Love and Forgiveness
1. God is love, and 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, and washed us from our sins in His Own blood
D. Dwelling and abiding in God's love:
Jn.14:21 He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him
Jn.14:23 If a man love Me...My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make Our abode with him
Jn.17:26 That the love...may be in them, and 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 God2. The first great commandment--to love God:
Deut.6:5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might
Deut.10:12 What doth the Lord require of thee, but to love Him...with all thy heart and with all thy soul
Deut.30:20 Love God, and...cleave unto Him: for He is thy life
Josh.22:5 Take diligent heed to...to love the Lord your God, and 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 and 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 another4. 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, and 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 and abound in love one toward another, and 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)... and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all...offerings and sacrifices
Lk.10:25,27,28 To inherit eternal life...love God with all thy heart... neighbour as thyself. This do, and 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 and love...the greatest of these is love
1Cor.13:2b Though I have faith...and have not love, I am nothing
Gal.5:6 Faith...worketh by love
Eph.3:17 (Be) rooted and 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 and 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 and 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 and more...that ye may be sincere and 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; and the God of love shall be with you
Eph.3:17-19 Ye, being rooted and 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, and knoweth God
1Jn.4:12 If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us (See also 1Jn.2:5 )
1Jn.4:16 God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him5. 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 and courteous:
1Cor.13:4a Love suffereth long, and 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 courteous6. Real love results in good deeds:
A. Putting love into action:
Mat.14:14 Jesus...was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick
Mat.25:35 I was an hungered...I was thirsty, and 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 and 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 and 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: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren
Acts 15:25,26 Barnabas and 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, and shutteth up his ...compassion, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Jam.4:17 To him that knoweth to do good, and 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 Me7. 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 and envy, hate ful, and hating one another
Jam.3:9-12 Bless we God...and 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, and 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, and 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 and abound in love...toward all men
Heb.12:14a Follow peace with all men
B. We are to especially love brothers and 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 and/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 and 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...and if he be thirsty, give water...and 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, and 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 him9. Love, forgiveness and 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, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression
Num.14:19 Pardon...the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy
Psa.103:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and 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, and...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" and retribution:
Mic.7:18 God...pardoneth iniquity...He delighteth in mercy
Mat.9:13 I will have (desire) mercy, and 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 and 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, and 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...and 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...and their sins...remember no more
(See also Psa.32:1,2 ; Isa.38:17 .)
F. God is especially merciful to those who love and fear Him:
Exo.20:6 Showing mercy unto...them that love Me, and keep My commandments
Deut.7:9 God...keepeth covenant and 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 sins10. We are to be merciful and 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, and forgiving one another... even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye
B. Have longsuffering and great mercy and keep forgiving:
Lk.17:4 If he trespass against thee 7 times in a day, and 7 times... repent; thou shalt forgive him
Mat.18:21,22 Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and 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 and 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 and 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, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and 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 and don't need forgiveness; therefore they are unloving and 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, and [therefore] despised others11. 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 and his child died]
1Chr.21:1-14,17 [David sinned, then repented and 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, and that without remedy
Mat.21:33-41 [After showing mercy and patience, God destroyed the unrepentant wicked] (See also Mk.12:1-9 )
(Compare 2Chr.33:1-19 ; Jer.15:1-4 and 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 and Ezk.14:14,18,20 .)
D. It is right and godly to hate the anti-God wicked:
Eccl.3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate
2Chr.19:2b Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and 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 and 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; and 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 and patience in order to help them repent, and 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...and let him return unto the Lord, and [then] He will have mercy...and 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 and ask for forgiveness:
Psa.32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee...and Thou forgavest
Psa.86:5 Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and 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, and 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 himSpecial chapters:
1Cor.13 ; 1Jn.4 .
Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family International