LOVE &
FORGIVENESS

1. God is
love, & He loves us:

1Jn.4:8b  God is love

A. God's love for
us:

Jer.31:3   I have loved thee with an
everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee

Rom.8:38,39           I
am persuaded, that [nothing] shall be able to separate us from the love of God

Eph.2:4-6                God...for
His great love wherewith He loved us...hath raised us up

1Jn.3:1    What manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us

1Jn.4:10  Love, not that we loved God, but that He
loved us

(See
also Zeph.3:17)

B. How God showed
us His love:

Jn.3:16    God so loved the world, that
He gave His only...Son

Rom.5:7,8               God
commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us

1Jn.4:9    In this was manifested the
love of God...God sent His Son into the world, that we might live through Him

C. Jesus' love for
us:

Jn.10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd
giveth his life for the sheep

Jn.15:13  Greater love hath no man...that (he) lay
down his life 2Cor.8:9 Though He (Jesus) was rich, yet for your sakes He became
poor, that ye...might be rich

Eph.3:19 Know the love of Christ, which passeth
knowledge

Rev.1:5   Jesus Christ...loved us, &
washed us from our sins in His Own blood

D. Dwelling &
abiding in God's love:

Jn.14:21  He that loveth Me shall be loved of My
Father, & I will love him, & will manifest Myself to him

Jn.14:23  If a man love Me...My Father will love
him, & we will come unto him, & make Our abode with him

Jn.17:26  That the love...may be in them,
& I in them

1Jn.2:5    Whoso keepeth...Word, in him
is love of God perfected

1Jn.4:19  We love him, because He first loved us

Jude
21b                Keep
yourselves in the love of God

2. The first
great commandment--to love God:

Deut.6:5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine
heart, & with all thy soul, & with all thy might

Deut.10:12             What
doth the Lord require of thee, but to love Him...with all thy heart & with
all thy soul

Deut.30:20             Love
God, &...cleave unto Him: for He is thy life

Josh.22:5                Take
diligent heed to...to love the Lord your God, & to cleave unto Him

Josh.23:11              Take
good heed unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord

Mat.22:37,38          Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart...this is the first &
great commandment

(See
also Deut.30:6; Mk.12:30.)

3. The second
great commandment--to love thy
neighbour:

Lev.19:18               Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself

Mat.22:39               The
second (commandment) is like unto it (the first), Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself

Jn.13:34  Love one another; as I have loved you

Jn.15:12  This is My commandment, That ye love one
another, as I have loved you

Jn.15:17  These things I command you, that ye love
one another

1Jn.3:11  This is the message that ye heard from
the beginning, that we should love one another

1Jn.3:23  His commandment, That we should...love
one another

4. Love one
another:

A. God loves us
so we should love one another:

Jn.13:34  As I have loved you...ye [ought to] love
one another

Eph.5:2a Walk in love [one to another], as Christ also
hath loved us, & hath given Himself for us

1Jn.4:7a  Beloved, let us love one another: for
love is of God

1Jn.4:11  If God so loved us, we ought also to love
one another 1Jn.5:1b Every one that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that
is begotten of Him

B. God gives
us love to love others:

Rom.5:5  The love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us

Gal.5:22  The fruit of the Spirit is
love...longsuffering

1Thes.3:12             The
Lord make you to increase & abound in love one toward another, & toward
all men

1Thes.4:9               Ye
yourselves are taught of God to love one another

2Thes.3:5               The
Lord direct your hearts into the love of God

2Tim.1:7 God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but
of love

(See
also Eph.6:23)

C. To love is the
greatest law of God:

Mk.12:33                To
love (God)... & to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all...offerings
& sacrifices

Lk.10:25,27,28        To
inherit eternal life...love God with all thy heart... neighbour as thyself.
This do, & thou shalt live

Gal.5:14  All the law is fulfilled in...this;
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself

D. Love is the
most important virtue:

1Cor.13:13              Faith,
hope & love...the greatest of these is love

1Cor.13:2b             Though
I have faith...& have not love, I am nothing

Gal.5:6    Faith...worketh by love

Eph.3:17 (Be) rooted & grounded in love

Eph.3:19 The love of Christ...passeth knowledge

Col.3:14  Above all these things put on love

Rev.2:3,4                For
My name's sake hast laboured...(but) I have somewhat against thee...thou hast
left thy first love

(See
also Eph.1:15,16; Col.1:3,4; Phlm.5.)

E. Love one another
fervently:

1Thes.3:12             Increase
& abound in love one toward another

1Pet.1:22b              Love
one another with a pure heart fervently

1Pet.4:8  Above all things have fervent love
among yourselves

F. Love sincerely
& genuinely:

Judg.16:15a           How
canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me?

