Love and Charity. 1 Corinthians 13: 1-7.
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Love is portrayed in two distinct parts: the right FEELINGS (emotions) and ideally, coupled with the right ACTIONS. John 3: 16, which you quoted in your answer, is a good example: "For God so loved, (the EMOTIONS of compassion and pity) then the words, "that He gave" represents the ACTIONS of love. The actions of love speak louder than the feelings as pointed out in Luke 6:35. where Jesus said " love your enemies and do good". Charity is different in that it speaks of the CHARACTER of the person from which good works or love originates. For example, Jesus pointed out that a good tree cannot produce evil fruit nor can an evil tree produce good fruits. The tree of course being represented as a person and their works as good or bad fruit. Love then is the righteousness of our acts coupled with the proper emotions. The perfect example is God himself, as you have pointed out. But charity speaks of a holy character that is able to produce those love attributes of which God is the complete and highest example.
Love can be defined as not offending anyone, and only wanting the best for them no matter how they act towards you, for Jesus said love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that despitefully use you, and persecute you, and pray for them, feed and clothe your enemies.
Follow peace with all men, with holiness, without which no person shall see the Lord.
Love is wanting the best for everyone and to be with God, and saying you care for them, and love them.
But charity is love in action that actually does deeds to help them with their needs.
Which Paul said he can have all faith so that he could remove mountains, but if he did not have charity then he is nothing.
And if they do not have charity then they have erred from the faith, for the love of money is the root of all evil for it neglects the poor and needy.
James said if they do not have charity then their faith is dead.
And John said if they do not have charity then the love of God does not dwell in them, so do not love in word, or in tongue, but love in deed, and in truth.
You can want the best for people and for them to be with God, and say Jesus loves you, and I love you, but charity is love in action that works to help them with their needs, and charity is greater than faith and hope.
James said if you say to a brother be warmed and filled, but you have the means to help them and you do not do it, how can your faith save you, for charity is greater than faith.
Faith can only save us if we have love, and it has to be done by deeds, and in the truth, charity, love in action, for love is greater than faith.
So it appears to truly love is to have works of love, charity, which we do not say I love you alone, but we help them with their needs, feed and clothe them, and pray for them.
So where does this leave the people that believe the prosperity Gospel where they believe God blesses them with their wants above their needs.
They would fall in to the category of not having true love, and would lack faith, and anybody that goes by their wants would fall victim to the love of money is the root of all evil for they neglect the poor and needy, and love is the fulfilling of the law.
America really went astray as they love money among many that claim Christ, and also they went astray concerning divorces as if it is no big deal, and being hypocritical.
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
The 7 Churches is how the Church history will go of popular beliefs at the time of the Church age, but God always has people in the truth all through Church history.
Which they started off good, but after a while left their first love for they were not loving people like they should, and Jesus told them to correct that.
And then when the Roman Catholic Church came about which they were popular for a lot of years, whose foundations are of the occult, and pagan, and they interpret is as such that had serious errors, and for the next 3 Churches Jesus addressed serious errors the Churches had.
And then the Protestant movement that came about and they started breaking off from the Catholic Church, and gaining more popularity which Jesus did not address any serious error, but said that their works were not perfect before God, and to correct that.
And then the 6th Church which Jesus did not have anything against them, for the Protestant movement corrected a lot, and people could read the Bible more, caused the truth to be known more, and said He will deliver them from the temptation that shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon earth, which there can only be one temptation that can come upon all people at the same time, and that is when they say Peace and safety as the nations come together and they eventually rebel against God.
And now the 7th Church which is now where they are neither hot, or cold, hypocritical, and love money, and material things, and say they have need of nothing, but God said they are not right with Him.
Which the Catholic Church, the Protestant Church, and the prosperity Gospel, and people thinking that God blesses them with money, and material things, and that it is all right will all be at the time now.
Follow peace with all men, with holiness, without which no person shall see the Lord.
Love is wanting the best for everyone and to be with God, and saying you care for them, and love them.
But charity is love in action that actually does deeds to help them with their needs.
Which Paul said he can have all faith so that he could remove mountains, but if he did not have charity then he is nothing.
And if they do not have charity then they have erred from the faith, for the love of money is the root of all evil for it neglects the poor and needy.
James said if they do not have charity then their faith is dead.
And John said if they do not have charity then the love of God does not dwell in them, so do not love in word, or in tongue, but love in deed, and in truth.
You can want the best for people and for them to be with God, and say Jesus loves you, and I love you, but charity is love in action that works to help them with their needs, and charity is greater than faith and hope.
James said if you say to a brother be warmed and filled, but you have the means to help them and you do not do it, how can your faith save you, for charity is greater than faith.
Faith can only save us if we have love, and it has to be done by deeds, and in the truth, charity, love in action, for love is greater than faith.
So it appears to truly love is to have works of love, charity, which we do not say I love you alone, but we help them with their needs, feed and clothe them, and pray for them.
So where does this leave the people that believe the prosperity Gospel where they believe God blesses them with their wants above their needs.
They would fall in to the category of not having true love, and would lack faith, and anybody that goes by their wants would fall victim to the love of money is the root of all evil for they neglect the poor and needy, and love is the fulfilling of the law.
America really went astray as they love money among many that claim Christ, and also they went astray concerning divorces as if it is no big deal, and being hypocritical.
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
The 7 Churches is how the Church history will go of popular beliefs at the time of the Church age, but God always has people in the truth all through Church history.
