what Is Christian Love?

What Is Love As Christ Taught? How Do I Love Others?

What is it to Love as scripture shows us to Love? What Is Christian Love?The multitude of Denominations/Sects/Factions will tell us that it's in not judging the sin of anyone. And letting absolutely anyone in among them and not only not rebuking sin that they see within the congregation, in the desire to edify and strengthen the faith of any weak brethren as all of scripture calls us to do, but to ignore it and furthermore often times to support them in it...Making the claim that it is against Christ and the love that he taught to speak up. Often for Traditions sake in one way or another.

There is Love as the world teaches, and that which is taught by the Word of God in Whole.

Love as the world teaches is this:

"Don't dare to tell someone their faults, or else you will be called judgmental, and rejected by those who hold to the World and its subsequent wants and desires. And made to be seen as a Heretic. Yes all must be accepted into the 'church' and cannot be told to cease for life of their soul, no matter how much their deeds go against the teaching of Christ and The Word of God."

In this we see examples all around us, Denominations that claim God under Christ place flags and banners up in their windows in full support of the sin that has overtaken much of the world, in demanding that it be accepted as not only normal but acceptable to God.

Those who follow after false idols after mans teaching of "The Universe must want this or that" or implementing teachings of 'auras' and worshipping of the creature rather than the creator, being 'nature' and all things of it, The Sun, Moon, Signs in Stars, Etc... Rather than he which created these things. As it was even in the Times of the Old Covenant. In the many times they brought about the anger and Wrath of God for the same claims.

However..

Love as God has taught by his only begotten Son, Our Lord, And The Word that he spoke

Teaches this:

Matthew 18:8-17

8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

If we have among us those who walk willingly in sin, it is our duty of the Love of Christ to tell them of their trespass, not in seeking to hold anything over them or to win in some vain argument, but in seeking their benefit and caring for them as you would yourself, telling them the good and true words of God rebuking whatever sin it may be.

Also that forgiveness and everlasting life come only to those who see their sin, and repent of it, which is to turn back to the right way, removing the cause of such things from themselves and make right what they are able.

We see also, "If your right hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you". The same said of the right eye, etc..

Not meaning to mutilate yourself, but it is an old Hebrew saying that means to remove the cause of sin no matter how sacred the world has taught you to hold it, or rely on it over the Word, as you did before you sought to know God.

We have a saying much like it in this present day, "I can't let this go, it's like taking my right arm" or "I don't know how I'd live without holding to this or that"

As the Israelites shown in the Old Testament were warned, "Remove the evil from among you", So have we been warned of the same. That if any will not ask forgiveness and Repent to remove them from among you, For God will not have those who walk in evil counted as among the Body of Christ.

As we see through much of Deuteronomy and many other places. Saying to take those who committed adultery, stolen a man and sold him, forced himself on a woman, or a wife consenting to be with a man though she has a husband, then they were to be removed from the city and stoned. Yes it seems extreme but in those days all the countries surrounding Israel (Which were left there to test the people to see if they would keep to Gods Law) held to these sins as not only normal but to be coveted and held in high regard. And God would have his people set apart from these sins and others which those other nations tempted Israel continually to the damnation of many, many times over.

So that they would hear and fear and would walk rightly by his law so that by his word he would have mercy on them that repent, and all the promises that now apply to us as well would apply to them.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21

18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

These were the days where the Old covenant was held over the people of God as a guardian

until the Son of God should come, and with him. Faith and forgiveness for all who repent, for all the things which you could not be forgiven for by the Law of Moses. Which was that of the Old Covenant which was put to death on the Cross and the truth of the commandments shown in Love.

We are to Love our brethren as even our own selves, not to allow their sin to not only continue, but prosper and pull even more from the right way! but to rebuke and warn them for love of their souls as even our own. And if they will not heed and instead hold to their sin, or division then they are to be removed from us, not after the heretical teaching of "Excommunication" by catholicism but to deliver them unto satan which is to put them out into the world so that their flesh and the desires and false doctrine may be destroyed within them if they will repent and that their spirit may be found through the word of God and then brought in again.

As we see in 1 Corinthians 5 and 2 Corinthians 1

1 Corinthians 5

5 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

And in the 2 Letter to the Congregation in Corinth, They were told to forgive that one if they have repented so that they would not be lead astray by the Devil and his many devices to lead us out of the right way.

