Fruit of the Spirit - Love

John 13:34 

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 

John 13:35

³⁵ By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

4 Types of Love in 1^st Century 

Storge – Family type of love. 

Phileo – Friendship type of love.  

Eros – Erotic type of love. 

Agape – Loyal, committed, sacrificial type of love. 

John 13:34 

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love (agapeo) one another, even as I have loved (agapeo) you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34).  How has Jesus loved us?

1 Peter 1:22

22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love (“philadelphia”, from “philos”) of the brethren, fervently (“ekteno”, earnestly, fervently, intensely. From a verb which means to “stretch out the hand.”, thus it means to be stretched out—earnest, resolute, tense) love (“agapeo”) one another from the heart (“kardia”), 

John 15:13

13 “Greater love (“agapeo”) has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

Central Truth: Love is to desire AND do what is best for one another. 

1 Corinthians 13:6

 6 love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 

Application – Two Key Statements

 1. God loves you. 

1 John 4:8

8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  

1 John 4:10

¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Romans 5:8

8 God demonstrates His love for us in this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

2. You can love others. 

1 Thessalonians 3:12

12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;