From the recording 77 Lessons of Life #56-66
Lyrics
Lesson 65 of 77
Love, The Greatest Gift of All
{See Lessons 4, 45, 59, 64, 66}
by Lawrence DeMetrius
Real love is right doing in action. Thus, when mortals do what is right, the very character of Yahweh is expressed in and through them. Apostle John writes,
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
[I Jn 3:18]
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.
[I Jn 4:7, 8]
It has always been the delight of Yahweh to exercise HIS loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness toward HIS Creation, namely mortals. Yahweh expressed through Prophet Jeremiah,
…Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth ME, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight…
[Jer 9:23, 24]
One should be careful to not hinder the expression of love with hatred, which is wrong doing in action toward self then toward others. In Yahweh’s perspective hatred is murder. King Solomon writes,
I love them that love ME; and those that seek ME early <or diligently> shall find ME.
Now therefore hearken unto ME, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep MY ways.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Blessed is the man that heareth ME, watching daily at MY gates, waiting at the posts of MY doors.
For whoso findeth ME findeth life and shall obtain favor of the LORD.
But he that sinneth against ME wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate ME love death.
[Pro 8: 17, 32-36]
Apostle John writes,
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Whosever hateth his brother is a murderer <in Yahweh’s perspective>: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
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.
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?
[I Jn 3:14-17]
We love HIM <Yahweh>, because HE first loved us.
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?
And this commandment have we from Him <Christ> that he who loveth
God love his brother also.
[I Jn 4:19-21]
Due to the inheritance of Adam’s transgression, no mortal is void of the flesh, carnal and sinful nature, including the Elect of God, who are liberated from the power of sin through faith filled obedience to divine directives. Apostle Paul writes,
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
[Rm 3:23]
Apostle John writes,
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned we make HIM a liar, and HIS Word is not in us.
[I Jn 1:8-10]
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
[I Jn 5:16-18]
Apostle Paul writes,
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
[Gal 6:1-3]
The Lord Jesus said,
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
[Mt 26:41]
The expression of love, mercy, and forgiveness covers the sins of born-again believers. The Lord Jesus said,
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
[Mt 5:7]
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
[Mt 6:12, 14, 15]
Apostle Matthew writes,
Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
[Mt 18:21, 22]
The Lord Jesus said,
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.
[Jn 13:34, 35]
Apostle Paul writes,
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
[Rm 12:10]
Apostle James writes,
Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
[Jam 4:17]
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
[Jam 5:16a]
Apostle Peter writes,
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
[I Pet 4:8]
Indeed, it is love that paid for the sins of the whole world. The Lord Jesus said,
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.
[St Jn 3:16]
Apostle John writes,
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
Righteous.
And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
[I Jn 2:1, 2]
The practice of love toward Yahweh is proof of one’s true devotion to HIM as God, WHO said,
Thou shalt have no other gods before ME.
[Exo 20:3]
Moses writes,
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
[Deut 6:5]
The Lord Jesus said,
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
[Mt 6:24]
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship HIM.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth.
[St Jn 4:23, 24]
The practice of love expels demonically influenced fear, failure and inheritance of The Second Death. The Lord Jesus said,
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.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
<Apostle John reiterates> 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.
[St Jn 3:18-20, 36]
Apostle Paul writes,
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
[II Tim 1:7]
Apostle John writes,
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect <or is not yet mature> in love.
[I Jn 4:18]
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the Second Death.
[Rev 21:8]
Yahweh admonishes all to practice love, the greatest ability of all, and makes it possible through the strength of HIS Christ, Who said,
I am the Vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
[Jn 15:4, 5, 8, 17]
My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
[II Cor 12:9]
Apostle Paul writes,
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way <the way of love>.
[I Cor 12:31]
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
[I Cor 13:13]
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