Rom.12:9                Let
love be without dissimulation (hypocrisy)

1Pet.1:22a              Obeying
the truth...to unfeigned love of the brethren (See also 2Cor.6:6; 8:8.)

Phi.1:9,10               That
your love may abound yet more & more...that ye may be sincere & without
offence

G. The benefits
that loving others brings us:

Jn.13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are My
disciples, if ye have love one to another

2Cor.13:11              Live
in peace; & the God of love shall be with you

Eph.3:17-19            Ye,
being rooted & grounded in love...might be filled with all the fulness of
God

1Jn.2:10  He that loveth his brother abideth in the
light

1Jn.3:14  We know that we have passed from death
unto life, because we love the brethren

1Jn.4:7b  Every one that loveth is born of God,
& knoweth God

1Jn.4:12  If we love one another, God dwelleth in
us, & His love is perfected in us (See also 1Jn.2:5)

1Jn.4:16  God is love; & he that dwelleth in
love dwelleth in God, & God in him

5. Real, genuine
love:

A. Whatever
you do, do it in love:

1Cor.16:14              Let
all your things be done with love

2Cor.5:14                The
love of Christ constraineth (compels) us

B. The qualities
that genuine love will have:

1Cor.8:1b               Love
edifieth (builds up, strengthens)

1Cor.13:4                Love
envieth not; vaunteth (exalts) not itself, is not puffed up (proud)

1Cor.13:5                Doth
not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil

1Cor.13:6                Rejoiceth
not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth Col.3:14 Love...is the bond of
perfectness

1Jn.4:18  There is no fear in love...love casteth
out fear

C. Genuine love
results in unity of believers:

Col.2:2a  That their hearts might be...knit
together in love

(See
also 1Sam.18:1; Eph.4:15,16; Phi.2:1,2.)

D. Real love will
not give up or fail:

Song
8:7 Many waters [troubles] cannot quench
love...drown it

1Cor.13:4                Love
suffereth long

1Cor.13:7                Beareth
all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things

1Cor.13:8                Love
never faileth

Heb.13:1 Let brotherly love continue (keep up,
not fail)

E. Love is not
pushy:

Rom.12:10              With
brotherly love; in honour preferring one another

Phlm.8,9a               Though
I might be bold...to (command, impose upon) thee...yet for love's sake I rather
beseech thee

F. Love is
considerate of others' weaknesses:

Rom.14:21              It
is good [not to do] any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or
is made weak

Rom.15:1                We...ought
to bear the infirmities of the weak

Rom.15:2                Let
every one of us please his neighbour for his good

Gal.5:13  By love serve one another

Eph.4:2   With longsuffering, forbearing one
another in love

G. Love will not
hurt or do wrong to others:

Rom.13:9,10           Love
worketh no ill to his neighbour

H. If we have love,
we will be kind & courteous:

1Cor.13:4a              Love
suffereth long, & is kind

Eph.4:15 Speaking the truth in love [not
inconsiderately blunt]

Eph.4:32 Be ye kind...tenderhearted, forgiving one
another

1Pet.3:8  (Have) compassion one of another, love as
brethren, be pitiful, be courteous

6. Real love
results in good deeds:

A. Putting love
into action:

Mat.14:14               Jesus...was
moved with compassion toward them, & He healed their sick

Mat.25:35               I
was an hungered...I was thirsty, & ye gave

Lk.6:31    As ye would that men should
do to you, do ye to them

Lk.10:30-35            [The
good Samaritan took loving action & helped]

Gal.6:10  Let us do good [deeds] unto all
men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith

1Jn.3:18  Let us not love in word [only]...but in deed
& truth

2Jn.6       This is
love, that we walk after His commandments

B. Sacrificial
love, giving our lives for others:

Jn.15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that
a man lay down his life for his friends

1Jn.3:16  He (Jesus) laid down His life for us:
& we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren

Acts
15:25,26        Barnabas
& Paul...hazarded their lives for the name of Jesus (See also Acts 20:24)

Phi.2:30  For the work of Christ he was nigh unto
death

C. Be concerned
about others' welfare; not just your own:

1Cor.13:5                (Love)
seeketh not her own

Phi.2:4    Look not every man on his own
things, but every man also on the things of others

1Thes.4:9               As
touching brotherly love...love one another

D. Selfishness
shows a lack of love:

1Jn.3:17  Whoso...seeth his brother have need,
& shutteth up his ...compassion, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Jam.4:17 To him that knoweth to do good, & doeth it
not, to him it is sin

E. Doing good to
our brethren is doing it to Jesus:

Mat.25:35-40         Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one of the least of My brethren, ye have done it
unto Me

Heb.6:10 Love, which ye have shewed toward His
name, in that ye have ministered to the saints

(See
also Eph.6:5-8; Col.3:22-24.)

