God is Love

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Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,896
3,636
113
#1
Ever pondered what John wrote that God is Love… :unsure:

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1John.4.8&version=KJV

What exactly does that mean…:unsure:

Does that mean that ONLY God is Love…:unsure:

Does that mean that ONLY Love is worthy of worship because God is Love… ONLY God is worthy to be worshipped…:unsure:

If ONLY God is Love, then Love has created all of creation and Love is God and therefore, Love cannot be created because Love is the Creator…

Yet, God has created us with the capacity or ability to love but, we have to choose to do so… we don’t love yet unconditionally… it’s not yet WHO we are but, I do believe it is WHO God is making us to be… just like Him… Love… Pure Love… personified.

I choose to love… God, others and myself… I don’t always choose to love but, I am starting to choose to love more and more…:love:

How are your choices to love God, others and yourself going? :unsure:
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,891
459
83
#2
Ever pondered what John wrote that God is Love… :unsure:

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1John.4.8&version=KJV


What exactly does that mean…:unsure:

Does that mean that ONLY God is Love…:unsure:

Does that mean that ONLY Love is worthy of worship because God is Love… ONLY God is worthy to be worshipped…:unsure:

If ONLY God is Love, then Love has created all of creation and Love is God and therefore, Love cannot be created because Love is the Creator…

Yet, God has created us with the capacity or ability to love but, we have to choose to do so… we don’t love yet unconditionally… it’s not yet WHO we are but, I do believe it is WHO God is making us to be… just like Him… Love… Pure Love… personified.

I choose to love… God, others and myself… I don’t always choose to love but, I am starting to choose to love more and more…:love:

How are your choices to love God, others and yourself going? :unsure:
It means that true love comes from God (1JN 4:7-21, RM 5:5), so volitional creatures or souls can love only by reflecting, imitating or cooperating with the Creator’s love. Although the Bible speaks of God hating Esau (ML 1:3) and other evil people (HS 9:15), Jesus’ teaching of love for enemies (MT 5:44) reveals that God loves all creatures including Satan but hates their sinful choices. God loves and wants to save everyone (1TM 2:3-4, ACTS 17:26-28); Christ died to show God’s love and the possible salvation of all (RM 5:6-8) including His enemies (ungodly, atheist, anti-Christ). God's love is unconditional, although God's salvation depends upon repentance and cooperating with His plan of salvation.

It seems logical to assume that the all-loving God would create the best possible world or one in which the greatest percentage of persons may attain ultimate joy (1TM 2:3-4, 2PT 3:9). God may have created all possible kinds of worlds simultaneously: the world of dead matter, the world of living plants, the world of intelligent animals, and the world of morally accountable souls/humans. God’s world/way is best.

The Bible also teaches that God is truth (JN 1:17, 8:40, 15:26, 17:17), so all truth is from God and manifests God’s Spirit. If any atheists are truthseekers, then they are not far from the kingdom of God (MK 12:34, 2THS 2:10, JN 18:37), because Jesus promised that those who seek will find (LK 11:9&13).
 
Nov 1, 2024
1,213
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#4
Treating other like you want to be treated and not treating others like you don't want to be treated is a good start. Practice that every moment and you will start seeing Christ forming within you
 

homwardbound

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2012
16,735
555
113
#5
Ever pondered what John wrote that God is Love… :unsure:

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1John.4.8&version=KJV


What exactly does that mean…:unsure:

Does that mean that ONLY God is Love…:unsure:

Does that mean that ONLY Love is worthy of worship because God is Love… ONLY God is worthy to be worshipped…:unsure:

If ONLY God is Love, then Love has created all of creation and Love is God and therefore, Love cannot be created because Love is the Creator…

Yet, God has created us with the capacity or ability to love but, we have to choose to do so… we don’t love yet unconditionally… it’s not yet WHO we are but, I do believe it is WHO God is making us to be… just like Him… Love… Pure Love… personified.

I choose to love… God, others and myself… I don’t always choose to love but, I am starting to choose to love more and more…:love:

How are your choices to love God, others and yourself going? :unsure:
God's type, love goes on forever

1 Corinthians 13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. ...

the above is peoples way, in love as are told and taught by religion to do to get and do not get it, yet! but think they will by works of, not true at least for me after going through under Lsaw too as Paul did and talks of in Romans 6,7,8

1 Corinthians 13:4
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 Corinthians 13:8
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 14:1
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
1 Corinthians 16:14
Let all your things be done with charity.
Colossians 3:14
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
1 Timothy 1:5
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and offaith unfeigned:

Love all God's way, therefore ask God for God's imputation to us via the Holy Spirit given us to be new, no other way I see can that be at least for me thank you
John 4:23-24
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,896
3,636
113
#6
It means that true love comes from God (1JN 4:7-21, RM 5:5), so volitional creatures or souls can love only by reflecting, imitating or cooperating with the Creator’s love. Although the Bible speaks of God hating Esau (ML 1:3) and other evil people (HS 9:15), Jesus’ teaching of love for enemies (MT 5:44) reveals that God loves all creatures including Satan but hates their sinful choices. God loves and wants to save everyone (1TM 2:3-4, ACTS 17:26-28); Christ died to show God’s love and the possible salvation of all (RM 5:6-8) including His enemies (ungodly, atheist, anti-Christ). God's love is unconditional, although God's salvation depends upon repentance and cooperating with His plan of salvation.