2 Corinthians 2:1-11

1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? 3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. 5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

So we are to LOVE, as Christ taught, as was always taught. For Love of their souls and in caring for them as we do ourselves and to feel their iniquity in the same way that we felt our own before we came to christ seeking to kill the flesh within us and to live instead to the spirit given to us when we believed with a want to obey the Lord. Whom only have the promise of eternal life.

The world teaches this also of Love:

That there is nothing wrong with loving only those who do you good, and to instead curse or do wrong to those who hate or move against you. Returning evil for evil and thus avenge yourself. But while showing all love and kindness to those who you see as your own. Only showing the appearance of love to your enemy until you find a way to overcome and topple them.

Or to do so only for the vanity of Human will under the claim of "Humanism" saying that man can do good to others without need of God or his word. Although this doing of good things to others is done only out of convenience and those who would be helped by those are picked and chosen by whim or want. For vain glory more often than not, or in some cases thinking that it is some way into heaven, even though its more often than not done grudgingly and with complaining and all manner of evil speaking. Or it's done for want of temporal rewards of the governing authorities, in taxes, rewards, or to be thought well of by everyone in saying how good and kind you are, etc.

Of these sort they often cannot do good without blowing a trumpet before them so that all can see what they have done. After the manner of the pharisees rebuked by The Lord.

What the Word of God Teaches also of Love however is this:

To love others whether they be friend, family or even enemy or unknown at all to you. If you see that there be need.

Matthew 5:42-48

 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I 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; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

The law was fulfilled, That is completed or brought to complete understanding, in this.

Love The Lord Thy God With All Of Your Heart Mind, Soul, and all of your strength. And Love Your Neighbor As Yourself.

Luke 10:25-28

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

To Love The Lord is to Love his commandments and law as the only truth, and to set your feet to obey it regardless of what fleshly want or desire, or right arm or eye that you must cast away from yourself in order to do so justly. Love fulfills the Law, Love cannot steal from its neighbor, nor Covet what is theirs, Nor commit murder against its neighbor.

And so if there be any other commandments then all are summed up in this "Love Thy Neighbor"

But how do we do that? and who is our neighbor that we should love them?

It's shown in the same chapter.

Luke 10:29-37

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

As you see, the lord made known that those who would call themselves Gods Priests did not follow the right way, nor those who would be justified by calling themselves sons of Abraham, would be able to say they obeyed God. Instead it was the one who showed mercy.

Love is long suffering and Kind. As God was with you in suffering your sins which were against him and his Law, and showing you kindness still in forgiveness through his only begotten son if you repent. So show the same to others.

Love does not Envy, or parade itself contrary to the meaning of True Love. You cannot love if you only hope to gain or show yourself to be good, which is against Love. Nor is love shown in pride or for vain reason.

Love does not act dishonestly unto others and lie to its brethren. Nor seek after its own wants.

Love doesn't think evil towards others, nor will it ever rejoice in iniquity (Sin) and support those who walk in it to continue doing so. But rather rebukes for care of their soul as its own.

Nor is Love provoked into Anger

Love Rejoices in things that are of the Truth, Suffers wrong without returning it back!

Though all gifts should parish. Love will Abide and those who Love Gods word will Abide IN IT.

God Is Love. And Loves and Judges Justly, By His Word Which Only Is True.

None of which is done simply because scripture tells us so, but as it is our duty and that we cannot help but love our neighbor or brethren for the love that God showed us in giving his Only Begotten Son to die for us when we were still in the darkness and death of our Sin.

So that we might be loved and so love again in the same way.

1 John 3:14-24

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

If you would follow Christ and through him The Father, then look to this love as through the Holy Spirit to guide you in your obedience and Love to God, Which is to Obey him. If you do not have the Love of God within you then you do not believe as you should, to believe in him is to believe that of the Love of God, That Christ died for your sins and in that he saved you from such a great death which we all deserve without his merit. Thus can we not help but to love as he Loved us and told us to love one another. Look to the word in everything and do not look to mans wisdom which is only apt to twist the scripture to their own desires. May the Lord open your eyes to the word.

To the Rest I convey you to the Whole of the Word of God. And Pray that God Open Your Ears And Eyes, And That Your Hearts Be Softened To The Word. And To Seek And Hunger After Him. May the Bond of Peace and Unity Of The Holy Spirit Guide you. All Praise Be To The Lord, And Glory To The Father. Amen.