Topical Bible: Love to Man: Saints should be Fervent In

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The concept of love, particularly love towards fellow human beings, is a central tenet of Christian doctrine. The Bible emphasizes that saints, or believers, should exhibit a fervent love towards others, reflecting the love of Christ. This fervent love is not merely an emotional feeling but is demonstrated through actions, attitudes, and a commitment to the well-being of others.

Biblical Foundation

The call for fervent love among believers is rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. In the Gospel of John, Jesus commands His disciples to love one another as He has loved them, establishing love as the defining mark of His followers: "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another" (John 13:34).

The Apostle Peter exhorts believers to maintain a fervent love for one another, emphasizing its purifying and unifying power: "Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). This deep love is characterized by its intensity and sincerity, going beyond superficial interactions to a profound commitment to the spiritual and physical welfare of others.

Practical Expressions of Fervent Love

Fervent love is expressed through various practical actions and attitudes. The Apostle Paul provides a detailed description of love in 1 Corinthians 13, highlighting attributes such as patience, kindness, and selflessness. He writes, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud" (1 Corinthians 13:4). These qualities are essential for believers to cultivate in their relationships with others.

Moreover, fervent love involves bearing one another's burdens and supporting each other in times of need. Paul encourages the Galatians to "Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). This mutual support is a tangible expression of love that strengthens the community of believers.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The ability to love fervently is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who works within believers to produce the fruit of love. In Romans, Paul writes, "And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit enables believers to love others with the same love that God has shown them.

Challenges and Encouragement

While the call to fervent love is clear, believers may face challenges in living it out due to human weaknesses and external circumstances. However, the Scriptures provide encouragement and guidance. The Apostle John reminds believers of the source of their love: "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). This divine love serves as both the motivation and the model for how believers are to love others.

In summary, fervent love towards others is a vital aspect of the Christian life, reflecting the love of Christ and fulfilling His commandments. Through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of Scripture, believers are called to actively and sincerely love one another, thereby demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel in their lives.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Peter 1:22
Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brothers, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Bands of Love; Or, Union to Christ. "I Drew them with Cords of a ...
... Substitute of the elect in the new covenant of love. ... In every place the saints are
perfectly one with Jesus. ... of the earth." Hence, in the Bible, man is spoken ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/bands of love or union.htm

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity
... you that then, though our Lady and all the saints should intercede for a man with
tears ... St Paul says, Love never faileth, it doeth all things, and endureth ...
/.../xx sermon for the fourth.htm

God and his Saints
... army, 'Be like a stick in a man's hand.' That ... the foundation of all as being divine
love, of the ... their shepherd, so, this singer felt, will saints follow the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/god and his saints.htm

All Saints' Day, or St Ursula's Day
... THE INNER WAY SERMON XXVII All Saints' Day, or St ... of self and his sinful life, and
then the man begins with ... He begins out of love to learn true resignation and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon xxvii all saints day.htm

The Great Preparatives for the Saints' Rest.
... who loveth our souls and whom our souls love, shall be ... Will a man fear to be judged
by his dearest ... have spoken against him." Thus shall the saints be honored ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter ii the great preparatives.htm

Of the Ordering of all the virtues through the Seven Gifts of the ...
... eternally flow forth with God and all His saints in universal ... And, in this touch
of God, each man savours his ... power of the touch and the measure of his love. ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter lxiii of the ordering.htm

The Pastor's Parting Blessing
... many ways proved his sincere love to the saints should in his ... him as uniting in one
person God and man without discerning much love, and perceiving ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the pastors parting blessing.htm

Of Holy Patience
... be turned to good for them that love God; and ... to the condemnation and punishment
of the man of evil ... of any creature; for the inheritance of the saints is ever ...
/.../the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter v of holy patience.htm

An Exhortation to Love God
... By the growth of love we imitate the saints in the ... to utter" (2 Corinthians 12:4).
Never was any man a loser ... If our love to God does not increase, it will soon ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/an exhortation to love god.htm

Love's Logic
... If the ardent love of some saints often takes the shape of admiration of God ... A man
could not speak to God as to a friend, unless he knew the love that God ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/loves logic.htm