Part 1:

What is True Love?

Love is the Whole Doctrine; Everything Else is Commentary

The Biblical scriptures can be summed up in one word; Love. When asked what He thought about scriptural law Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27)

Life purpose here includes:
1. Finding the only true God and learning to accept and return God's love.
2. Learning to love yourself properly, without pride, selfishness, or fear.
3. Expressing God's love and your love to those around you and to the world.

God's love is the meaning of life; lighting up the world from within us.

Kinds of Love:

Greek and Hebrew meanings for “love” includes Godly, friendship, affection, brotherly, neighborly/moral love/social, and sexual love. Since love is the main theme of the Bible we can only summarize and choose types of love to explore in these short lessons. Love, in general is why God made the universe, why He made you, and why you are here. Since God's love is the only perfect love; we will consider this kind of love first.

God's Love:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NASB, also see 1 John 4:9-10). Life now and for eternity is based upon God's love. We will look at the meaning of "God's only son," and our becoming "adopted" children of God later. (see Galatians 4:1-7). God's love is the only perfect love; He loves us before we even believe in Him or know Him. His love towards us is the only unconditional love. Even if we reject Him; He loves us. There are of course conditions for us to feel His love. You can't feel the love of one you don't believe it nor spend time with.

In time, as you get closer to God you will see how much He loves you and how real His love is. You can not compete with His love. The more you express your love to Him; the more His love for you will be revealed in your life. As you know, real love goes in two directions. One of the best definitions of love I have heard came from an eight year old boy. I love to ask small children difficult questions to hear their funny and sometimes pure, simple answers. I asked the little boy: "What is love?" He replied: "Love is were two people have a competition on who can love the other one most and make the other one more happy." Real love is self-less; not selfish. When two people fall in love they try to please the other one; they try to look good, behave good, and attract the other by fulfilling what they want or need. When they are having trouble and the relationship is becoming destructive or dying; they are focused on themselves and what they want or need. Let's have a look at the Bible's definition of "love" in 1 Corinthians chapter 13.