F. Failing to do
good to our brethren is failing to do it to Jesus:

Mat.25:41-45         Inasmuch
as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to
Me

7. Love vs. hate:

A. We do not truly
love God if we don't love our fellow man:

1Jn.4:20  He that loveth not his brother whom he
hath seen, how can he love God Whom he hath not seen?

Tit.3:3-5  [Before we were saved]
we...(lived) in malice & envy, hate ful, & hating one another

Jam.3:9-12              Bless
we God...& curse men. My brethren, these things ought not so to be
(See also Jam.3:14; 1Jn.3:17.)

1Jn.4:21  This commandment have we from Him, That
he who loveth God love his brother also

(See
also Mat.5:23,24)

B. We are commanded
not to be hateful:

Lev.19:17,18          Thou
shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart...but thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself

C. When we don't
love one another:

1Jn.2:9,11               He
that hateth his brother is in darkness...blinded

1Jn.3:10  He that loveth not his brother...is not
of God

1Jn.3:14b                He
that loveth not his brother abideth in death

1Jn.3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a
murderer

1Jn.4:20a                If
a man say, I love God, & hateth his brother...liar

1Jn.4:8    He that loveth not knoweth not
God; for God is love

D. The bad fruit of
hatred:

Gen.37:4 They hated him, & could not speak peaceably
unto him

Pro.10:12a              Hatred
stirreth up stifes

1Jn.3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a
murderer

(See
also Gen.4:3-8; Pro.26:26; Ezk.25:15.)

8. Special
categories of love:

A. We are to love all
men:

Mat.5:46,47            If
ye [only] love them which love you...what do ye more than others? (See also
Lk.6:32,33)

1Thes.3:12             Increase
& abound in love...toward all men

Heb.12:14a             Follow
peace with all men

B. We are to especially
love brothers & sisters in the Lord:

Jn.13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are My
disciples, if ye have love one to another

Gal.6:10  Especially unto them who are of the
household of faith

1Pet.2:17                Honour
all men. Love the brotherhood

(See
also Heb.13:1; 1Pet.4:8. Also compare Tit.3:15; 2Jn.1; 3Jn.1 re: "loving
in the faith".)

C. Examples of
unusually great love &/or admiration:

1Sam.18:1               The
soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, (he) loved him as his own
soul          (See
also 20:17)

2Sam.1:26               [David
declared his deep love for Jonathan]

Mk.10:17-21           [Jesus
was moved with love for the rich young ruler]

Jn.11:3,5 [Jesus' special love for Mary, Martha &
Lazarus]

Jn.13:23  [Jesus had a special love for the apostle
John] (See also Jn.19:26; 21:7,20.)

1Thes.5:13             Esteem
them very highly in love for their [good] work's sake

D. We are even to
demonstrate God's love to our foes:

Pro.25:21,22           If
thine enemy be hungry, give him bread...& if he be thirsty, give
water...& the Lord shall reward thee

Mat.5:43-47           Love
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good ...that ye may be the children
of your Father

Lk.6:27-30              Love
your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, &
pray for them

Lk.6:32-35              If
ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? Sinners also love those that
love them

Lk.10:30-37            A
Samaritan [adversary of the Jews]...when he saw him [a wounded Jew], he had
compassion on him

9. Love,
forgiveness & mercy:

A. To love means to
be forgiving:

Pro.10:12b              Love
covereth all sins

1Pet.4:8b                Love
shall cover the multitude of sins

B. God is merciful
to us:

Num.14:18a            The
Lord is longsuffering, & of great mercy, forgiving iniquity &
transgression

Num.14:19              Pardon...the
iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy

Psa.103:8                The
Lord is merciful & gracious, slow to anger, & plenteous in mercy

Psa.103:10,11         He
hath not dealt with us after our sins...great is His mercy toward them that
fear Him

Lam.3:22,23            It
is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail
not...new every morning

Isa.63:7   The great goodness...He bestowed on
them according to His mercies, &...multitude of His lovingkindnesses (See
also 2Sam.24:14 ; Isa.54:7,8 .)

(Re:
God's lovingkindness, see Psa.25:6; 36:7; 40:11; 69:16; 103:2-4;

119:149;
Jer.9:24.)

