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Doctrine of love

Many people believe the doctrinal error that charity,  in the word of God,  is actually love.  There is a law, which is more authorative than the Law of Gravity, that 'God does not change' (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8).  If it were possible for God to give the same definition to two different words, in the word of God,  Then the word of God  lies and God changed.  The true definition of charity  is; 'showing God's love to others regardless if you know them or not'.  True Biblical love  is given to a person that you know.  God knows  the people that He loves  What people call the 'love chapter' (1Corinthians 13) is actually the 'charity chapter'.  The true the 'love chapter', in the word of God,  is 1John 4.

The New Testament definition, of the word love,  is: 'True Biblical love is an attribute of God.  It is doing what is necessary for the other person to received good, especially spiritual cleansing and everlasting reward. This is done without any consideration of cost to self and not consideration of any response by the other and requires a willingness to even bring short-term pain, to self, if that is what is required in order to bring the ultimate long-tern good. The world calls lust love'.

John 14:6 says: If ye love me, keep my commandments.  Thisis a commandment from Jesus.  Lots of people 'claim' that they love Jesus,  but refuse to obey.

In addition, the word of God  tells us the difference between the love of God.  and the love of the Son of God.  Please see the section below, from the note on Romans 8:39-LJC, about the love of God.  The Son of God  manifested the love of God,  to the world, while He lived here in the flesh.  However, the love of the Son of God  is directed to the saved, especially to those who are serving the kingdom of God.  Doctrinal error claims that everyone, including the lose and saved carnal people, can 'claim' the blessings of His true love  even while they refuse to fulfill His requirements for receiving that love.

Please also see the Message called The Love of God for the application of these verses in the life of the believer.  In addition, Romans 12:19 says: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  If we truly have true Biblical love,  then we will obey the command to But I (Jesus) 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  (Matthew 5:44).

Please also see the note for 1John 4:12 about the phrase perfect love.  Please also see the note for John 8:18 about the phrase beloved Son.  Please also see the note for Romans C9S23 about the word beloved.  Please also see the note for Romans 13:8 about the phrase law and love.  Please also see the note for John 5:42 about the phrase love of God.  Please also see the note for 1John C3S26 about the command to love one another.  Please also see the note for Matthew 19:18-19 about the command to love thy neighbour.

Links to the word beloved,  within that book of the New Testament, are found below within this Study.

The following notes have links to every reference to any form of the word love  within that book of the New Testament: Matthew 5:23; Mark 10:21; Luke 6:27; John 3:16; Romans 5:5; 1Corinthians 2:9; 2Corinthians 2:4; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 1:4; Philippians 1:9; Colossians 1:4; 1Thessalonians 1:3; 2Thessalonians 2:10; 1Timothy 1:14; 2Timothy 1:7; Titus 2:4; Philemon 1:5; Hebrews 1:9; James 1:12; 1Peter 1:8; 2Peter 2:15; 1John 2:5; 2John 1:1; 3John 1:1; Jude 1:2; Revelation 1:5.

The permutations of love  occur 498 times in 421 verses.  Below is a division by a quick look at the verses.  Many preacher has spent his whole career studying the love of God and there is no way that I can match that type of study effort.  Should any reader wish to do a contextual analysis of all of these verses, and provide their reasoning for all corrections, such help would be appreciated.  The reader is warned to verify data taken from the following table before using it as the accuracy is probably good but can not be guaranteed.

