LOVE The high esteem which YAHWEH has for His human children and the high regard which they, in turn, should have for Him and other people. Because of the hundreds of references to love in the Bible, it is certainly the most remarkable book of love in the world. It records the greatest love story ever written-- YAHWEH'S unconditional love for us that sent His Son to die on the cross . Love is not only one of YAHWEH'S attributes; it is also an essential part of His nature. "YAHWEH is love," the Bible declares <1 John 4:8,16: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

The personification of perfect love. Such love surpasses our powers of understanding <Eph. 3:19. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Love like this is everlasting <Jer. 31:3, The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Hos. 14:4: I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

Sacrificial , and enduring to the end . Two distinct Greek words for love appear in the Bible. The word phileo means "to have ardent affection and feeling"-- a type of impulsive love. The other word agapao means "to have esteem" or "high regard." In the memorable conversation between Jesus and Peter, there is a play upon these two words . Jesus asked, "Simon, do you love [esteem] me?" But Peter replied, "You know that I love [have ardent affection for] You." Then JESUS asked, "Simon, do you love [have ardent affection for] Me?" And Peter responded that his love was agape love-- a love that held JESUS in high esteem and which was more than a fleeting feeling. The warm word agape is the characteristic term of Christianity. This word for love is used several different ways in the Bible. 1. Agape love indicates the nature of the love of YAHWEH toward His beloved Son , toward the human race generally , and toward those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ . 2. Agape love conveys YAHWEH'S will to His children about their attitude toward one another.

Love for one another was a proof to the world of true discipleship . 3. Agape love also expresses the essential nature of YAHWEH 1 John 4:8: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Love can be known only from the actions it prompts, as seen in YAHWEH'S love in the gift of His Son <1 John 4:9-10: In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Love found its perfect expression in the Lord Jesus. Christian love is the fruit of the Spirit of JESUS in the believer <Gal. 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Love is like oil to the wheels of obedience. It enables us to run the way of YAHWEH'S commandments <Ps. 119:32: I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. Without such love, we are as nothing 1 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. Such Spirit-inspired love never fails 1 Cor. 13:8: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. But always flourishes. Rom. 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. And toward those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ . 2. Agape love conveys