Topical Bible: Love to Man: Saints should Put On

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In the Christian faith, love is a fundamental virtue that believers are called to embody and express towards one another. The concept of "putting on" love is deeply rooted in the teachings of the New Testament, where love is not merely an emotion but an active, deliberate choice and commitment to act in the best interest of others.

The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Colossians, exhorts believers to clothe themselves with love as a defining characteristic of their new life in Christ. Colossians 3:14 states, "And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity." Here, love is depicted as the supreme virtue that binds all other virtues together, fostering unity and harmony within the body of Christ.

The call to "put on" love implies an intentional and conscious effort to adopt love as a guiding principle in interactions with others. This is further emphasized in Ephesians 4:2 , where Paul urges believers to conduct themselves "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love." Such love is characterized by selflessness, patience, and a willingness to endure and forgive, reflecting the love that Christ Himself demonstrated.

The Apostle John also underscores the importance of love among believers, presenting it as evidence of genuine faith. In 1 John 4:7-8 , he writes, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." This passage highlights that love is not only a command but also a natural outflow of a relationship with God, who is the very essence of love.

Furthermore, love is portrayed as a distinguishing mark of discipleship. Jesus Himself declared in John 13:34-35 , "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." The love that believers are to exhibit is modeled after the sacrificial and unconditional love of Christ, serving as a powerful testimony to the world.

In practical terms, putting on love involves acts of kindness, compassion, and service. It requires believers to prioritize the needs of others, seek reconciliation, and promote peace. Romans 12:10 encourages believers to "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another." This devotion to one another is a reflection of the familial bond that believers share as members of the body of Christ.

Ultimately, the call for saints to put on love is a call to embody the character of Christ, who is the perfect example of love in action. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are enabled to love others genuinely and sacrificially, fulfilling the law of Christ and advancing His kingdom on earth.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Colossians 3:14
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Colossians i. 9, 10
... 17:10.) "To be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light ... and so we shall
be thankful; so we shall heighten our love toward Him ... What sayest thou, O man? ...
/.../homily ii colossians i 9.htm

Matt. I. 22, 23
... 8. And this I say, not that we may omit supplicating the saints, but to hinder our
being careless ... God, however, being full of love to man, condescends even ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily v matt i 22.htm

Matt. xix. 1
... our vileness, then we shall know more perfectly the virtue of those saints. ... which
God grant we may all attain by the grace and love towards man of our ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxii matt xix 1.htm

But they Answer and Speak, Saying, "If the Will of Man Without any ...
... above, that whatever be their pains, they should, either for ... all things." The greater
then is in saints the charity ... If any man love the world, the love of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on patience /13 but they answer and.htm

Question Lxxxii of Devotion
... But the devotion which we have to the Saints of God ... we may thereby be carried away
to the love of things ... But if a man will only perfectly subject to God his ...
/.../aquinas/on prayer and the contemplative life/question lxxxii of devotion.htm

"The Fruit of the Spirit is Love"
... I have said that love must fit us for our work ... be an earnest Christian, an earnest
minister, and a man may do ... a day pass without praying for all saints, and for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/absolute surrender/the fruit of the spirit.htm

The Twentieth Chapter: the Love of Solitude and Silence
... More than this, the security of the saints was always enveloped ... It is better for
a man to be obscure and to ... But since you love, sometimes, to hear news, it is ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the twentieth chapter the love.htm

Matt. xxii. 1-14.
... Reverence the love of Him, who called you, and let no ... find much more abundant virtue,
and a man delivered from ... bosom, about the crowns of the saints, about the ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxix matt xxii 1-14.htm

What a Good Man Is, and How He Becomes So
... in the self-sacrificing burst of brotherly love, which, whether ... are black spots in
the histories of all saints. ... in a man's heart without that man's trusting in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/what a good man is.htm

Psalm LVI.
... see, the devil we see not; man let us love, of the ... trodden me down" (ver.1). Fear
not because man hath trodden ... one that hath been put afar off from the saints. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lvi.htm