Doctrine #48: Love

Paul spoke with tongues (languages) of men and angels but if he did this without love, it was just noise. Speaking languages (words), known or unknown is a WHAT. The right HOW/WHY is in love.

Prophecy, knowing mysteries, all knowledge, and having all faith made you nothing if you did not have love. Again, love is a right HOW/WHY which leads to profitability. Remember, Paul began his addressing of the questions from the church in Corinth with a brief introduction (1 Corinthians 8:1-3) that contrasted knowledge with love. That was the way Paul began his first three chapter answer. Verse 2 showed that "all knowledge without love" resulted in no profitability.

Sacrificing your possessions and your body is nothing without love. Paul continued to emphasize love being a right HOW/WHY. Remember, the definition of love according to Jesus in Luke 6:35 was "giving without expecting anything in return from the one to whom you gave." Verse 3 presented half of the definition of love: giving. Verse 3 did not present the right HOW/WHY, only the WHAT. Consequently Paul called it giving without love and the result was not profitable.

Verses 4-8: sixteen effects of love, the effects of "giving without expecting anything in return from the one to whom you gave." Notice also that nine of these effects were what the effects of love were not.

If you do God's definition of love, all sixteen effects listed will be a result. Notice, verse 8 stated that knowledge would eventually be "done away," but love will never cease. Again, this was another example from Paul contrasting knowledge and love. In eternity, knowledge will eventually end because all facts will eventually be known, which means all languages will be known (tongues) and all prophetic events will be known. (Notice, Paul began this chapter contrasting knowledge, tongues, and prophecy with love.) However, Paul wrote in Ephesians 4 that the Bride will eternally build itself up in love, by speaking the truth in love to one another. It appeared truth would also never cease. Notice, the WHAT of truth will cease: knowledge. However, the right HOW/WHY of truth will never cease just as the right HOW/WHY of love will never cease.

Some people use these verses to say that today, tongues and prophesying has ceased. They would say that the Holy Spirit, which is perfect has come. However, Paul wrote this letter after the Holy Spirit had come and they were still operating in these gifts. Has knowledge been done away with? Knowledge will be done away with, eventually, when we are perfect, which will eventually happen in eternity.

Some people only quote verse 12 to justify our inability to know anything more than we know right now. Verse 11 told us to not have that childish mentality, but to become an adult. We ought to act as mature adults and continue to learn more. We will eventually have full knowledge but this is not an excuse to not learn more now. How will we eventually have full knowledge? We will have to continue to grow and learn in the new Jerusalem.

Now abides faith, hope, and love, the greatest of these is love, because love is an action with a right HOW/WHY. The belief that love is the most excellent way has been a consistent reoccurring theme throughout this letter.

Theme of Chapter 13: Love. Paul made the case that love is the most excellent way, and that the things believers tend to desire (knowledge, tongues, and prophecy) are not profitable without love and will eventually cease in eternity. Next, Paul was able to conclude his three chapter answer to the topic of spiritual gifts.

Doctrine: Jesus' commandment was love one another as Christ loved you.

Doctrine: Love is quantitative. There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends. This is very painful to the flesh and very fruitful. Love is the giving of a value without expecting a return from the person you gave to. If you gave your life for that friend they could not give a return. Notice, this verse also stated it was giving your life for a friend, not just anyone. Giving your life for a friend, for someone you could speak for, would be an assurance that what they did with the love you gave to them would be used to create something more. There is no way for a person to give more and prevent themselves from lessening what was given.

Doctrine: You are Jesus' friend if you do His commandments. You can speak for Jesus if you love others as Jesus loved you.

Jesus asked Peter if he loved (agape) Jesus more than these. Peter said he loved (phileo) Jesus. Jesus said to feed His lambs: teach the young believers (children). The Greek word agape was the word "love" which meant "to give without expecting anything in return from the person you gave to." The Greek word phileo was not actually love but an affection/emotion; something you cannot do intentionally.

The next topic the church in Corinth wrote about that Paul wanted to address was "things sacrificed to idols."

Doctrine: Knowledge caused pride. The devil had knowledge, which led to pride. The devil does not have understanding or wisdom, both of which creates.

