What Is Love?

Love is a central theme in the Bible and is described in various ways, reflecting both God’s character and how we are called to live. Here’s a biblical understanding of love:

1. God’s Love for Us:

   • The Bible teaches that love is inherent to God’s nature. 1 John 4:8 NKJV says, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." God’s love for humanity is unconditional, sacrificial, and eternal. John 3:16 NKJV famously expresses this: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
   • Application: God’s love for us is the foundation of our relationship with Him. It’s a love that is not earned but given freely, offering us salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ.

2. Love as a Commandment:

   • Jesus taught that love is the greatest commandment, encompassing our relationship with God and with others. Matthew 22:37-39 NKJV says, "Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’"
   • Application: Love is not just an emotional feeling but a commandment that requires action. It involves a deep, selfless commitment to God. We are to love God with our whole being, willing to sacrifice our personal goals for His greater glory. Loving others means putting their needs above our own, practicing selflessness and sacrificial love.

3. Agape Love:

   • The New Testament often uses the Greek word "agape" to describe the highest form of love, characterized by selflessness, sacrifice, and commitment. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV describes agape love: "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
   • Application: Agape love is the kind of love God shows us, and it’s the love we are called to show others. It goes beyond emotions and is demonstrated through actions that seek the best for others, even at a cost to ourselves.

4. Love as the Fulfillment of the Law:

   • Love is seen as the fulfillment of God’s law because it encapsulates all the commandments. Romans 13:8-10 NKJV says, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
   • Application: When we love others as God commands, we naturally fulfill the moral requirements of God’s law. Love guides our actions, ensuring that we treat others with respect, kindness, and integrity.

5. Love Is a Fruit of the Spirit:

   • Love is a key fruit of the Holy Spirit, reflecting the transformation that occurs when we live by the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV lists the fruits: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
   • Application: As believers, we should seek to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, with love being the foremost characteristic. This love should be evident in how we interact with others, demonstrating the Spirit’s work in our hearts.

6. Love as a Mark of Discipleship:

   • Jesus taught that love is the distinguishing mark of His disciples. John 13:34-35 NKJV says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
   • Application: Our love for one another should be a testimony to the world of our relationship with Christ. This love should be genuine, selfless, and reflective of the love Jesus has shown us.

In summary, love in the biblical sense is a profound, self-giving love that originates from God and is demonstrated through our actions toward others. It’s the foundation of our faith and the essence of how we are called to live as followers of Christ.