LOVE & FORGIVENESS

1. God is love, & He loves us:

*1Jn.4:8b*God is love

A. God's love for us:

*Jer.31:3*I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee

*Rom.8:38,39*I am persuaded, that [nothing] shall be able to separate us from the love of God

*Eph.2:4-6*God...for His great love wherewith He loved us...hath raised us up

*1Jn.3:1*What manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us

*1Jn.4:10*Love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us

*(See also  Zeph.3:17 )

B. How God showed us His love:

*Jn.3:16*God so loved the world, that He gave His only...Son

*Rom.5:7,8*God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

*1Jn.4:9*In this was manifested the love of God...God sent His Son into the world, that we might live through Him

C. Jesus' love for us:

*Jn.10:11*I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep

*Jn.15:13*Greater love hath no man...that (he) lay down his life  2Cor.8:9  Though He (Jesus) was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye...might be rich

*Eph.3:19*Know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge

*Rev.1:5*Jesus Christ...loved us, & washed us from our sins in His Own blood

D. Dwelling & abiding in God's love:

*Jn.14:21*He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, & I will love him, & will manifest Myself to him

*Jn.14:23*If a man love Me...My Father will love him, & we will come unto him, & make Our abode with him

*Jn.17:26*That the love...may be in them, & I in them

*1Jn.2:5*Whoso keepeth...Word, in him is love of God perfected

*1Jn.4:19*We love him, because He first loved us

*Jude 21b*Keep yourselves in the love of God

2. The first great commandment--to love God:

*Deut.6:5*Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, & with all thy soul, & with all thy might

*Deut.10:12*What doth the Lord require of thee, but to love Him...with all thy heart & with all thy soul

*Deut.30:20*Love God, &...cleave unto Him: for He is thy life

*Josh.22:5*Take diligent heed to...to love the Lord your God, & to cleave unto Him

*Josh.23:11*Take good heed unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord

*Mat.22:37,38*Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart...this is the first & great commandment

*(See also  Deut.30:6 ;  Mk.12:30 .)

3. The second great commandment--to love thy* neighbour:

*Lev.19:18*Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself

*Mat.22:39*The second (commandment) is like unto it (the first), Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself

*Jn.13:34*Love one another; as I have loved you

*Jn.15:12*This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you

*Jn.15:17*These things I command you, that ye love one another

*1Jn.3:11*This is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another

*1Jn.3:23*His commandment, That we should...love one another

4. Love one another:

A. God loves us so we should love one another:

*Jn.13:34*As I have loved you...ye [ought to] love one another

*Eph.5:2a*Walk in love [one to another], as Christ also hath loved us, & hath given Himself for us

*1Jn.4:7a*Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God

*1Jn.4:11*If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another  1Jn.5:1b  Every one that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him

B. God gives us love to love others:

*Rom.5:5*The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us

*Gal.5:22*The fruit of the Spirit is love...longsuffering

*1Thes.3:12*The Lord make you to increase & abound in love one toward another, & toward all men

*1Thes.4:9*Ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another

*2Thes.3:5*The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God

*2Tim.1:7*God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of love

*(See also  Eph.6:23 )

C. To love is the greatest law of God:

*Mk.12:33*To love (God)... & to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all...offerings & sacrifices

*Lk.10:25,27,28*To inherit eternal life...love God with all thy heart... neighbour as thyself. This do, & thou shalt live

*Gal.5:14*All the law is fulfilled in...this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself

D. Love is the most important virtue:

*1Cor.13:13*Faith, hope & love...the greatest of these is love

*1Cor.13:2b*Though I have faith...& have not love, I am nothing

*Gal.5:6*Faith...worketh by love

*Eph.3:17*(Be) rooted & grounded in love

*Eph.3:19*The love of Christ...passeth knowledge

*Col.3:14*Above all these things put on love

*Rev.2:3,4*For My name's sake hast laboured...(but) I have somewhat against thee...thou hast left thy first love

*(See also  Eph.1:15,16 ;  Col.1:3,4 ;  Phlm.5 .)

E. Love one another fervently:

*1Thes.3:12*Increase & abound in love one toward another

*1Pet.1:22b*Love one another with a pure heart fervently

*1Pet.4:8*Above all things have fervent love among yourselves

F. Love sincerely & genuinely:

*Judg.16:15a*How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me?