It seems logical to assume that the all-loving God would create the best possible world or one in which the greatest percentage of persons may attain ultimate joy (1TM 2:3-4, 2PT 3:9). God may have created all possible kinds of worlds simultaneously: the world of dead matter, the world of living plants, the world of intelligent animals, and the world of morally accountable souls/humans. God’s world/way is best.

The Bible also teaches that God is truth (JN 1:17, 8:40, 15:26, 17:17), so all truth is from God and manifests God’s Spirit. If any atheists are truthseekers, then they are not far from the kingdom of God (MK 12:34, 2THS 2:10, JN 18:37), because Jesus promised that those who seek will find (LK 11:9&13).
Yes, God did hate Esau… now ponder this…

What does Love hate? :unsure:
What does Love love? :unsure:

I’m finding God and Love are interchangeable… synonyms.. of course I’m speaking of amazing powerful uncompromising holy pure Love that never changes…
not human superficial love… that is never constant.. love you one day and not the next…
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,896
3,636
113
#7
Join me as we continue to ponder… :unsure:

fellow believers are to know and recognize each other by the love we have for one another… it’s not by anything else… just Love…

People’s love grows cold towards the end of days… yet, I believe God’s Love in the hearts of His Believers will grow hotter and hotter, fervent and more fervent… always abounding more and more…
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,896
3,636
113
#8
I believe the next and possibly last outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit Revival before Jesus returns for His Bride will come on a great spiritual tsunami wave of intimate awakening of God’s Love shed abroad in our hearts… an overwhelming overflowing outpouring of God’s Love…

The Bride must be ready… when God’s Love is made perfect in her, she will be without spot, wrinkle or blemish… and her lamp full of oil and lit and have extra oil… love, pure love… :love:
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
3,399
1,006
113
#9
Ever pondered what John wrote that God is Love… :unsure:

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1John.4.8&version=KJV


What exactly does that mean…:unsure:

Does that mean that ONLY God is Love…:unsure:

Does that mean that ONLY Love is worthy of worship because God is Love… ONLY God is worthy to be worshipped…:unsure:

If ONLY God is Love, then Love has created all of creation and Love is God and therefore, Love cannot be created because Love is the Creator…

Yet, God has created us with the capacity or ability to love but, we have to choose to do so… we don’t love yet unconditionally… it’s not yet WHO we are but, I do believe it is WHO God is making us to be… just like Him… Love… Pure Love… personified.

I choose to love… God, others and myself… I don’t always choose to love but, I am starting to choose to love more and more…:love:

How are your choices to love God, others and yourself going? :unsure:
1 John 4:8
The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
 

wattie

Senior Member
Feb 24, 2009
3,258
1,150
113
New Zealand
#10
yea its about the source of the love.. God... rather than love being God..which would be idolatry.

Real love is also grace and truth combined, so there is Gods commitment to the believer that is the grace part and discipline which is the truth part.

So it is real love that is a combination of the two... in Jesus Christ.
 

JohnRH

Junior Member
Mar 5, 2018
683
330
63
#11
What does Love hate? :unsure:
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 1 Cor 13:4-6 (KJV)

Envy, pride, uncomeliness, selfishness, evil, and iniquity?
 

blueluna5

Well-known member
Jul 30, 2018
669
401
63
#12
Ever pondered what John wrote that God is Love… :unsure:

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1John.4.8&version=KJV


What exactly does that mean…:unsure:

Does that mean that ONLY God is Love…:unsure:

Does that mean that ONLY Love is worthy of worship because God is Love… ONLY God is worthy to be worshipped…:unsure:

If ONLY God is Love, then Love has created all of creation and Love is God and therefore, Love cannot be created because Love is the Creator…

Yet, God has created us with the capacity or ability to love but, we have to choose to do so… we don’t love yet unconditionally… it’s not yet WHO we are but, I do believe it is WHO God is making us to be… just like Him… Love… Pure Love… personified.

