What Is The Definition of Our Love For God?

What Is The Definition of Our Love For God?

 

 

  So much of scripture, is loaded with actions, words, and Divine deeds of God's Love for us Believers, and for the lost.  Romans eight, the last chapter is full of God's love and how He and His love can NEVR be separated from those of us In Christ, who walk not according to the flesh, and are covered in His blood.  Because of His love (application and result) we are spared from condemnation to hell.  Look at these few verses for examples of His Agape to usward who are in Christ: 

  "8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
²⁰ For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
²¹ Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
²² For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
²³ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
²⁴ For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
²⁵ But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
³³ Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
³⁴ Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 8:1-39 KJV)

  This entire passage is tied together.  God shows His love, how we can't be separated from it, and the marks and characteristics of those of us who have in the regenerative sense received that love.  There is so much more God ties to the "No more condemnation" to receive the love security that carries on past the first verse.  So many Christians stop after the comma after Christ Jesus, in verse one and build a zero accountability under grace life upon. The next 38 verses show verse one is only the introduction to that verse.  Now let us consider the verse of the demonstration and purpose of that AGAPE that saves from Hell, and sanctifies us into a Christ honoring life of sanctification.



  
   ^"16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
²¹ But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
²² After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
²³ And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
²⁴ For John was not yet cast into prison.
²⁵ Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
²⁶ And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
²⁷ John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
²⁸ Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
²⁹ He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease.
³¹ He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
³² And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
³³ He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
³⁴ For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
³⁵ The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
³⁶ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."  (John 3:16-36 KJV) 
  Here after fifteen verses God uses the "Love" word.  The first fifteen verses He speaks to Nicodemus on his spiritual condition, his need for grace, and the manner of how salvation is going to happen, then He gives the how of redemption to Nicodemus.  There was a missionary work of applying the gospel to salvation to a person who knew the Word, yet needed Jesus to show him the Way!


   Now let us look at the measuring stick, the gauge, the fruit of a Saint that truly loves Jesus.  Yea this spoke aloud to me! 

  "3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

² Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
³ And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
⁴ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
⁵ And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
⁶ Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
⁷ Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
⁸ He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
⁹ Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
¹⁰ In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
¹¹ For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
¹² Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
¹³ Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
¹⁵ Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
¹⁶ Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
¹⁷ But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
¹⁸ My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
¹⁹ And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
²⁰ For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
²¹ Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
²² And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
²³ And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
²⁴ And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."  By the power of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the actions which demonstrated that love that saves us!   Look at the continuation of that passage with the definition and application of our response to His love for us:


  

  "4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
³ And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
⁴ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
⁵ They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
⁶ We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
⁷ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
⁹ 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.
¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
¹² No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
¹³ Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
¹⁴ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
¹⁵ Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
¹⁶ And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
¹⁷ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
¹⁹ We love him, because he first loved us.
²⁰ If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
²¹ And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." (1 John 4:1-21 KJV) 
  Can I honestly say I love God?  Tough I will and may sin in this earthly flesh, It is not a willful practice of disobedience, nor a presumptuous justification of sin because of grace.  Do you love God?  Do I?  Love in Christ Jason!