C. God loves mercy
more than "justice" & retribution:

Mic.7:18 God...pardoneth iniquity...He delighteth in
mercy

Mat.9:13 I will have (desire) mercy, & not sacrifice
(See also Hos.6:6)

Jam.2:13b               Mercy
rejoiceth against judgment

Rom.5:20                Where
sin abounded, grace did much more abound

Pro.16:6  By mercy & truth iniquity is purged

D. He often
refrains from justly punishing us:

Exo.32:14                The
Lord repented of the evil which He thought to do unto His people

Psa.103:9,10           He
hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our
iniquities

Psa.130:3,4             If
Thou...shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is
forgiveness with Thee

2Sam.24:16             The
Lord repented of the evil, & said to the angel that destroyed the people,
Stay now thine hand

(See
also Gen.18:20,23-26; Jon.1:1,2; 3:10; 4:11.)

E. God mercifully
forgives our sins:

Psa.103:12              As
far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions
from us

Isa.1:18   Though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow...as wool

Mic.7:19 He will have compassion upon us...& cast
all their sins into the depths of the sea

Isa.43:25 I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy
transgressions

Isa.44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud,
thy...sins

Heb.8:12 I will be merciful...& their sins...remember
no more

(See
also Psa.32:1,2; Isa.38:17.)

F. God is
especially merciful to those who love & fear Him:

Exo.20:6  Showing mercy unto...them that love Me,
& keep My commandments

Deut.7:9 God...keepeth covenant & mercy with them
that love Him

Psa.103:11              As
the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear
Him

Psa.103:13              Like
as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him

Psa.103:17              The
mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him

Lk.7:47,48               Her
(many) sins, are forgiven; for she loved much

Acts
26:18             Turn...from
darkness to light...that they may receive forgiveness of sins

10. We are to be
merciful & forgiving:

Mic.6:8   What doth Lord require of thee, but
to...love mercy

A. We should
forgive others as God has forgiven us:

Mat.18:33               Shouldst
not thou also have...had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on
thee?

Lk.6:36    Be ye merciful, as your
Father also is merciful

Eph.4:32 (Forgive) one another, even as God...hath
forgiven you

Col.3:13  Forbearing one another, & forgiving
one another... even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye

B. Have
longsuffering & great mercy & keep forgiving:

Lk.17:4    If he trespass against thee 7
times in a day, & 7 times... repent; thou shalt forgive him

Mat.18:21,22          Lord,
how oft shall my brother sin against me, & I forgive him? Until 70
times 7 (times)

Pro.17:9  He that covereth (passes over) a
transgression seeketh love

C. Make mercy a
rule in your heart:

Pro.3:3,4 Let not mercy & truth forsake thee: write
them upon the table of thine heart

D. Forgive sincerely;
don't harbour grudges or hatred:

Lev.19:17,18          Thou
shalt not bear any grudge...but thou shalt love

Mat.18:35               From
your hearts forgive...every one his brother

Eph.4:31,32            Let
all bitterness...be put away from you, with all malice: forgive one
another (See Heb.12:15)

Jam.5:9   Grudge not against another,
brethren

E. God shows mercy
to us if we are merciful & forgiving:

Psa.18:25                With
the merciful Thou wilt show Thyself merciful

Mat.5:7   Blessed are the merciful: for they
shall obtain mercy

Mat.6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

Mat.6:14 If ye forgive men their trespasses, your
Heavenly Father will also forgive you

Mk.11:25                Forgive,
if ye have ought against any: that your Father... may forgive you your
trespasses

Lk.6:37    Condemn not, & ye shall
not be condemned: forgive, & ye shall be forgiven

F. But woe to the
unmerciful:

Mat.6:15 If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither
will (God) forgive your trespasses (See also Mk.11:26)

Mat.18:23-35         So...shall
(God) do also unto you, if ye...forgive not every one his brother their
trespasses

Jam.2:13 He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath
showed no mercy

G. The
self-righteous feel they don't sin & don't need forgiveness; therefore they
are unloving & unforgiving to others:

Lk.7:47b To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth
little

Lk.15:25-30            [The
faithful older brother was angry that his father forgave the penitent prodigal
son]

Lk.18:9    Certain trusted in themselves
that they were righteous, & [therefore] despised others

11. The limits of
forgiveness:

2Pet.3:9  The Lord...is longsuffering to us,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should (repent)

A. Even God's
forgiveness is balanced with justice:

Num.14:1-3,11-23  [Although God pardoned them
(vs.19,20), the Jews  weren't
allowed to enter the promised land]

2Sam.12:7-14         [God
forgave David, but because his sin was so serious, he was still punished &
his child died]

1Chr.21:1-14,17     [David sinned, then
repented & begged forgiveness, but the Lord still sent a severe punishment]

2Chr.36:15,16         He
had compassion...but they mocked, despised...wrath of the Lord arose...till
there was no remedy

Pro.29:1  [Hardened rebels] destroyed, & that
without remedy

Mat.21:33-41         [After
showing mercy & patience, God destroyed the unrepentant wicked] (See also
Mk.12:1-9)

(Compare
2Chr.33:1-19; Jer.15:1-4 & compare Mat. 5:44,45; Heb.6:7,8.)

