Gal 5:22 STUDY ON FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - LOVE

The word love is often abused these days. It is used in the context of close, cozy feelings; of ecstatic, exuberant sexual passion; and of conditional commitments ("I'll love you if you live up to my expectations"). From the Christian point of view, what is this thing called love? How do we get it and how can we give it away to others who need it? The word love (or some form of it) is mentioned sixteen times in 1 John 4:7-16.

1. Why does the search for love dominate so many songs, novels and the lives of so many people?
   TheOxford Dictionary defines love as: A strong feeling of deep affection for somebody or something.
   
   However 1 Corinthians 13: 5-7 defines love as: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. We read that God is love in the Bible; this means that God defines love. And when we say that God defines love, we don't mean that He defines it like Oxford might define something -- we mean that God is the very definition of love itself. There is no such thing as love without God. As hard as we might try, we cannot define love outside of knowing God. This essentially means that our human definition of love is false.
   
   Everyone needs love and wants to be loved, hence the dominance of the topic. Love and lust are 2 totally different words that people use interchangeably.
   
   
2. Read 1 John 4:1-16. John says that true love comes from God. What, therefore, has to happen before we can even begin to love one another (w. 7-8)? Explain.For us to truly love one another, we have to know God first of all because God is love. John 3: 16 – 17.
   To know God, we have to acknowledge that we have sinned, repent from them and turn to Christ as Lord and master. This means to have a close personal relationship with him by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. Acts 2:37b – 38, John 3: 5, Romans 5:19, 1 John 1: 8 – 10
   
   
3. How do Christ's incarnation and death show us God's love (vv. 9-10)?
   I do not think that any of us would die for our own children, talk-less of dying for another person. But great is the love of God! That he sent his son to die in our place. What a great unconditional love! Romans 5:8, 6: 23.
   
   
4. How does God's love motivate you to love others?
   God’s love is unconditional and unpretentious love. It is from the heart. He loves us because He is love. He created us to have a loving relationship with Him, and He sacrificed His own Son (who also willingly died for us) to restore that relationship. By loving others this way, we would draw more souls to the kingdom and heaven will rejoice. Mark 12: 30-31
   
5. Since we cannot see God with our eyes, how can we perceive his presence among us (v. 12)?
   Gen 1: 27 say that man is created in the image and likeness of God. Thus God’s presence is in man.1 Cor 3:16 says that our body is the temple of God. By loving others and ourselves, we can perceive God’s presence.
   
6. How have you seen God's love demonstrated through other Christians?
   Yes. Missionaries that left the comfort of their homes preached the gospel in many places and changed many barbaric cultures.
   
7. Verse 16 says we can "know and rely on the love God has for us." How does such assurance come about (vv. 13-15)?
   God is love. The assurance of God’s love is demonstrated firstly on the cross. Jesus died in our place. John 3: 16, Matthew 1: 21b
   
   Secondly, if we have faith in Him, all things are possible with God. Heb 11:11
   
8. What do you think John means when he says, "God is love" (v. 16)?
   It means that God loves us unconditionally. He saved us, loves us, cares for us, forgives us without rubbing the sin in, wants the best for us, heals us etc. Isaiah 55:7, 9- 10
   
   
9. Because God is love, what do we know about those whose lives are full of love (v. 16)? Explain.
   They are God’s children, their way will please the Lord and they will inherit eternal life.
   
10. No one has ever seen wind, energy or electrons. We see only the effects of what they do. Likewise, no one has ever seen the love of God. As you look again at this whole passage, in what ways can you see the effects of God's love?
    It transforms lives, families, nations, churches, workplaces, etc.
    
11. Think of someone you find it especially hard to feel warm toward, someone you are thrown together with regularly. Why is it difficult for you to love that person?
    Reasons are they may be nasty towards us and keep re-offending us.
    But like God, we must keep forgiving.
    
12. Recognizing that love is not based on feelings, what are some practical ways you can show the fruit of love to that person?
    Caring, sharing, helping, praying, etc.
    
13. Decide one specific action you will take in this coming week, and then pray that God's Spirit will begin to manifest this fruit in your life.