1st John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
This passage of scripture stipulates the scale by which true love is measured, and it has to do with our love to God that is manifested first in obedience to His every word, and then the uniform kindness and unbiased loving deeds that are extended to our fellowmen. But there are current distortions being put forward as interpretations of love, and if we are not very careful, we may be deceived into thinking that love is just a second hand emotion, as the pop singer Tina Turner once sang. Indeed, we are living in an era where we see signs saying, "All love is equal", and this being applied to the alternative lifestyles that have now become the order of the day.
But the Bible clearly states that love to God is manifested in obedience to His revealed will, and if there are carnal emotions running high, or sensual feelings that seem to savor of love, we may know for certain that we are dealing with a counterfeit, for love is a godly principle, which over-arches all that we do or say, being selfless in nature, and always putting God first, others next, and self last. Furthermore, The Lord Jesus has stipulated what is the result of genuine love, and under no circumstances should we surrender His definition, in favor of the spurious interpretations of love that we are now bombarded with. Let's read:
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 23 "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings"...
It then becomes very obvious that the many claims we hear about love, are not always based on the Biblical description, but are some of the counterfeits that The Lord often warned us of, that would surface during the last days of earth's history. Thus it was with words and feelings of deep concern that the apostle Paul wrote about the delusions that are scheduled to proliferate in our day, and what makes these deceptions all the more difficult to discern, is that they are all being portrayed and sold under the name of Christ. Hence the reason why he was moved by The Spirit of God to issue the following warnings. Let's read:
2nd Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy"... 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
It is therefore necessary in our day, that we be able to clearly discern between the true and the false, and if for any reason the lines are still blurred, it is the will of God that we search the scriptures for ourselves, to find out what the true definition of love is. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which gives us some insights into God's description of true love, and it is His will that we be instructed and practice according to what is written. Let's read:
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!