*Rom.12:9*Let love be without dissimulation (hypocrisy)

*1Pet.1:22a*Obeying the truth...to unfeigned love of the brethren (See also  2Cor.6:6 ;  8:8 .)

*Phi.1:9,10*That your love may abound yet more & more...that ye may be sincere & without offence

G. The benefits that loving others brings us:

*Jn.13:35*By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another

*2Cor.13:11*Live in peace; & the God of love shall be with you

*Eph.3:17-19*Ye, being rooted & grounded in love...might be filled with all the fulness of God

*1Jn.2:10*He that loveth his brother abideth in the light

*1Jn.3:14*We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren

*1Jn.4:7b*Every one that loveth is born of God, & knoweth God

*1Jn.4:12*If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, & His love is perfected in us (See also  1Jn.2:5 )

*1Jn.4:16*God is love; & he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, & God in him

5. Real, genuine love:

A. Whatever you do, do it in love:

*1Cor.16:14*Let all your things be done with love

*2Cor.5:14*The love of Christ constraineth (compels) us

B. The qualities that genuine love will have:

*1Cor.8:1b*Love edifieth (builds up, strengthens)

*1Cor.13:4*Love envieth not; vaunteth (exalts) not itself, is not puffed up (proud)

*1Cor.13:5*Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil

*1Cor.13:6*Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth Col.3:14 Love...is the bond of perfectness

*1Jn.4:18*There is no fear in love...love casteth out fear

C. Genuine love results in unity of believers:

*Col.2:2a*That their hearts might be...knit together in love

*(See also  1Sam.18:1 ;  Eph.4:15,16 ;  Phi.2:1,2 .)

D. Real love will not give up or fail:

*Song 8:7*Many waters [troubles] cannot quench love...drown it

*1Cor.13:4*Love suffereth long

*1Cor.13:7*Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things

*1Cor.13:8*Love never faileth

*Heb.13:1*Let brotherly love continue (keep up, not fail)

E. Love is not pushy:

*Rom.12:10*With brotherly love; in honour preferring one another

*Phlm.8,9a*Though I might be bold...to (command, impose upon) thee...yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee

F. Love is considerate of others' weaknesses:

*Rom.14:21*It is good [not to do] any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak

*Rom.15:1*We...ought to bear the infirmities of the weak

*Rom.15:2*Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good

*Gal.5:13*By love serve one another

*Eph.4:2*With longsuffering, forbearing one another in love

G. Love will not hurt or do wrong to others:

*Rom.13:9,10*Love worketh no ill to his neighbour

H. If we have love, we will be kind & courteous:

*1Cor.13:4a*Love suffereth long, & is kind

*Eph.4:15*Speaking the truth in love [not inconsiderately blunt]

*Eph.4:32*Be ye kind...tenderhearted, forgiving one another

*1Pet.3:8*(Have) compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous

6. Real love results in good deeds:

A. Putting love into action:

*Mat.14:14*Jesus...was moved with compassion toward them, & He healed their sick

*Mat.25:35*I was an hungered...I was thirsty, & ye gave

*Lk.6:31*As ye would that men should do to you, do ye to them

*Lk.10:30-35*[The good Samaritan took loving action & helped]

*Gal.6:10*Let us do good [deeds] unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith

*1Jn.3:18*Let us not love in word [only]...but in deed & truth

*2Jn.6*This is love, that we walk after His commandments

B. Sacrificial love, giving our lives for others:

*Jn.15:13*Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends

*1Jn.3:16*He (Jesus) laid down His life for us: & we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren

*Acts 15:25,26*Barnabas & Paul...hazarded their lives for the name of Jesus (See also Acts 20:24)

*Phi.2:30*For the work of Christ he was nigh unto death

C. Be concerned about others' welfare; not just your own:

*1Cor.13:5*(Love) seeketh not her own

*Phi.2:4*Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others

*1Thes.4:9*As touching brotherly love...love one another

D. Selfishness shows a lack of love:

*1Jn.3:17*Whoso...seeth his brother have need, & shutteth up his ...compassion, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

*Jam.4:17*To him that knoweth to do good, & doeth it not, to him it is sin

E. Doing good to our brethren is doing it to Jesus:

*Mat.25:35-40*Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of My brethren, ye have done it unto Me

*Heb.6:10*Love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints

*(See also  Eph.6:5-8 ;  Col.3:22-24 .)

