Understanding agape love, God's love for us, and loving others biblically
The Bible reveals that "God is love" (1 John 4:8) and defines true love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." Jesus summarized the greatest commandments as loving God completely and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). God's love was demonstrated supremely through Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
Understanding the depth and nature of God's unconditional love.
"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."
— 1 John 4:8-9 (ESV)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
— John 3:16 (ESV)
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
— Romans 5:8 (ESV)
What true love looks like according to 1 Corinthians 13.
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. 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. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
— 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)
"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
— 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)
The two greatest commandments and how to live them out.
"And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.""
— Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)
"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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
— John 13:34-35 (ESV)
"We love because he first loved us. 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."
— 1 John 4:19-21 (ESV)
Building a strong, Christ-centered marriage through Scripture
How to forgive others as Christ forgave you