Love builds up. Love creates and is profitable. Paul's answer to this question was complex and covered three chapters. Paul's ultimate answer to this issue was stated in this first verse of the first of these three chapters: Love edifieth. The guiding principle behind the answer to this question was love. However, people erred because they thought the answer was knowledge. Remember, Paul spent the first three chapters of this letter with an introduction that proved man's wisdom was foolishness when it came to spiritual issues. Again, Paul created that context in order to frame his answer to this question...

Paul prayed that their love would grow "more and more" in knowledge and all discernment. "Knowledge" is the WHAT, the facts. "Discernment" meant "understanding; knowing the WHY behind the what." Paul tied love with knowledge and understanding, not emotion.

Paul wanted the Philippians to grow in understanding so that they would know the reason (WHY) for excellent things. Again, Paul identified the timetable as the time when we are with Jesus in eternity.

The fruits of Righteousness are through Jesus Christ. Again, Paul wanted the Philippians to grow in their understanding. When you know the right WHY behind your actions, you can intentionally do (right HOW) the right thing (right WHAT). The WHAT is important, but only as an effect of the right HOW/WHY, otherwise it is deception: a right WHAT with a wrong or no HOW/WHY. Jesus via the Holy Spirit is the right HOW/WHY, and the result is Righteousness that leads to Salvation.

Since the last chapter ended with the proof and means of being children of God are by the Holy Spirit, John began this chapter making sure we know which Spirit to follow.

The next sentence initiated John's model for love. "God is love" was actually mentioned twice during this model: the beginning and the end. The definition for love was given within the model.

John modeled love:

• Love one another because love is of God, loving is done with understanding. Loving shows you know God.
• Everyone that loves is born of God and knows God. This meant you can only love if you know God, if God (Holy Spirit) is in you.

Model Summary:

• When you know God, you will love, because God is love. This did not mean God always loves. It meant that only God loves.

This model was analogous to the critical verse 1 John 1:5 that stated God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. That verse was used to prove whether a person was a believer or not by whether they had light, because the light can only be obtained from God via the Holy Spirit. Likewise, if you do not love you do not know God, because God (alone) is love.

What is love? Is it an emotion? Is it words? Is it an action? This was critical to verse 9.

Important Point: The correct interpretation of "God is love," which occurs twice because it is the beginning and proof of a logical argument, is "as to God's Nature, it is loving." It is an effect of the cause (God's Identity/Nature).

The ultimate (manifested) example of love was presented by John. Remember, John referenced "manifested" in 1 John 2:19...again, working backwards through his proof. God made His love known to us by sending His Son Jesus into the world so that we could live through Him (grace). This was the same Doctrine presented in the most quoted New Testament verse: John 3:16. Love is an action, not an emotion, not a say. God "sent." To define love as anything other than an action is to disagree with this passage from John, which people often reference because of the next verse…

God loved us first and provided Righteousness for our sins, this was an action! We can only love when we live through Him (grace). We can only do the Right action when we let God do it through us. If God loved us then we ought to love others because we are able to do it because God is doing it through us towards others and God wants to love others through us: the Second Command.

No man has seen/beheld God the Father. The proof that God exists and that we know Him is not going to happen by seeing Him. John immediately removed this option for proof. This was the same Doctrine as stated in John 1:18.

John then presented the proof: we love by His Spirit that God the Father has given to us and that lives in us. We know that we dwell in God (are believers) because His Spirit works through us (grace) to love others, which is the only way we can love.

Verse 15 was another verse that is often a victim of context abuse. This verse is used by some in "traditional" circles to say that all we have to do is confess that Jesus is God and we will be "saved." Think about the context of this whole epistle when reading this verse. What else had John said that we should remember when reading this verse?

One Example: 1 John 1:6 - "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:..." John was not specifically referencing this example but notice, from the beginning of this epistle, John's first measure of being a believer in God versus being a believer in Satan was "walking"...which was making progress...which was proven by actions, not what you say, not emotions. From the beginning, John focused on actions. Love is an action, it is giving. Next, John confirmed his model for love by working his way back to "God is love"...