F. Failing to do good to our brethren is failing to do it to Jesus:

*Mat.25:41-45*Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me

7. Love vs. hate:

A. We do not truly love God if we don't love our fellow man:

*1Jn.4:20*He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God Whom he hath not seen?

*Tit.3:3-5*[Before we were saved] we...(lived) in malice & envy, hate ful, & hating one another

*Jam.3:9-12*Bless we God...& curse men. My brethren, these things ought not so to be (See also  Jam.3:14 ;  1Jn.3:17 .)

*1Jn.4:21*This commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also

*(See also  Mat.5:23,24 )

B. We are commanded not to be hateful:

*Lev.19:17,18*Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart...but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself

C. When we don't love one another:

*1Jn.2:9,11*He that hateth his brother is in darkness...blinded

*1Jn.3:10*He that loveth not his brother...is not of God

*1Jn.3:14b*He that loveth not his brother abideth in death

*1Jn.3:15*Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer

*1Jn.4:20a*If a man say, I love God, & hateth his brother...liar

*1Jn.4:8*He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love

D. The bad fruit of hatred:

*Gen.37:4*They hated him, & could not speak peaceably unto him

*Pro.10:12a*Hatred stirreth up stifes

*1Jn.3:15*Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer

*(See also  Gen.4:3-8 ;  Pro.26:26 ;  Ezk.25:15 .)

8. Special categories of love:

A. We are to love all men:

*Mat.5:46,47*If ye [only] love them which love you...what do ye more than others? (See also Lk.6:32,33)

*1Thes.3:12*Increase & abound in love...toward all men

*Heb.12:14a*Follow peace with all men

B. We are to especially love brothers & sisters in the Lord:

*Jn.13:35*By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another

*Gal.6:10*Especially unto them who are of the household of faith

*1Pet.2:17*Honour all men. Love the brotherhood

*(See also  Heb.13:1 ;  1Pet.4:8 . Also compare  Tit.3:15 ;  2Jn.1 ;  3Jn.1  re: "loving in the faith".)

C. Examples of unusually great love &/or admiration:

*1Sam.18:1*The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, (he) loved him as his own soul*(See also  20:17 )

*2Sam.1:26*[David declared his deep love for Jonathan]

*Mk.10:17-21*[Jesus was moved with love for the rich young ruler]

*Jn.11:3,5*[Jesus' special love for Mary, Martha & Lazarus]

*Jn.13:23*[Jesus had a special love for the apostle John] (See also  Jn.19:26 ;  21:7,20 .)

*1Thes.5:13*Esteem them very highly in love for their [good] work's sake

D. We are even to demonstrate God's love to our foes:

*Pro.25:21,22*If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread...& if he be thirsty, give water...& the Lord shall reward thee

*Mat.5:43-47*Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good ...that ye may be the children of your Father

*Lk.6:27-30*Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, & pray for them

*Lk.6:32-35*If ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? Sinners also love those that love them

*Lk.10:30-37*A Samaritan [adversary of the Jews]...when he saw him [a wounded Jew], he had compassion on him

9. Love, forgiveness & mercy:

A. To love means to be forgiving:

*Pro.10:12b*Love covereth all sins

*1Pet.4:8b*Love shall cover the multitude of sins

B. God is merciful to us:

*Num.14:18a*The Lord is longsuffering, & of great mercy, forgiving iniquity & transgression

*Num.14:19*Pardon...the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy

*Psa.103:8*The Lord is merciful & gracious, slow to anger, & plenteous in mercy

*Psa.103:10,11*He hath not dealt with us after our sins...great is His mercy toward them that fear Him

*Lam.3:22,23*It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not...new every morning

*Isa.63:7*The great goodness...He bestowed on them according to His mercies, &...multitude of His lovingkindnesses (See also  2Sam.24:14  ;  Isa.54:7,8  .)

*(Re: God's lovingkindness, see   Psa.25:6 ;  36:7 ;  40:11 ;  69:16 ;  103:2-4 ;

*119:149 ;  Jer.9:24 .)

