Matthew 5: 43-45:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.'
But I tell you this: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. In this way, you show that you are children of your Father in heaven.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13:
I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don't have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal. I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don't have love, I am nothing. I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned. But if I don't have love, none of these things will help me.
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. It does not sing its own praises [brag]. It is not arrogant. It is not rude. It does not think about itself. It is not irritable. It does not keep track of wrongs. It is not happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth. Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, and never gives up. Love never comes to an end.
There is the gift of speaking what God has revealed, but it will no longer be used. There is the gift of speaking in other languages, but it will stop by itself. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will no longer be used.
Our knowledge is incomplete and our ability to speak what God has revealed is incomplete. But when what is complete comes then what is incomplete will no longer be used.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I no longer used childish ways.
Now we see a blurred image in a mirror [mirrors in the first century did to reflect a very good reflection]. Then we will see very clearly. Now my knowledge is incomplete. Then I will have complete knowledge as God has complete knowledge of me.
So these three things remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
2 Peter 3:7-15:
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same [prophetic] word [of Yehovah], are kept in store, and reserved unto fire until the Day of Judgment [White Throne Judgment period – Revelation 20:11] and perdition of ungodly men.
Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord [Yehovah] as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord [Yehovah] is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The day of the Lord [Yehovah] will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conduct and godliness [which is love, as God is love – 1 John 4:8], looking for and moving forward unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
Note: Read all of Revelation 21; which is speaking about the coming New Age when the new heavens and new earth are brought into being and only those whose names have been written in the book of life will be in that New Age, i.e. vs. 24, 27.
Note: We will have all of this that will take place after the White Throne Judgment when we as members of the New Humanity as glorified immortal men and women enter into the New Age when Yehovah will come down to the earth and dwell with us at Zion. Only those who are glorified immortal men and women in the lord Messiah, whose names are written in the book of life will enter into that coming New Age!
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found by Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
And know that the longsuffering patience of our Lord [Yehovah] is salvation…
Ephesians 4:1-3:
I, therefore, the prisoner of the lord [Jesus], beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
I Thessalonians 5:14-15:
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all men.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good [loving], both among yourselves, and to all men.
James 5:7-9:
Be longsuffering, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the lord [Jesus]. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and later rain. Be you also are to be longsuffering, and to establish your hearts: for the coming of the lord [Jesus] is coming soon. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest you be condemned: behold the Judge stands before the door.
Notice what Nehemiah says about Yehovah’s attitude toward His hardened, rebellious people, showing the greatness of His love for them:
Nehemiah 9:17:
And [Israel] refused to obey, neither were they mindful of your wonders that you did among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great [loving] kindness, and forsook them not.
Romans 2:4 – An example of God’s love that we are to emulate!
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness [loving kindness] of God leads you to repentance?
Titus 3:3-5:
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
But after that, the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy [acting according to His nature which is love] He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit;
Ephesians 4:31-32:
Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred.
Be kind [loving] to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through the Messiah.
Ephesians 2:7: Another example showing us that God is love, and we ought to love as He loves enabled to do so by His indwelling Spirit.
That in the ages to come He [Yehovah] might show the exceeding riches of His grace in his [loving] kindness toward us through the Messiah Jesus.
Luke 6:35-36:
But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to those who are evil. Be you, therefore, merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Philippians 2:1-5:
Do you have any comfort from love? Do you have any spiritual relationships? Do you have any sympathy and compassion? Then fill me with joy by having the same attitude and the same love, living in harmony, and keeping one purpose in mind. Don't act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves. Don't be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. Have the same attitude that the Messiah Jesus had.
Note: All that Jesus said and did was out of love towards the people he was talking to and the words he spoke were the words his God and Father gave to him to give to the people.
Romans 12:9:
Love sincerely. Hate evil. Hold on to what is good.
1 Peter 3:8-11:
Finally, everyone must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love each other, have compassion, and be humble. Don't pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you, or ridicule those who ridicule you. Instead, bless them, because you were called to inherit a blessing. "People who want to live a full life and enjoy good days must keep their tongues from saying evil things, and their lips from speaking deceitful things. They must turn away from evil and do good. They must seek peace and pursue it.
The Lord's [Yehovah’s] eyes are on those who do what He approves. His ears hear their prayer. The Lord [Yehovah] confronts those who do evil."
When we walk in love, we always forbear, always believe, always hope, and always endure in all things.
1 Corinthians 13:7:
Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, and never gives up.
I Peter 4:8:
And above all things have fervent love among you: for love covers a multitude of sins.
Hebrews 12:2-3 – another example of what love is!
We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross [as a sin-offering sacrifice for all mankind, reconciling us to his God and Father Yehovah] and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he was resurrected to receive the highest position in heaven, seated on the right hand of his God and Father Yehovah. Think about Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, so that you don't become tired and give up acting in love toward all men and women.
1 Corinthians 2:9:
But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.
Note: We show our love for our God and Father Yehovah by loving our neighbors [who have been created in the image of Him] as ourselves. Everything else is commentary.
Note what Jesus says:
Matthew 12:30: He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad.
A lack of love scatters and doesn't lead men and women to the truth of God. The love of the Messiah and our God and Father in us gathers people to believe and trust in His plan of salvation - deliverance, and fills them with hope for an awesome future!
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