God Loved: Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 4:37; 5:10; 6:5; 7:9, 13; 10:12, 18, 19; 11:1, 13, 22; 13:3; 19:9; 23:5; 30:6, 16, 20; 33:3; Joshua 22:5; 23:11; 2Chronicles 9:8; Nehemiah 1:5; Psalms 45:7; 47:4; 70:4; 78:68; 91:14; Ezekiel 16:8; Daniel 1:9; 9:4; Hosea 3:1; 12:7; Zephaniah 3:17; Malachi 2:11; Matthew 6:24; Mark 10:21; 12:30; Luke 10:27; 11:42; 16:13; John 3:16; 5:42; 8:42; 12:25, 43; 16:27; Romans 5:5; 5:8; 8:28, 39; 9:13; 2Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:4; 6:23; Colossians 2:2; 2Thessalonians 2:16; 3:5; 1Timothy 6:11; Titus 3:4; 1John 2:5; 3:1, 16, 17; 4:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; 16, 20, 21; 5:1, 2, 3; 2John 1:3; Jude 1:2, 21;
Son of God Loved: Galatians 2:20; 2John 1:3;
Father Loved: John 3:35; 5:20; 10:17; 13:1; 14:21, 23, 24, 28, 31; 15:9, 10; 17:23, 24, 26; Romans 8:37; 1John 2:15; 3:1; 2John 1:3;
Lord Loved: Genesis 29:32; 44:20; Deuteronomy 7:7, 8; 10:15; 2 Samuel 12:24; 1 Kings 10:9; 2Chronicles 2:11; 11:21; 19:2; 122:6; Psalms 11:5, 7; 18:1; 26:8; 31:23; 33:5; 37:28; 40:16; 87:2; 97:10; 116:1; 119:159; 145:20; 146:8; Proverbs 3:12; 8:17; 15:9; Isaiah 38:17; 43:4; 48:14; 56:6; 61:8; 63:9; Jeremiah 31:3; Hosea 9:15; 10:11; 11:1, 4; 14:4; Zechariah 8:17, 19; Malachi 1:2; Matthew 22:37; John 11:3; 20:2; 21:7, 15, 16, 17, 20; 2Corinthians 9:7; 11:11; 13:11, 14; Hebrews 12:6; 1John 3:1; 2John 1:3.
Jesus Loved: John 11:5, 36; 13:23; 19:26;
Christ Loved: Romans 8:35; 2Corinthians 5:14; Ephesians 3:17, 19; 4:15; 5:2, 25; Philippians 2:1;
Jesus Christ Loved: Galatians 5:6; Colossians 1:4; 2Timothy 1:13; Philemon 1:9; 1John 3:23; Revelation 1:5;
Lord Jesus Christ Loved: Romans 8:39; Ephesians 1:4; 6:23; 2Thessalonians 2:16; 1Timothy 1:14; Jude 1:21; 2John 1:3; Revelation 3:9; 3:19; Revelation 1:5.
Spirit Loved: Romans 15:30; Galatians 5:22; Colossians 1:8;
man loved: Genesis 22:2; 24:67; 25:28; 27:4, 9, 14; 29:18, 20, 30, 32; 34:3; 37:3-4; Exodus 21:5; Leviticus 19:18, 34; Deuteronomy 15:16; Judges 5:31; 14:16; 16:4, 15; Ruth 4:15; 1 Samuel 1:5; 16:21; 18:1, 3, 16, 20, 22, 28; 20:17; 2 Samuel 1:23, 26; 13:1, 4, 15; 19:6; 1 Kings 3:3; 11:1, 2; 2Chronicles 11:21; 26:10; Esther 2:17; Job 19:19; Psalms 4:2; 5:11; 34:12; 45; 1; 52:3, 4; 69:36; 99:4; 109:4, 5, 17; 119:47, 48, 97, 113, 119, 127, 132, 140, 163, 165, 167; Proverbs 1:22; 4:6; 5:19; 7:18; 8:21, 36; 9:8; 10:12; 12:1; 13:24; 15:12, 17; 16:13; 17:9, 17, 19; 18:21; 19:8; 20:13; 21:17; 22:1, 11; 27:5; 29:3; Ecclesiastes 3:8; 5:10; 9:1, 6, 9; Song of Solomon 1:2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 15; 2:2, 4-5, 7, 10, 13; 3:1-5, 10; 4:1, 7, 10; 5:2, 8, 16; 6:4; 7:6, 12; 8:4, 6-7; Isaiah 56:10; 57:8; 66:10; Jeremiah 2:2; 2:25, 33; 5:31; 8:2; 14:10; Ezekiel 16:37; 23:11, 17; 33:31, 32; Hosea 4:18; 9:1, 10; Amos 5:15; Micah 3:2; 6:8; Matthew 5:43, 44, 46; 6:5; 10:37; 19:19; 22:39; 23:6; 24:12; Mark 12:31, 33, 38; Luke 6:27, 32, 35; 7:5, 42, 47; 11:43; 20:46; John 3:19; 12:25; 13:34, 35; 14:15; 15:12-13, 17, 19; 20:2; Romans 12:9-10; 13:8-10; 1Corinthians 2:9; 4:21; 8:3; 16:22, 24; 2Corinthians 2:4, 8; 6:6; 8:7, 8, 24; 12:15; Galatians 5:13, 14; Ephesians 1:15; 4:2, 16; 5:28, 33; 6:24; Philippians 1:9, 17; 2:2; 4:8; Colossians 3:19; 1Thessalonians 1:3; 3:12; 4:9; 5:8, 13; 2Thessalonians 2:10; 1Timothy 6:10; 2Timothy 4:8, 10; Titus 2:4; 3:15; Philemon 1:5, 7; Hebrews 1:9; 6:10; 10:24; 13:1; James 1:12; 2:5, 8; 1Peter 1:8, 22; 2:17; 3:8, 10; 2 Peter 2:15; 1John 2:10; 3:10, 11, 14, 18; 4:17, 18, 19; 2John 1:1, 5, 6; 1:1, 9; Revelation 2:4; 12:11; 22:15;

