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Love: LOVE, in a general sense to be pleased with; to regard with affection, on account of some qualities which excite pleasing sensations or desire of gratification. We love a friend, on account of some qualities which give us pleasure in his society. We love a man who has done us a favor; in which case, gratitude enters the composition of our affection. We love our parents and our children, on account of their connection with us, and on account of many qualities which please us. We love to retire to a cool shade in summer. We love warm rooms in winter. We love to hear an eloquent advocate. The Christian loves his Bible. In short, we love whatever gives us pleasure and delight, whether animal or intellectual; and if our hearts are right, we love God above all things, as the sum of all excellence and all the attributes which can communicate happiness to intelligent beings. In other words, the Christian loves God with the love of complacency in his attributes, the love of benevolence towards the interest of his kingdom, and the love of gratitude for favors received. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind - Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Matthew 22:37. To have benevolence or good will for Jn 3:16.
Greek: Agapao [ag-ap-ah’-o] loved ]135], beloved [7]. perhaps from agan (much) [or compare (`agab)]; to love (in a social or moral sense): - (be-) love (-ed). Compare (phileo). Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. Usage Notes: Agapē and agapaō are used in the NT (a) to describe the attitude of God toward His Son, John 17:26; the human race, generally, John 3:16; Rom 5:8; and to such as believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, particularly, John 14:21; (b) to convey His will to His children concerning their attitude one toward another, John 13:34, and toward all men, 1 Thess. 3:12; 1 Cor. 16:14; 2 Pet. 1:7; (c) to express the essential nature of God, 1 John 4:8. "Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God's love is seen in the gift of His Son, 1 John 4:9, 10. "Love had its perfect expression among men in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 5:14; Eph. 2:4; Eph. 3:19; Eph. 5:2; Christian love is the fruit of His Spirit in the Christian, Gal. 5:22. "Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments, John 14:15, 21, 23; John 15:10; 1 John 2:5; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6. Self-will, that is, self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God. "Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom. 15:2, and works no ill to any, Rom. 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,' Gal. 6:10. In respect of agapaō as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant "love" and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential "love" in them towards the Giver, and a practical "love" towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver. Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words.
This pretty much says it all. God loving us and setting us apart and our love for our fellow man to demonstrate to them this love that God has poured out to us. This ‘God’ can only be demonstrated in the realm of faith for it is not a flesh or mental type of love. It transcends all of that to the point of a spiritual awakening in the heart of the believer to change the way he things and apply to life a new man and new attitude that demonstrates to the world all that Jesus did when he walked with us and demonstrated the love of God through healing, meeting needs and all the miracles that were performed for us to use and walk in. This is truly ‘love’ in action and the church to show the world who Jesus is will have to grow up and unify to show the world Jesus and Him crucified.
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