Which they started off good, but after a while left their first love for they were not loving people like they should, and Jesus told them to correct that.
And then when the Roman Catholic Church came about which they were popular for a lot of years, whose foundations are of the occult, and pagan, and they interpret is as such that had serious errors, and for the next 3 Churches Jesus addressed serious errors the Churches had.
And then the Protestant movement that came about and they started breaking off from the Catholic Church, and gaining more popularity which Jesus did not address any serious error, but said that their works were not perfect before God, and to correct that.
And then the 6th Church which Jesus did not have anything against them, for the Protestant movement corrected a lot, and people could read the Bible more, caused the truth to be known more, and said He will deliver them from the temptation that shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon earth, which there can only be one temptation that can come upon all people at the same time, and that is when they say Peace and safety as the nations come together and they eventually rebel against God.
And now the 7th Church which is now where they are neither hot, or cold, hypocritical, and love money, and material things, and say they have need of nothing, but God said they are not right with Him.
Which the Catholic Church, the Protestant Church, and the prosperity Gospel, and people thinking that God blesses them with money, and material things, and that it is all right will all be at the time now.
It is the same, but the word "charity" was used to show that agape is divine love.
Divine love is not identical to human love, and we see this in John 3:16. Therefore Paul writes:
ROMANS 5: GOD'S LOVE IN ACTION
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love* toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Strong's Concordance
*agapé: love, goodwill
Original Word: ἀγάπη, ης, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: agapé
Phonetic Spelling: (ag-ah'-pay)
Definition: love, goodwill
Usage: love, benevolence, good will, esteem; plur: love-feasts.
Divine love is not identical to human love, and we see this in John 3:16. Therefore Paul writes:
ROMANS 5: GOD'S LOVE IN ACTION
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love* toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Strong's Concordance
*agapé: love, goodwill
Original Word: ἀγάπη, ης, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: agapé
Phonetic Spelling: (ag-ah'-pay)
Definition: love, goodwill
Usage: love, benevolence, good will, esteem; plur: love-feasts.
We live by what Jesus Christ did by Grace through Faith Who loved us and gave Himself for us at the Cross of Calvary where the victory was won (Rom. 6:3-5, Philippians 1:21); His Obedience (Philippians 2:8, John 10:18), His Faith (Gal. 2:20-21), and His Love (Faith works by Love -Gal. 5:6). It is not our obedience, not our faith, and not our love, that we live by. Rom. 8:2, Gal. 2:18
In other words, place and maintain your Faith exclusively in Christ and His Finished Work at Calvary Cross (The Blood of Jesus) where the victory was won and receive all the benefits of this Resurrection Life (the help of the Holy Spirit). Romans 8:2
The Bible says in 2 Cor. 13:4, that Jesus was crucified through weakness. Which it had to be because Gods Grace is only made perfect in weakness. Therefore, through weakness Jesus was crucified that He may taste death by the Grace of God (Hebrews 2:9). As Children of God we get to taste that same death in Christ daily by picking up our own cross (which can only be done by trusting His Grace which is made perfect through our weakness by placing and maintaining our Faith exclusively in Christ and His Finished Work at Calvary Cross where the victory was won) and walking with Christ in the newness of life (His victory). Rom. 6:3-5, Rom. 8:17, Gal. 2:20-21, 2 Cor. 4:11, 2 Cor. 12:9-10, 2 Cor. 13:4, Hebrews 2:9
The fruit that a Child of God bears comes only by Righteousness which is by Grace (Gal. 2:21). Grace only comes through the weakness and death of Christ (2 Cor. 12:9-10). Therefore, Grace is only made perfect through weakness (not our flesh); but only by trusting and placing and maintaining our Faith exclusively in Christ and the Cross. This is the only way Grace flows in a Child of Gods life. This Child of God is considered weak, humble, and broken before God. (THE BEATITUDES MATTHEW 5)
In other words, place and maintain your Faith exclusively in Christ and His Finished Work at Calvary Cross (The Blood of Jesus) where the victory was won and receive all the benefits of this Resurrection Life (the help of the Holy Spirit). Romans 8:2
The Bible says in 2 Cor. 13:4, that Jesus was crucified through weakness. Which it had to be because Gods Grace is only made perfect in weakness. Therefore, through weakness Jesus was crucified that He may taste death by the Grace of God (Hebrews 2:9). As Children of God we get to taste that same death in Christ daily by picking up our own cross (which can only be done by trusting His Grace which is made perfect through our weakness by placing and maintaining our Faith exclusively in Christ and His Finished Work at Calvary Cross where the victory was won) and walking with Christ in the newness of life (His victory). Rom. 6:3-5, Rom. 8:17, Gal. 2:20-21, 2 Cor. 4:11, 2 Cor. 12:9-10, 2 Cor. 13:4, Hebrews 2:9
The fruit that a Child of God bears comes only by Righteousness which is by Grace (Gal. 2:21). Grace only comes through the weakness and death of Christ (2 Cor. 12:9-10). Therefore, Grace is only made perfect through weakness (not our flesh); but only by trusting and placing and maintaining our Faith exclusively in Christ and the Cross. This is the only way Grace flows in a Child of Gods life. This Child of God is considered weak, humble, and broken before God. (THE BEATITUDES MATTHEW 5)
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Yes, to "love" is to do rightly. Charity is the CHARACTER of holiness, from which righteous works are manifested. Verse three of 1 Corinthians thirteen, give a high example of love, but warns that if the pure motive, purpose and intent is missing, then charity is not present, and the good work is made void or unprofitable.