The love that God hath to us was "sent" to us by God, which was Jesus. We know and believe the love that God hath in us (Jesus) when we love others. Believe meant "to be firmly convinced." We are convinced through understanding and experience. Understanding is the logic, this was what John was presenting. Experience is the actual action. People who SAY they love and believe, but do not actually love through their actions are not believers, no matter what they say!

Once again, an Important Point: The correct interpretation of "God is love," which occurs twice because it is the beginning and proof of a logical argument, is "as to God's Nature, it is loving." It is an effect of the cause (God's Identity/Nature).

Our love is made perfect in an action! That we have boldness in the day of judgment! Why? Because it is God's love through us, which means He abides in us, which means we are children of God, which means we will be treated like Jesus was by the world. 1 John 2:15 introduced this premise, which again showed John was working his way backwards through his proof. Next, John finished this portion of his proof concerning love...

Love removes fear. Fear has punishment. If we love, we will not fear punishment (loss of value). When we love, we give without expecting a return from the person we gave to. If we feared for a return on what we gave, it would not be love. John showed that not only were love and fear incompatible, love actually casteth out fear!

How? We know we will be repaid the value we give in love in the long term by God because He is Just. When we love, we will not fear loss of value because we know that we will be given a value back eventually.

This verse was loaded with Doctrine. If you do not understand love, Justice, and Reward you will not understand this verse. 1 Corinthians 13:3 had Paul stating that if he gave but did not do it by love, then it profiteth him nothing. Love is more than just the action of giving, it involves an action and an attitude that does not expect anything in return from the person you are giving to. It is not fearful of losing something. Jesus defined love as giving and not expecting anything in return from the person you gave to in Luke 6:34-35. This was the only definition that fit the words of Jesus, Paul, and John!

John wrapped up his Model on "God is love":

Loving God and loving your neighbor (the Greatest Command) is only possible if it is God's love through us.

We do not have the ability to love within ourselves. We could not do it first. God had to first love us in order for us to be able to love Him. Take some time to really state what you believe the definition of love is because it is the measure for determining if someone is a believer.

Doctrine: It is God's Will that all men are saved. This meant that God's Will is for everyone who has ever lived, is living, and will live to be saved.

The Church is given the following gifts via the Holy Spirit:

• apostles,
• prophets,
• evangelists,
• pastors, and
• teachers.

Remember, Paul stated the Church was built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, which were the first two gifts that Paul mentioned. These five gifts, often referred to as the Five Fold Ministry, were the Positional Spiritual Gifts. Different from the Motivational Spiritual Gifts (Romans 12) and the Manifestational Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12). Everyone has specific motivational gifts they are in control of and can even use to destruction. These gifts never change for the individual because they are the Being (Mind/Soul) of the individual. Any of the Manifestational Spiritual Gifts are able to be done by anyone who is open to the Holy Spirit because these gifts are initiated by the Holy Spirit. Some people have one of the positional gifts mentioned in verse 11. While the gift requires the Holy Spirit to work through the gift, the person holding a positional gift can initiate the gift. For example, any believer can manifest a prophetic word if they are open to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit initiates this through the person (Manifestational Spiritual Gift). However, a person with the Positional Spiritual Gift of prophet would be able to intentionally get a prophetic word from God via the Holy Spirit.

Verse 12 was the purpose of the Positional Spiritual Gifts. Notice, verse 11 was an example of a "1" - the individual's uniqueness. Verse 12 gave two examples of a "2" - the fellowship (exchange in love) between two individuals according to their uniqueness. The third part of verse 12 was an example of a "3" - the entire community as a whole, the body of Christ which was the Church. Jesus gave these specific gifts to the Church so that individuals would be matured by serving each other so that the entire Church would be built up. How long would the Church need these gifts?

We need these gifts until the Church is unified, fully matured in knowledge until we are equal to Christ! This was a tough verse until one remembered that if Christ is going to marry the Bride, why would Christ marry someone who was not His equal? This was a general measure from Paul, however, Paul continued to give specific measures.

We will need these gifts until we are no longer acting like children who are unstable when it comes to Doctrine and interactions with deceivers. Verses 13 and 14 were examples of "1" - the individual.