B. He does not
forgive wicked or unrepentant offenders:

Isa.22:12-14           This
iniquity not...purged from you till you die

Mat.12:31,32          [Blasphemy
against the Holy Spirit--rejecting Jesus, Jn.15:26--not forgiven now or ever]

Rom.1:29-32           They
which commit such things are worthy of death (See also Rom.2:2,3 ;
Heb.10:26-31.)

C. Sometimes
interceding prayer will not make Him forgive:

(See
Jer.7:16; 14:7-12; 16:5; Compare Jer.15:1 & Ezk.14:14,18,20.)

D. It is right
and godly to hate the anti-God wicked:

Eccl.3:8   A time to love, & a time to
hate

2Chr.19:2b             Shouldest
thou help the ungodly, & love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath
upon thee

Psa.26:5  I have hated the congregation of
evildoers

Psa.97:10                Ye
that love the Lord, hate evil

Psa.139:21,22         Do
not I hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I
count them mine enemies

E. The unrepentant
wicked are not forgiven & must pay for their evil-doing:

2Thes.1:6-9            It
is a righteous thing with God to (pay back) tribulation to them that
trouble you

Rev.6:9-11              [Saints
in Heaven pray for God to avenge their blood on the wicked who killed them]

Rev.16:5,6              Thou
art righteous, O Lord...because Thou hast judged ...for they have
shed the blood of saints

(Caution:
Pro.25:21,22; Rom.12:19,20; Deut.32:35.)

(See
also Gen.6:5-7,11-13; 7:21-23; 2Pet.2:4-6; Jude 6, 7,14,15.)

12. Even erring Christians
must repent to be forgiven:

A. No obligation to
forgive unrepentant brethren:

Lk.17:3    If thy brother trespass
against thee, rebuke him; & if he repent, forgive him (See also
Mat.18:15)

(See
also Rom.16:17; 1Cor.5:11,13; 2Thes.3:6,14; Tit. 3:10; 2Jn.10,11 re: not
forgiving those who wilfully sin against the truth)

B. There is a time
to be firm:

1Cor.4:18,21           What
will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or love

Tit.1:13   Rebuke them sharply, that
they may be sound in the faith

C. Show mercy &
patience in order to help them repent, & do not pardon them until they do:

Lk.13:6-9                [Parable
of patiently tending the unfruitful tree, warning it will be cut down if it
doesn't respond]

Rom.2:3-6               [Don't
mistake God's patience for forgiveness; "the goodness of God" is to
"lead thee to repentance"]

(See
also Gal.6:1)

D. Serious
offenders must change, not merely be "sorry":

Isa.55:7   Let the wicked forsake his
way...& let him return unto the Lord, & [then] He will have
mercy...& pardon

Mat.3:8   Bring forth fruits meet for
(worthy of) repentance

Mat.3:10 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit
is hewn down [judged] (See also Mat.7:19; Lk.3:8,9.)

(See
also Psa.51:10; 101:3; Jer.3:10b; Hos.6:4.)

E. They must confess
their sin & ask for forgiveness:

Psa.32:5  I acknowledged my sin unto
thee...& Thou forgavest

Psa.86:5  Thou, Lord, art good, & ready
to forgive; & plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee

Acts
3:19               Repent
ye...that your sins may be blotted out

1Jn.1:9    If we confess our
sins, He is faithful...to forgive

2Cor.2:6-8              [After
punishment] ye ought to forgive him, lest [he] be swallowed up with overmuch
sorrow

F. Don't use this
as an excuse to be unforgiving:

Mat.5:22 Whosoever is angry with his brother without
a [legitimate] cause shall be in danger of the judgment

G. God still loves
the wayward, & you should too:

Psa.89:30-33          I
will visit their transgression with the rod...[but] My lovingkindness will I
not utterly take from him

2Thes.3:15             Count
him not as an enemy, but admonish as a brother

(See
also Jam.5:19,20)

H. When they
repent, He will love them freely:

Hos.14:4 I will love them freely: for Mine anger is
turned away from him

Special chapters:

1Cor.13;
1Jn.4.