cor 12:
& 13:)
6And
there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which
worketh all in all. 7But
the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8For
to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word
of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To
another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by
the same Spirit; 10To
another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another
discerning of spirits; to another divers
kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11But
all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every
man severally as he will. (1Cor 12:)
Love,
like
grace, is a gift from God. We on our own can not love as God demands of
us. It is not in the carnal man to sacrifice himself. It is only
through God's Spirit that we are able to fulfill His demands of us. Our
ability to love sacrificially is a sign that we possess the Holy
Spirit. If we are not able to love sacrificially; if we expect God and
His people to give to us, then it is possible that we do not in fact
have the Spirit of God, or that the Spirit has not been given enough
room within us to mature us. We are quenching the Spirit.
20If
a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he
that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom
he hath not seen? 21And
this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his
brother also. (1John 4:)
35By
this shall all men
know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John
13:)
10And
the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11He
answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart
to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
(Luke 3:)
Whatever
we
possess that is above our needs
is taking from someone without.
14What doth it
profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not
works? can faith save him? 15If
a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16And
one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which
are needful to the body; what doth
it profit? 17Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:)
15And
he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's
life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16And
he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man
brought forth plentifully: 17And
he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no
room where to bestow my fruits? 18And
he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater;
and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19And
I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many
years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and
be merry. 20But
God said unto him, Thou
fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall
those things be, which thou hast provided? 21So is
he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
(Luke 12:)
Bigger
houses,
bigger storage bens, bigger screen TV's. We like to follow the fads.
And the world has many fads coming out constantly that we are told we
must take part in. The church is certainly not immune to this. In fact
it seems the higher up the preacher in the echelon of the church, the
bigger his barn and the bigger and more fancy is his
car. Is this the message being sent to the churches today? Is this a
display of the sacrificial love Jesus commands us to exhibit?
13Enter
ye in at the strait gate: for wide is
the gate, and broad is
the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat: 14Because
strait is
the gate, and narrow is
the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Mat
7:)
It
seems to me
that today we are having this Scripture read to us backwards. We are
told to follow the broad and brightly lit road. Which road do you
follow?
CONCLUSION
As
it appears
to me, love is not a word but it is in fact an action. If we love, we
will have actions to back up those words. And if the action is present,
then the words are not necessary.
Again
I refer
to my mother who was given all the outward display of love, but without
what she needed to prove that love was real. On the other hand, I have
known others who have had parents who never told them that they love
them, but because of their sacrificial behavior and their joy at being
with them, those words were never needed. The reality of love was fully
communicated.
Jesus
exemplified this form of love by offering the perfect sacrifice. And to
prove that we love the Father, and the Son, we are to offer this same
sacrifice for our brothers and sisters in the Lord. If we are not
prepared to do this, then all the words of love are for naught.
In
this same
way, I feel that if my actions are those of love, then a person will
know that love is present. If the works of love is missing, then my
love is in doubt (Mat 7:15-20).
I
do not know
what love is. Even after this study I do not know what love is. But I
know what love does.
If I do, from the heart without reservation what love is, then one can
assume that I love, even though I don't have a grasp of what it is.
Perhaps
this
is what is meant when we are told:
14Ye
are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be
hid. 15Neither
do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;
and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Mat 5:)
27For
the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels;
and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Mat 16:)
11And
I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the
earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and another book was opened, which is the
book of life: and the dead were
judged out of those things which were written in the books, according
to their works. 13And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered
up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man
according to their works. 14And
death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death. 15And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire. (Mat 20:)
References
1If there be
therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any
fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2Fulfil
ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being
of one accord, of one mind. (Phil 2:)
10Be
kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour
preferring one another; 11Not
slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12Rejoicing
in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13Distributing
to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14Bless
them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15Rejoice
with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16Be
of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but
condescend to men of low estate. (Rom 12:)
5Hearing
of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and
toward all saints; 6That
the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the
acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
(Philemon)
17Charge
them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor
trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly
all things to enjoy; 18That
they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute,
willing to communicate (1Tim 6: )
21Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy
name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works? 23And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity. 24Therefore
whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken
him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And
every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall
be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of. (Mat 7:)
1Whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that
loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2By
this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and
keep his commandments. 3For
this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous. 4For
whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory
that overcometh the world, even
our faith. 5Who
is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is
the Son of God? (1John 5:)
7He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is
in the midst of the paradise of God. (Rev 2:)
10Fear
none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall
cast some
of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation
ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of
life. 11He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Rev 2:)
9As
the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If
ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept
my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11These
things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that
your joy might be full. 12This
is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13Greater
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends. (John 15:)
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