In the table above we see the love of the Son of God only twice.  Once it is linked to our salvation (Galatians 2:20) and the other time (2John 1:3) His love is equated to the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The love of the Lord Jesus Christ  is often linked to the love of God the Father and is linked to our entire salvation experience which we receive through each and every role of the Son of God.  The verses which tell us that Jesus Loved  all talk about Him loving literal physical people who were alive when He was on Earth.  Every verse which tells us about the love of Jesus Christ  is also talking about our faith.  The verses which tells us about the love of Christ  are below.  Each of these verses has a fuller explanation in the note for that particular verse.  Please see those notes for details.

It should be obvious that each and every one of these verses are talking about our having responsibilities that are refused by the majority of people who call themselves 'Christians'.  Further, this verse is part of the conclusion of an entire chapter which has been contrasting those who walk  in the Spirit to those who are in the flesh  or who walk after the flesh  and the entire chapter has been saying that only those who walk  in the Spirit get the blessings that come through Christ.  We even saw where the love of Christ  is equated to marital love and only a fool would claim that they could be constantly unfaithful to their mate and receive all of the love that mate wants to give them.  Time and again we see people believing messages that claim God will treat them differently that Hosea treated Gomer while she was unfaithful.  This is in spite of the fact that God had Hosea marry Gomer specifically to illustrate how God treats the unfaithful.  People also ignore the many other places in the Bible where God says how he will deal with unfaithful believers.  Again, we are seeing where what the Bible actually says goes against popular religious doctrine.  Only those who are in Christ can really claim the protection provided here.

In Philippians 1:9-11, we read about Paul's prayer for the people in that church.  His prayer is an example for people to show their true Biblical love  for the people whom they are responsible for.

In the sentence referenced, Paul shows a knowledge of these people and a care for their greatest spiritual need.  Paul did pray that your love may abound yet more and more,  but he did not stop at this general prayer request.  He added in the qualifier of in knowledge and in all judgment.  Paul did not have a worry about their ability to love,  but his concern was that it was controlled by these two specific areas.

Paul prayed that their love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.  The definition, of the word abound,  that is used within the Bible is 'Not bound.  Allowed to expand without limit'.  Thus, we see that our Step is not asking that they have love  but that it be 'without limit' in these two particular areas.  He did not pray that they have love  'without limit' in all areas.  Further, as we will see in a minute, knowledge and...judgment  each put a limit upon love.  Therefore, if someone reads this Step and leaves out this last phrase they will be teaching doctrinal error.  There are lots of people who will do that and then justify the sins that we read about in 1Corinthians (see Test of Spiritual Maturity).  Those people were using a wrong understanding of Biblical love  to justify such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.  (1Corinthians 5:1).  That is just one place where the Bible tells us that true Biblical love  must be kept within limits.  True Biblical love  does not justify any and all actions and especially does not justify sin.  It is not loving to allow someone to abuse your child and it is not true Biblical love  to allow people to abuse God or His children.  Please see later in this note for more details and links related to the word love.

Moving on, the world and religion will give us a different definition for know  than the Bible uses.  People who use the world's definition or religion's definition end up with erroneous doctrine.  Genesis 4:1 tells us And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.  the true Biblical definition of the word know  includes the knowledge  that only comes from experiencing a true personal intimate relationship.  Our personal intimate relationship with God causes us to tell Him our thoughts and feelings on a subject and causes us to seek God's thoughts and feelings in a subject.  Since God is love  (1John 4:8; 1John 4:16), we will abound yet more and more in  love  as our personal intimate relationship and knowledge  of God increases through that relationship.  Further, since love  is an action verb, our love  for those around us will also increase because of our increased knowledge  of God.

