Faith, Hope, and Love are bound to each other. Where one is so are the others, even though they are not of the same importance.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 MEV
remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patient hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God and our Father.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 MEV
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
We know that:
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
We have a Blood covenant between God and ourselves as believers. This is signed and notarized by Jesus Christ. It is a legally binding contract which gives believers the well founded expectation of good founded on God’s gracious promises in His Word. That is where the evidence is, in His contract, His Word, to us.
It is conditional, just like any other contract we enter into. Yet this contract is limited only by our hearts, our minds, and most importantly, our mouths.
Matthew 15:18-20 MEV
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immorality, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
Love comes from God.
Romans 5:5 NKJV
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
- We hope in God
– Hope is that well founded expectation of good founded on God’s gracious promises.
Attributes of Love.
Love is God, Jesus is Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 MEV
Love suffers long and is kind; love envies not; love flaunts not itself and is not puffed up, 5 does not behave itself improperly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; 6 rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
Because it is God’s Love in us, it cannot fail.
1 Corinthians 13:8 MEV
Love never fails…God cannot fail…Jesus cannot fail…The Holy Spirit cannot fail.
1 John 4:8 MEV
Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Who am I supposed to Love?
Matthew 22:37-40 NLT
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Matthew 5:43-46 MEV
(Jesus speaking) “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Deuteronomy 30:14-20 MEV
But the word is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, so that you may do it. 15 See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, and death and disaster. 16 What I am commanding you today is to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, so that you may live and multiply. Then the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away, so that you do not obey, but are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 then I declare to you today that you will surely perish and that you will not prolong your days in the land which you are crossing the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witnesses against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.
1 Peter 3:8-10 MEV
Finally, be all of one mind, be loving toward one another, be gracious, and be kind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil, or curse for curse, but on the contrary, bless, knowing that to this you are called, so that you may receive a blessing. 10 For “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.
Addressing the neighbor question
Luke 10:25-37 MEV
Now, a lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He (Jesus) said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read?”
27 He (lawyer) answered, “ ‘You shall 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.’ ”
28 He (Jesus) said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”
29 But he (lawyer), desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus answered, “A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing and wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 By chance a priest came down that way. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to that place, looked at him and passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine. Then he set him on his own donkey and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day when he departed, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said to him, ‘Take care of him. I will repay you whatever else you spend when I return.’ 36 “Now which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
37 He said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Releasing others from guilt
Luke 23:34 KJV
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…
Acts 7:59-60 MEV
They stoned Stephen as he was calling on God, praying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Having said this, he fell asleep.
Compassion flows out of Love
Matthew 14:14 KJV
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Mark 1:40-42 MEV
A leper came to Him, pleading with Him and kneeling before Him, saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, extended His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will. Be clean.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, the leprosy immediately departed from him, and he was cleansed.
Mark 6:34 KJV
And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
Luke 7:11-14 MEV
The following day He went into a city called Nain, and many of His disciples and a large crowd went with Him. 12 When He came near the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the coffin, and those who carried it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”
John 21:15-17 MEV
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Love IS a part of our identity in Christ
Love is also a part of our walk with God