C. God loves mercy more than "justice" & retribution:

*Mic.7:18*God...pardoneth iniquity...He delighteth in mercy

*Mat.9:13*I will have (desire) mercy, & not sacrifice (See also Hos.6:6)

*Jam.2:13b*Mercy rejoiceth against judgment

*Rom.5:20*Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound

*Pro.16:6*By mercy & truth iniquity is purged

D. He often refrains from justly punishing us:

*Exo.32:14*The Lord repented of the evil which He thought to do unto His people

*Psa.103:9,10*He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities

*Psa.130:3,4*If Thou...shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee

*2Sam.24:16*The Lord repented of the evil, & said to the angel that destroyed the people, Stay now thine hand

*(See also  Gen.18:20,23-26 ;  Jon.1:1,2 ;  3:10 ;  4:11 .)

E. God mercifully forgives our sins:

*Psa.103:12*As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us

*Isa.1:18*Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow...as wool

*Mic.7:19*He will have compassion upon us...& cast all their sins into the depths of the sea

*Isa.43:25*I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions

*Isa.44:22*I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy...sins

*Heb.8:12*I will be merciful...& their sins...remember no more

*(See also  Psa.32:1,2 ;  Isa.38:17 .)

F. God is especially merciful to those who love & fear Him:

*Exo.20:6*Showing mercy unto...them that love Me, & keep My commandments

*Deut.7:9*God...keepeth covenant & mercy with them that love Him

*Psa.103:11*As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him

*Psa.103:13*Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him

*Psa.103:17*The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him

*Lk.7:47,48*Her (many) sins, are forgiven; for she loved much

*Acts 26:18*Turn...from darkness to light...that they may receive forgiveness of sins

10. We are to be merciful & forgiving:

*Mic.6:8*What doth Lord require of thee, but to...love mercy

A. We should forgive others as God has forgiven us:

*Mat.18:33*Shouldst not thou also have...had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

*Lk.6:36*Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful

*Eph.4:32*(Forgive) one another, even as God...hath forgiven you

*Col.3:13*Forbearing one another, & forgiving one another... even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye

B. Have longsuffering & great mercy & keep forgiving:

*Lk.17:4*If he trespass against thee 7 times in a day, & 7 times... repent; thou shalt forgive him

*Mat.18:21,22*Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, & I forgive him? Until 70 times 7 (times)

*Pro.17:9*He that covereth (passes over) a transgression seeketh love

C. Make mercy a rule in your heart:

*Pro.3:3,4*Let not mercy & truth forsake thee: write them upon the table of thine heart

D. Forgive sincerely; don't harbour grudges or hatred:

*Lev.19:17,18*Thou shalt not bear any grudge...but thou shalt love

*Mat.18:35*From your hearts forgive...every one his brother

*Eph.4:31,32*Let all bitterness...be put away from you, with all malice: forgive one another (See  Heb.12:15 )

*Jam.5:9*Grudge not against another, brethren

E. God shows mercy to us if we are merciful & forgiving:

*Psa.18:25*With the merciful Thou wilt show Thyself merciful

*Mat.5:7*Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy

*Mat.6:12*Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

*Mat.6:14*If ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you

*Mk.11:25*Forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father... may forgive you your trespasses

*Lk.6:37*Condemn not, & ye shall not be condemned: forgive, & ye shall be forgiven

F. But woe to the unmerciful:

*Mat.6:15*If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will (God) forgive your trespasses (See also  Mk.11:26 )

*Mat.18:23-35*So...shall (God) do also unto you, if ye...forgive not every one his brother their trespasses

*Jam.2:13*He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy

G. The self-righteous feel they don't sin & don't need forgiveness; therefore they are unloving & unforgiving to others:

*Lk.7:47b*To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little

*Lk.15:25-30*[The faithful older brother was angry that his father forgave the penitent prodigal son]

*Lk.18:9*Certain trusted in themselves that they were righteous, & [therefore] despised others

11. The limits of forgiveness:

*2Pet.3:9*The Lord...is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should (repent)

A. Even God's forgiveness is balanced with justice:

*Num.14:1-3,11-23*[Although God pardoned them (vs.19,20), the Jews  weren't allowed to enter the promised land]

*2Sam.12:7-14*[God forgave David, but because his sin was so serious, he was still punished & his child died]

*1Chr.21:1-14,17*[David sinned, then repented & begged forgiveness, but the Lord still sent a severe punishment]

*2Chr.36:15,16*He had compassion...but they mocked, despised...wrath of the Lord arose...till there was no remedy

*Pro.29:1*[Hardened rebels] destroyed, & that without remedy

*Mat.21:33-41*[After showing mercy & patience, God destroyed the unrepentant wicked] (See also  Mk.12:1-9 )

*(Compare  2Chr.33:1-19 ;  Jer.15:1-4  & compare  Mat. 5:44,45 ;  Heb.6:7,8 .)

