Love and Theology

POINT OF DEPARTURE: MT 5:45

Mt 5:43-44 You have heard That it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” Now I am saying to you, Love your enemies and Pray for those who persecute you

Mt 5:45 In order that you become sons of your Father Who is in Heaven Because His sun He causes to rise upon the evil and the good and Rain upon righteous and unrighteous

v48 Therefore you will be complete/perfect/mature just as your Father in Heaven is complete/perfect/mature.

v48 Therefore you will be complete/perfect/mature just as your Father in Heaven is complete/perfect/mature.

Our Responsibility It is impossible for the believer to be righteous in his spiritual life if he does not love everyone unconditionally. – This kind of love is a command. – Disobedience of the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ is arrogance... –...arrogance is a sin... –...THEREFORE: not loving is a sin Remember: Love in this sense is not emotion but kind intention. You can have love in this sense with or without emotional attachment to the object.

Examination of THIS Love: Rom 5:8 8 Συνίστησιν δ ὲ τ ὴ ν ἑ αυτο ῦ ἀ γάπην ε ἰ ς ἡ μ ᾶ ς ὁ θεός, ὅ τι ἔ τι ἁ μαρτωλ ῶ ν ὄ ντων ἡ μ ῶ ν χριστ ὸ ς ὑ π ὲ ρ ἡ μ ῶ ν ἀ πέθανεν. Now He demonstrates (in a universal sense) His own love toward us, GOD: while we were still being sinners, Christ as our substitute died.

Loving Your Enemies The emphasis in Romans 5:8 is GOD’s love. The primary point is the lack of deservedness in the object. God’s love is defined in terms of His character, not the object’s worthiness. This is the same love of Matthew 5. In both cases, love is directed at the enemy. This is the exact opposite of what you would expect.

To What Extent? You are told to pray for them. Jesus went to the Cross for them. Don’t make this harder than it is.