Verse 15 began with our job description in eternity: speaking truth in love.

• First, "speaking" meant words. Words are important.
• Second, truth is a right WHAT with a right HOW/WHY...which creates.
• Third, love is an exchange that is the ultimate in profitability.

Paul went into detail about the importance of love leading to profitability in 1 Corinthians 13. We will spend eternity speaking truth in love to each other. This is the ultimate example of "2" - the fellowship (exchange in love) between two individuals according to their uniqueness. The goal is for all of us growing up into Jesus who is the Head of the Body (Church). Again, this was an example of "3" - the community as a whole.

Paul concluded this Meaning of Life sentence with a "3-2-1," then "1-3-2":

3: "all the body"

2: "fitly framed together and knit together"

1: "which every joint supplieth"

Then, 1: "according to the working in due measure of each several part"

3: "maketh increase of the body unto the building up of itself"

2: "in love"

Half of the Meaning of Life is the Bride/Church, which is the new Jerusalem. The Bride will be made up of all of us who will be in the part of the Body we were designed for, so that we speak the truth in love to the other parts we are joined to, with the overall result being the building up of the Body for eternity.

A lot of people think heaven/the new Jerusalem is a HAVE (possession) or a DO (activity):

• HAVE example: "I can't wait until I have a Cadillac in heaven."
• DO example: "I can't wait until I can play golf every day in heaven."

Some people see church today as the same thing:

• HAVE example: "We have a big building."
• DO example: "I like singing in the choir."

Eternity with Christ is about an ARE, it's about fellowship, sharing, speaking truth in love to each other. Churches today ought to have the same focus. Possessions and activities cannot increase in eternity. Fellowship and love can continually increase in eternity. Love can result in more in eternity because God's mercy will endure. When you give to me and do not expect anything in return, you are owed. If God's mercy ceased in eternity, He would equal this out immediately. However, because God's mercy continues, I would feel compelled to pay you back. If I paid you back according to uniqueness, then something that cost me little would be valued by you as more, especially if God put us together in the Body because our uniquenesses are mutually profitable. My giving you something I valued little and you valued a lot will cause you to give me something you value a lot, and that I value enormously. This exchange could continue into eternity and always result in more.

Above all things have fervent love among yourselves because love covers a multitude of sins. There are three types of sins:

1. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit was unique in that it was the only unforgivable sin (Matthew 12:31-32). Love could not cover that sin.

2. Sinning against God results in eternal damnation (death). Confession and repentance to God results in Salvation. Both of those sins result in death: damnation.

3. 1 John 5:16-17 stated there was a sin not unto death, which was the third type of sin. There are sins we do to each other. These sins affect our Reward. Luke 17:3 stated that we ought to confront a believer who sins against us and if he repents, then forgive him. The sin between believers will be equaled out during the second judgment according to books at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:12-13).

Here, Peter stated our love can cover a multitude of sins, not all sins. Our giving to others without expecting anything in return ("love") can cover the sins we have done to each other (#3) because we are equaling out Justice now instead of waiting at Judgment Day for God to equal it out. Verse 8 blatantly stated we ought to love each other because it would cover the sins we did to each other. Many people make the mistake of sinning against people and confessing/repenting to God. If they truly did confess and repent to God, the first thing God would say is confess and repent to (love) the person you sinned against. Many people who confess and repent to God for the sins they do to others are actually confessing and repenting to themselves.

You owe when someone loves you, so you ought to love others so you do not owe. Loving others fulfills the Law. "Love" is "giving a value to someone without expecting anything in return from the person you gave to."

All the Laws other than "love the Lord thy God..." are fulfilled by loving your neighbor, which is an effect of loving the Lord thy God.

Doctrine: You will not break the Law if you love. When you give without expecting anything in return, you will not break the Law.

Doctrine: Unbelievers will know if we are followers of Jesus by our love for other believers. Jesus, as a Semikah Rabbi, had the authority to give new Doctrine. The Disciples were essentially told they were responsible for continuing their own training with each other. It would have been easy for the Disciples to have felt abandoned at this point.