WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT LOVE?
1 John 4:8-11
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
Mark 12:28-31
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’”
Ephesians 5:1-2
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 8:38-39
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John 13:34
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.”
Galatians 5:22-24
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
1 John 4:10
“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.”
ONE ANOTHERS
“The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Mark 12:31
Accept one another - Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:7)
Admonish one another - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)
Bear one another's burdens - Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
Bear with one another - Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2)
Build up one another - Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (Romans 14:19)
Care for one another - . . so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. (1 Corinthians 12:25)
Comfort one another - Therefore encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
Confess faults to one another - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
Be Devoted to one another - Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. (Romans 12:10a)
Encourage one another - Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Forgive one another - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
Greet one another - Greet one another with a holy kiss. (Romans 16:16)
Be Honest with one another- Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices . . . (Colossians 3:9)
Honor one another - Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10b)
Be Hospitable to one another - Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Peter 4:9)
Be Kind to one another - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
Love one another - Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another . . . (Romans 13:8)
Members one of another - So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:5)
Pray for one another - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
Be of the Same Mind with one another - May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus . . . (Romans 15:5)
Serve one another - You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13)
Spur one another on - And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24)
Submit to one another - Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21)
10 Truths about Love from Proverbs
- The World Offers False Love. “Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love.” (Proverbs 7:18 ESV)
- Watch Out for a Love of Laziness & Ignorance. “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?” (Proverbs 1:22)
- Love the Wisdom of God. “Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.” (Proverbs 4:6)
- Love in Marriage Is an Amazing Gift, Don’t Waste It. “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth … be intoxicated always in her love.” (Proverbs 5:18-19)
- God’s Love Requires a Loving Response. “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.” (Proverbs 8:17)
- Hatred of God’s Wisdom = A Love of Death. “but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:36)
- God Cares for Those Who Love His Wisdom. “granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.” (Proverbs 8:21)
- Wise Friends Love Wise Friends. “Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.” (Proverbs 9:8)
- Love Covers Sin. “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” (Proverbs 10:12)
- Forgiving and Forgetting Is an Act of Love. “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9)