It is all about love! Rom. 13:8-10 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.

There is a story that is told about a young preacher and his first job!

▪His 1st Sunday at the new congregation he gets up and preaches on (1 Jn. 4:7-11)

▪Everyone tells him what a wonderful job he did and they are so happy he is there!

▪Next week he gets up and preaches the same sermon! This time only a few come up and thank him for his sermon!

▪The 3rd week he gets up and begins to preach the same sermon, but is stopped!

1 Jn 4:7-11 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth

God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he

loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

I am often amazed at how lightly we often use the word love!

▪I love my house, I love my car, I love my shoes and oh yeah I love my wife!

▪Jn 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Cf. 1 Jn. 2:7-11

▪The Bible = God’s love letter to man!

I. Love Defined!Love is ___________ !

▪Defining love is not easy & this is part of the problem sometimes, we don't understand the love of God, because we don't understand love as God, we don't understand how to love! “God is love!”

▪In the 1st Century there were many different words used to separate “love!”▸No less than 4 and as many as six!▸I would like to share with you three!

3 Kinds/Types of Love!▪Eros = sexual/sensational love!▸The love between lovers, i.e. husband &

wife. Common in ancient writings.▪Phileo = fondness/friendship love!▸Philadelphia = City of brotherly love!▸This word is found 25 times in the NT!▪Agape = sacrificial/self-giving love!▸KJV = often “charity” giving of self to help

others not wanting anything in return!▸This word is found 116 times in the NT!

Agape vs. Phileo!Best definition of agape love is found in (1 Cor. 13:1-13)

▪There is a clear difference in these two words seen in Jesus’ encounter with Peter (Jn. 21:15-17)▸Vs. 15 Jesus “agape” Peter “phileo!”▸Vs. 16 Jesus “agape” Peter “phileo!”▸Vs. 17 Jesus “phileo” Peter “phileo!”▪Joh 21:17 He said to him the third time,

"Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.

II. Love Described!So what does this love look like? Jesus!▪Jn 13:34-35 "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."

▪1Jn 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

Until my love looks like Jesus I still need to be learning what it really

means to love!▪Each of us must learn to love others

regardless of how they treat us!▸Mt 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said,

You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you!”▸We are to always seek to help & not hurt!

III. Love Demanded!▪In our last point, I would like to turn our

attention again to (1 Jn. 4:7-21)▸The word “love” or a derivative of this word

“beloved, loves, loved” is found 29 times in only 15 verses!▸It is imperative that we understand the

command to “love one another!”▪This love is not so much what we “say” but

what we “show,” what we do!▸1 Jn. 4:20 cf. 3:16-18!

Lights camera action!▪It is time to take the stage, it is time to

perform our best! ▪Our love for God & others is seen in “what

we do!”▸“If you love me keep My commandments!”

–See Jn. 14:15 & 15:12-15!▪For us to understand love, we must

understand that God is love and we are to become like Him! (1Jn. 4:8 &16)▸As we reflect on God’s love for us, it is to

characterize our love for others!

Conclusion:▪I am sure we can all see why John is

often called “the Apostle of Love!”▪God has used him to help us learn

how to better “love one another!”▪It is all about love! Love from God,

love for God and love for others!▪Have you come to know the love of

God in your life? Are you showing and sharing this love with others?

▪Today is the day to learn to really love!