B. He does not forgive wicked or unrepentant offenders:

*Isa.22:12-14*This iniquity not...purged from you till you die

*Mat.12:31,32*[Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit--rejecting Jesus,  Jn.15:26 --not forgiven now or ever]

*Rom.1:29-32*They which commit such things are worthy of death (See also  Rom.2:2,3  ;  Heb.10:26-31 .)

C. Sometimes interceding prayer will not make Him forgive:

*(See  Jer.7:16 ;  14:7-12 ;  16:5 ; Compare  Jer.15:1  &  Ezk.14:14,18,20 .)

D. It is right and godly to hate the anti-God wicked:

*Eccl.3:8*A time to love, & a time to hate

*2Chr.19:2b*Shouldest thou help the ungodly, & love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee

*Psa.26:5*I have hated the congregation of evildoers

*Psa.97:10*Ye that love the Lord, hate evil

*Psa.139:21,22*Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies

E. The unrepentant wicked are not forgiven & must pay for their evil-doing:

*2Thes.1:6-9*It is a righteous thing with God to (pay back) tribulation to them that trouble you

*Rev.6:9-11*[Saints in Heaven pray for God to avenge their blood on the wicked who killed them]

*Rev.16:5,6*Thou art righteous, O Lord...because Thou hast judged ...for they have shed the blood of saints

*(Caution:  Pro.25:21,22 ;  Rom.12:19,20 ;  Deut.32:35 .)

*(See also  Gen.6:5-7,11-13 ;  7:21-23 ;  2Pet.2:4-6 ;  Jude 6, 7,14,15 .)

12. Even erring Christians must repent to be forgiven:

A. No obligation to forgive unrepentant brethren:

*Lk.17:3*If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; & if he repent, forgive him (See also  Mat.18:15 )

*(See also  Rom.16:17 ;  1Cor.5:11,13 ;  2Thes.3:6,14 ;  Tit. 3:10 ;  2Jn.10,11  re: not forgiving those who wilfully sin against the truth)

B. There is a time to be firm:

*1Cor.4:18,21*What will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or love

*Tit.1:13*Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith

C. Show mercy & patience in order to help them repent, & do not pardon them until they do:

*Lk.13:6-9*[Parable of patiently tending the unfruitful tree, warning it will be cut down if it doesn't respond]

*Rom.2:3-6*[Don't mistake God's patience for forgiveness; "the goodness of God" is to "lead thee to repentance"]

*(See also   Gal.6:1 )

D. Serious offenders must change, not merely be "sorry":

*Isa.55:7*Let the wicked forsake his way...& let him return unto the Lord, & [then] He will have mercy...& pardon

*Mat.3:8*Bring forth fruits meet for (worthy of) repentance

*Mat.3:10*Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down [judged] (See also  Mat.7:19 ;  Lk.3:8,9 .)

*(See also  Psa.51:10 ;  101:3 ;  Jer.3:10b ;  Hos.6:4 .)

E. They must confess their sin & ask for forgiveness:

*Psa.32:5*I acknowledged my sin unto thee...& Thou forgavest

*Psa.86:5*Thou, Lord, art good, & ready to forgive; & plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee

*Acts 3:19*Repent ye...that your sins may be blotted out

*1Jn.1:9*If we confess our sins, He is faithful...to forgive

*2Cor.2:6-8*[After punishment] ye ought to forgive him, lest [he] be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow

F. Don't use this as an excuse to be unforgiving:

*Mat.5:22*Whosoever is angry with his brother without a [legitimate] cause shall be in danger of the judgment

G. God still loves the wayward, & you should too:

*Psa.89:30-33*I will visit their transgression with the rod...[but] My lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him

*2Thes.3:15*Count him not as an enemy, but admonish as a brother

*(See also  Jam.5:19,20 )

H. When they repent, He will love them freely:

*Hos.14:4*I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him

Special chapters:

*1Cor.13 ;  1Jn.4 .

Copyright (c) 1997 by The Family