I said that knowledge  is to control our love.  Since the world and religion will give us a different definition for know  that the Bible uses, our abounding  knowledge of God will not only increase our doing love  God's way but it will decrease our following the way of the world, which goes against God's way.  Thus, we see how our Godly knowledge  causes our love to abound  even while it controls how we do love.  We see the same thing with judgment.  When we judge  we are saying what is right and what is wrong.  The first four chapters of 1Corinthians explain the difference between the wisdom of this world  and the wisdom of God.  As we grow closer to God we will use more of the wisdom of God  which will change our judgment  which will also increase our love  (as the right thing to do) while also controlling how we express that love.

Thus, we see that the first thing Paul prayed for was that their love may abound yet more and more.  However, he also included the controlling phrase of in knowledge and in all judgment.  That controlling phrase requires us to maintain our ongoing personal intimate relationship with God so that our knowledge  and our judgment  become more according to the wisdom of God  and further from the wisdom of this world.  We also saw that as we draw closer to God, not only will our knowledge  and our judgment  become more according to the wisdom of God,  but our love will abound more and more  because God is love.

In 1John, we learn much about true Biblical love.  As already mentioned, the true 'love chapter', in the word of God,  is 1John 4.  And, as the links above show, the phrase of perfect love  and the command to love one another  are also found in 1John.

There is a song called 'The Love of God' which does an excellent job of explaining how impossible it is to define God's love.  John tells us God is love  and it is impossible to define God.  Therefore, it is impossible to define God's love.  Further, in order to properly express God's love,  one must have a gift of Biblical wisdom  that many preachers have far more than I have.  I will leave the fuller definition to others and only give this inadequate qualifier: Biblical love  is an action word which requires us to act in a way that demonstrates God's love  to the most unlovable people.  In addition, God's love  always considers what is the best long-term result for the other person.  That's why God's love  includes punishment, including the sin unto death,  which this epistle mentions.

Forms of the word love  are used in this epistle 51 times in 29 verses.  Below are links to each sentence where John uses this word within this epistle along with a short note about each usage.  In addition, John uses the word beloved  in: 3:2; 3:21; 4:1; 4:7 and 4:11.

The following sentences use the word love:

In Romans 8:39-LJC, we are told about the love of God.  And, the word of God  tells us the difference between it and the love of the Son of God.    All of Romans 8, but especially this sentence (Romans 8:38-39) tells us that the love of God  comes through each and every one of the roles of the Son of God.  Please notice that this is not the love of  the Son of God (like many people preach it) but is the love of God.  We saw the division of verses that contain love  in the section above.

There are definite differences between the love  of God and of the Father and of the Son and of Jesus and the love from other people.  Not only do people make the error of preaching this verse as the love of Jesus  but we also see a lot of false doctrine preached about God's love in general.  I have no idea how many times I've heard how we can't increase or decrease God's love for us and that God never hates the sinner but only hates the sin.  However, Romans 9:13 says As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.  Now either these people are ignorant (lack knowledge) of what the Bible truly says or they are claiming to be an antichrist because they are trying to replace (anti) what God put into writing for our spiritual maturity (the ministry of Christ).  We've heard of people identified by their sin (drunk, whore, gambler, etc).  They, like Esau, continued in their sin until there was no separating them from their sin.

People like to preach (and hear preaching) that 'There's always a chance of getting saved, even on the death bed' and reality is that they are straining at gnats  for how often that happens.  Genesis 6:3 says ...My spirit shall not always strive with man...  There are people, like pharaoh, who God says are going to Hell, and that is final, even though they are still sucking air.  The answer is for people to get saved and get into the love of God  now and stop waiting for their death bed.  The answer for God's people is to go out and live the love of God  and witness that it only comes to those who are saved and serving.  People who only sit in church and 'pray' do not really have the level of hope that is often preached.

In addition, John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  Notice that John 3:16 is a whosoever  love while Romans 9:13 tells us that God loved the man named Jacob  and called him by name.  When we get saved, we go from a whosoever  love to a named love.  The point is that God so loved the world  that He made a general plan of salvation that is the same to everyone and available to all.  However, part of God's plan is a personal relationship.  Those people who accept God's personal relationship God loves  and calls by name.  Those people who reject God's personal relationship, God hates  and can call by name.  What the Bible actually says goes against what is preached by a lot of 'good godly preachers'.