I choose to love… God, others and myself… I don’t always choose to love but, I am starting to choose to love more and more…:love:

How are your choices to love God, others and yourself going? :unsure:
I take it word for word. It's impossible to know God, and yet not love others. It's impossible to love others, and not know God.
When we love we simply reflect God's love. It comes from a source, which is God. We are simply the vessel of HIS love.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,891
459
83
#13
Yes, God did hate Esau… now ponder this…

What does Love hate? :unsure:
What does Love love? :unsure:


I’m finding God and Love are interchangeable… synonyms.. of course I’m speaking of amazing powerful uncompromising holy pure Love that never changes…
not human superficial love… that is never constant.. love you one day and not the next…
So you think Jesus lied when he said God loves even His enemies (MT 5:44) and Paul lied when he said God loves everyone (1TM 2:3-4)?
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,891
459
83
#14
Maybe it is appropriate to share this redeemed song on this thread.

“Dear God”
(Tune: the Beatles’ “Hey Jude”)

Dear God, sometimes I’m bad;
take my sad song and make it better.
The minute I let you into my heart,
then I can start to make it better.

Dear Lord, give me your love;
teach me compassion for all my brothers.
The minute I let you under my skin,
then I’ll begin to love them better.

And anytime I feel the pain, I’ll call your name,
Why carry the world upon my shoulders.
For now I know that it’s a fool who plays it cool,
Ignoring your peace, your love, the gospel.

Jesus, I won’t let you down;
you have loved me, now I will love everyone.
The minute I let you into my heart,
then I could start to love them better.

I’ll put hate out and let love in, Jesus, begin,
I’m waiting for someone to perform with.
And don’t you know that it’s just you, Jesus, you’ll do;
The moment you came loving had meaning.

Dear God, I’m no longer sad;
got your glad song, and I feel better,
The minute I let you under my skin,
then I began to make it better, better, …
Da, da da, da da da da,… Dear God. (repeat and fade)
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,896
3,636
113
#15
So you think Jesus lied when he said God loves even His enemies (MT 5:44) and Paul lied when he said God loves everyone (1TM 2:3-4)?
God cannot lie.

God hated what was spiritually inside of Esau and loved what was spiritually inside Jacob concerning the birthright given by God.

God telling us to love our enemies has nothing to do with God hating Esau.

God died for all of us throughout the ages while we were His enemy full of sin trespassing against Him.

When a relationship becomes broken after a trespass or offense done intentionally or unintentionally, the only way reconciliation can happen is with forgiveness.

God would have to destroy us or forgive us. I’m so thankful He chose to forgive us even from the foundation of the world (the Lamb had been slain).

Now, God wants us to go and do the same for each other… love our enemies and forgive them.
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,896
3,636
113
#16
I take it word for word. It's impossible to know God, and yet not love others. It's impossible to love others, and not know God.
When we love we simply reflect God's love. It comes from a source, which is God. We are simply the vessel of HIS love.
Amen! :love:
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,891
459
83
#17
God cannot lie.

God hated what was spiritually inside of Esau and loved what was spiritually inside Jacob concerning the birthright given by God.

God telling us to love our enemies has nothing to do with God hating Esau.

God died for all of us throughout the ages while we were His enemy full of sin trespassing against Him.

When a relationship becomes broken after a trespass or offense done intentionally or unintentionally, the only way reconciliation can happen is with forgiveness.

God would have to destroy us or forgive us. I’m so thankful He chose to forgive us even from the foundation of the world (the Lamb had been slain).

Now, God wants us to go and do the same for each other… love our enemies and forgive them.
On the contrary, God telling us to love our enemies has EVERYTHING to do with God not practicing what He preaches by hating His enemy Esau. You have the audacity to portray us as more loving than God?!
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,891
459
83
#18
On the contrary, God telling us to love our enemies has EVERYTHING to do with God not practicing what He preaches by hating His enemy Esau. You have the audacity to portray us as more loving than God?!
And regarding "God hating what was spiritually inside Esau", are you unable to see that is exactly what I meant by saying "Although the Bible speaks of God hating Esau (ML 1:3) and other evil people (HS 9:15), Jesus’ teaching of love for enemies (MT 5:44) reveals that God loves all creatures including Satan but hates their sinful choices."?

Are you trying to be cantankerous or what?
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,896
3,636
113
#19
On the contrary, God telling us to love our enemies has EVERYTHING to do with God not practicing what He preaches by hating His enemy Esau. You have the audacity to portray us as more loving than God?!
Hmmm… :unsure: strange answer, evidence that you did not understand anything I said.

God is love.

What does Love hate?

what does Love love?
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,891
459
83
#20
Hmmm… :unsure: strange answer, evidence that you did not understand anything I said.

God is love.

What does Love hate?

what does Love love?
Love hates that you didn’t reply to all of my replies. (Communicating clearly, concisely and completely is too tricky:^)