Intro:
Love is a perennial favorite in our culture. Books, Poems, Movies, TV shows and songs are written to celebrate or bemoan our state of affairs when it comes to the subject of love.
Yet, despite all this attention it seems increasingly less clear what “LOVE” actually is.
In our world LOVE has been
• Romanticized
• Trivialized
• Neutered

By contrast Biblical LOVE is of profound depth. It is an action oriented term and it finds its root and example in the love of Christ.

John 15:13 Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus our Example:

• John 13 —> Footwashing: Jesus laid down his rights.
• Matthew 26:36-42 —> The Garden of Gethsemane: Jesus laid down his will.
• Matthew 27:32-51 —> The Cross: Jesus laid down his life.

Love biblically means to lay down your rights, your preferences and your life. It is self-denial and self-sacrifice!

Love one another earnestly:

Peter about love:
• 1 Peter 1:22
• 1 Peter 2:17
• 1 Peter 3:8
• 1 Peter 4:8

Paul about love:
• Romans 12:9-10
• Philippians 2:1-4
• Romans 13:8-10

John about love:
• 1 John 3:11
• 1 John 4:7-8
• 1 John 4:19-21
• 1 John 5:1

Jesus about love:
• John 13:34-35

Love among the people of God is the ultimate apologetic - by this all people will know that you are my disciples…

How can we love one another:

1 Peter 1:22 - having purified your souls…
Love is consistent with the purity of Jesus.
Love is consistent with the New Life.

c.f. 2 peter 1:4-7

1 Peter 3:1 SELF-LOVE
• Malice
• Deceit
• Hypocrisy
• Envy
• Slander

c.f. 2 Timothy 3:1ff.

1 Peter 3:2 Crave pure spiritual milk…

1 Corinthians 13:4-7