In addition, this verse tells us that the love of God  is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  We have seen all throughout this study that God provides blessings (results of love) to those who are in Christ that He withholds from those who refuse to be in Christ.  We've seen other notes that have gone through each of the roles of the Son of God and explained the differences in these blessings as they relate to the different roles of the Son of God.  For example, the notes for Romans 3:26, 8:1 and 8:2 (the start of the chapter which this sentence is concluding), explained that the Son of God, in His role as Jesus, proved His love when He died to provide us with eternal life, which is 'God's life in us'.  As we have seen described all through Romans 8, Son of God, in His role as Christ, proves His love for us by the ongoing personal relationship, which increases God's life in us.  As Lord  He set up the laws  which we are to follow (and that the notes for this chapter have dealt with) and provides blessings for the obedient while also providing cursing for the disobedient.

As we live in Christ we experience all of these things described in Romans 8:38-39 that are trying to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord  and we receive experiential knowledge that none of these things can overcome Christ.  Knowledge that is based upon experience is far more unshakable than knowledge received through study and faith.  Thus, He has us experience these things for our increased benefit.

Finally, we have seen the Son of God loving us within His role as Lord  when He justified  us (8:33) and as He maketh intercession for us  (8:34) and took care of all of the legal stuff which was described in Romans 7.  However, as we have seen consistently throughout this study, when God says He provided something in the relationship that the saved have with His Son, God refuses to give that provision to those who walk away from their relationship with His Son.  Nothing outside of us can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  However, since God never takes away our free will, we can walk away on our own.  This entire chapter has been about comparing those who walk after the Spirit  to those who walk after the flesh.  If we do not walk after the Spirit,  we have left our relationship with Christ Jesus our Lord  and God will not provide the blessings of His love outside of that relationship that He said are available only within this relationship.

Please see the following notes for where the word beloved  is used, in the New Testament: Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22; Acts 15:25; Romans 1:7; 1Corinthians 4:14; 2Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 1:6; Philippians 2:12; Colossians 3:12; 1Thessalonians 1:4; 2Thessalonians 2:13; 1Timothy 6:2; 2Timothy 1:2; Philemon 1:1; Hebrews 6:9; James 1:16; 1Peter 2:11; 2Peter 1:17; 1John 3:2; 3John 1:1; Jude 1:3; Revelation 20:9.

The New Testament definition, of the word beloved  is: 'be and loved, from love. Belove, as a verb, is not used. Loved; greatly loved; dear to the heart are used'.  Please see above about the word love.  Many people preach, and teach, the doctrinal error that true Biblical charity  is actually true Biblical love..  Please see the note for 1John C3S26 about the phrase love one another.  Please see the note for Matthew 19:18-19 about the phrase love thy neighbour.  Please see the note for 1John C4S13 about the phrase perfect love.  Please see the note for Romans C9S23 about the word beloved.  Please also see the note for Matthew 17:5 for links to every place where the phrase beloved Son  is applied to Jesus.  It is important to note that many preachers erroneously define charity  as love.  The first reason that this is in error is that charity  and love  are both Bible words and, while two different Bible words can have the same application under certain circumstances, they can not have three same definition.  Secondly, while charity  and love  have the same actions, love  is extended to people we know while charity  is extended to strangers in addition to people that we know.

Thompson Chain Topics provides references for the word beloved  as: 'Beloved Disciple:  (John spoken of as):  Joh 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20.  Beloved Son:  Mt 12:18; 17:5; Mr 1:11; Eph 1:6; Col 1:13; Heb 5:5.  John, Beloved Disciple:  (The beloved disciple, son of Zebedee):  General References to:  Mt 4:21; Lu 5:10; Mr 1:29; 5:37; Mt 17:1; Lu 9:49; Joh 13:23; Mr 14:33; Joh 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20; Ac 1:13; 3:1; 8:14; Ga 2:9; Re 1:9; 10:11.  Facts Concerning:  Naturally Full of energy:  Mr 3:17.  In tolerant:  Mr 9:38.  Vindictive:  Lu 9:54.  Ambitious:  Mr 10:35-37.  Learned the lesson of love in the school of Christ:  Joh 13:23; 1Jo 2:9-10; 3:14-18; 4:7-11.  In trusted with the care of Christ's Mother:  Joh 19:26.  Refers to Christian love twenty-five or more, times in his epistles:  BELOVED DISCIPLE:  (John spoken of as):  Joh 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20'.

We see the phrase beloved Son applied to Jesus  in: Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5; Mark 1:11; Mark 9:7; Luke 3:22; Luke 9:35; Luke 20:13 and John 8:18.

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