For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (7) Love is a stabilizing factor in our lives (Ephesians 3:17). When violence increases and the dangers are great, we want burglar bars, dead bolts, Doberman pinschers, alarm systems, and no strangers. Should Christians Invest in the Stock Market? Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Situational ethics is a term which is hardly used any more. Ephesians 4:2 humility patience But test everything; hold fast what is good. And much of that which passes for love is hypocritical. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Love is one of the most common, yet misused and misunderstood words in the English language. Honor others more than yourselves. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christby grace you have been saved. F Romans 6:23. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. The suffering saint may be tempted to think God is far from him in his times of adversity. 12Be joyful in hope,(F) patient in affliction,(G) faithful in prayer. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come (Matthew 24:4-14). (C) Honor one another above yourselves. (2) Love is the appropriate response to Gods love and grace, in Christ (see Luke 7:42, 47). D Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. They spoke of good, but in practice they did what was evil. (D) 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,(E) serving the Lord. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you (1 Peter 4:12-14). For the commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.. Believing there is no future, the unbeliever must strive to wring out of the present all of the pleasure he can. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. Many saints will fall away, denying their faith (verse 10). Now, in verses 9-21, Paul describes our sacrificial service as a walk in love. 15Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 11. Each and every Christian is to regard the interests of his fellow-believers as having priority over his own self-interests. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Access 50+ premium resources. Y Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! But the one who endures to the end, it is he who shall be saved. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Remember, then, what you received and heard. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. You are serving the Lord Christ. We will extol your love more than wine. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Really love them. R 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. The vital role love must play in our Christian experience, and the very fuzzy concept of love prevalent today, makes our study one of great urgency and importance. Second, the grammar of these verses suggests a significant shift at verse 14. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Christian love is something like a battery. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Love acts in accordance with righteousness.54. 56 There is the danger, of course, of using this as an excuse. Bible Rank: 11. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 15Be joyful with those who are joyful. Copyright 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Pauls words here speak of brotherly love, love expressed one to another, among Christians. O New International Reader's Version (NIRV). Honor one another above yourselves. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Be willing to be a friend of people who arent considered important. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. There is a positive terminal and a negative terminal. New International Version (NIV). Why Is It So Important for Us to Be Able to Defend Our Faith? Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. E N Honor one another above yourselves. 10Love each other with genuine affection,[a] and take delight in honoring each other. Y Art Linkletter had a television program years ago on which he interviewed children. Let love be genuine. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.. (P) 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. There is no mention of our subordination or service, to God or to others. of Loving one another means serving others ahead of oneself. This can only take place through experience in ministry. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. S CSB 9 Love must be without hypocrisy. With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. Love inspires our deliberate, diligent, self-sacrificial service to others, which is intended for their good, at our expense. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. U Let love be genuine. The love God calls for is a sacrificial love. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Blog, A By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. K Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. C English Standard Version Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. The great need is for faithfulness in our service (see 1 Corinthians 4:1-5). But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers. That no one be moved by these afflictions. I have been crucified with Christ. This is the starting place for understanding and rightly orienting our thoughts and expectations about honor. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. When danger increases, along with the risk factor, love for the brethren becomes an even greater matter of urgency. Honor one another above yourselves. The world does need love. 14Bless those who persecute you. We shouldn't think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think ( Rom. Our love for Him, however, will last for all eternity, inspiring our worship and service in His presence. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. And so it is that I have divided the text into these two parts, with verses 9-13 focusing on love as practiced toward fellow-Christians and verses 14-21 focusing on love as demonstrated toward those unbelievers who persecute us. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Z. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. And having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Love in Action "Little children," John wrote to his readers, "we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action" (1 John 3:18). Dont be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. Read Chapter All Versions Romans 5:8 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 13. Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. For the commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Even when one member may do a better job, the gifts of others must be discovered and developed. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. NIrV, Free on the Inside Bible, Large Print, Paperback, NIrV, Seek and Explore Holy Bible: Hunting for Gods Treasure, Believe Kids' Edition: Think, Act, Be Like Jesus, NIrV, The Story for Kids: Discover the Bible from Beginning to End, NIrV, The Story of Jesus for Kids: Experience the Life of Jesus as one Seamless Story, NIrV, Holy Bible, Large Print, Leathersoft. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. I know your works. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Titled "Love in Action," t. "Romans 12:9 - Love in Action"Description: In this impactful YouTube shorts video, we dive into the profound words of Romans 12:9. If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Be careful to do what everyone thinks is right. With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. And so we see that love engenders the spirit of subordination, promoting servanthood and service one to another. Love is first and foremost directed toward God and then toward others in an order of priority: God, family (especially our mate), fellow-believers, our neighbor, and even our enemy. Our Lords love was a far cry from the hypocritical love of the scribes and Pharisees of His day. For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and will mislead many. Be sad with those who are sad. With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Peter received faith to walk on the water when he heard Jesus say, 'Come.' But that faith did not come alive until he threw his leg over the side of the boat and started walking. As suggested, there are limits to what Paul is saying. When you pray, be faithful. But this does not mean that our love always takes the form that others may wish or even accept. Love never ends. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. On a few occasions this may be through direct satanic or demonic activity. Love not only inspires us to serve, it encourages and strengthens us to persevere in our service. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. First, because opening our homes is an invasion of our privacy which we hold as a very high priority. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. I In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? K For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Paul exhorts Christians to contribute to the needs of the saints and to aggressively practice hospitality.58 Let us consider both of these expressions of brotherly love. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Overcome evil by doing good. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. Read Chapter All Versions 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Access 50+ premium resources. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Dont be proud. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Rightly do they love you.". U See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. 1 John 5:1-3 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Love does no harm to a neighbor. Verse 9 begins with a statement which omits the verb but which nevertheless has imperatival force. 16Live in harmony with one another. Find and study the promises in the Bible that cover your need. K Start for FREE. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh. 21Dont let evil overcome you. God is never more near us than in our trials. If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. And even those who are saints should be shown hospitality in such a way as to minimize needless, foolish risks.60. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Preference, according to Paul, is to be given others in the realm of honor: give preference to one another For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. English Standard Version Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. But love covers all transgressions. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Let's take it a step further and plan out our actions before the difficult times to love comes. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Verse 12 points to the future hope which enables Christian love to endure present hardship and adversity. V Can that faith save him? And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. When you suffer, be patient. The saints there were far from fervent in their love or their service. 9 Love must be sincere. Verse 10 describes Christian love as subordinating self-interest to give preference to the one loved. 11. Interestingly, love is prominent in these two chapters as well. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word. Outdo one another in showing honor. Repentance and zeal was needed (see Revelation 3:14-22, especially v. 19). J 13. Welcome others into your homes. Love in Action 9 Love must be honest and true. (4) Love facilitates and contributes to Christian unity (John 17:20-26; Colossians 2:2; 3:14). But when the perfect comes, when our Lord returns and we are living eternally in His presence, we will no longer need faith, for we shall see Him and experience all that He has promised. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. New Living Translation Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law. Ending soon! He extends His love and grace to sinners apart from and in spite of anything in them. Do not even the tax collectors do the same? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. Proud member The consequences for faithfulness to Christ may include the loss of employment, the loss of property, and often the loss of friends and family who may abandon, deny, or even betray us. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. It is a love which responds to and reflects the love of God for us. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. O (J), 14Bless those who persecute you;(K) bless and do not curse. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. One need only look at the saints of old to discover that progress may seem painfully slow and that Gods purposes are not achieved instantly. We are not good enough. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. M Of all the loves mentioned in the New Testament, love for the brethren is one of the most prominent (see, for example, John 13:34-35; 15:12, 13, 17; Romans 13:8; 1 Peter 1:22; 2:17; 4:8; 1 John 2-4). For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Many people want the kind of God who loves men in their sin, who accepts them just as they are. God cannot and does not do so, because His love is a righteous love. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. That love has been poured out in the person of Jesus Christ. Here Paul emphasizes loves endurance in the midst of adversity. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart. F If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Hate what is wrong. The hospitality which Paul calls for here is hospitality to the brethren. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. We are instructed not only to demonstrate this love personally but to challenge and stimulate others to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:23-25). That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. It needs the love of God. By doing those things, you will pile up burning coals on their heads.. Love one another with brotherly affection. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (Q) 19Do not take revenge,(R) my dear friends, but leave room for Gods wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay,[b](S) says the Lord. An imperative occurs in verse 14, strongly suggesting that Paul indicates a change of focus. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. 1 Corinthians 13:13 faith hope. 9Dont just pretend to love others. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. It requires us to subordinate our desires and interests, so that we may serve others selflessly. G Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. In verse 2, Paul turns to the two vitally important gifts of prophecy and faith. Geocoding S But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? and he said to him, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. There must be two poles for current to flow. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. But the body of Christ is bigger than this.
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