What is Loving Someone According to the Bible?

Do you ever wonder what it truly means to love someone according to the Bible? Love is a common word that is often used and sometimes even abused in our society.

However, the Bible provides a clear definition of what it means to love someone. In fact, the Bible talks about different types of love and how we can express them in our daily lives, what are the characteristics of a genuine love, a divine love.

One of the most well-known passages about love in the New Testament is found in 1 Corinthians 13. This passage, often referred to as the “Love Chapter,” describes the characteristics of love.

According to the apostle Paul, love is patient, kind, does not envy or boast, is not proud, true love respects, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.

We are also called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is known as the Great Commandment, and it is a central teaching of Christ Jesus.

But what does it mean to love God and our neighbors? How can we practice this love in our lives, especially when everything feels chaotic and upside down? In a world where we're all rushing through life, often feeling isolated and as if no one truly cares, how do we show that great love to God and our neighbors?

Love as a Commandment

Love can seem like this big, powerful thing, but really, it's a feeling that can be as fickle as the weather, changing based on what's going on around us. Relying on love, the feeling, for commitment? Not always the best plan.

But then, you open the Bible and read the word of God, it's like God's in there saying, “Look, loving others isn't optional. It doesn't matter if they're a knockout or smell like they just stepped out of a flower shop. You gotta love them, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. It's the right thing to do.””

Jesus laid it out super clear for us: Love God with everything you’ve got – heart, soul, and mind. And don't just stop there; love your neighbor like you love yourself.

It’s all about putting love front and center for all decisions, both in how we interact with God and how we treat the everyone around us.

Characteristics of Biblical Love

Biblical love is sacrificial and compassionate. It is not based on feelings or emotions, but on a decision to love others as God loves us. God's love is perfect, and His perfect love drives us to love others in the same way.

True love, the kind that really matters, is all about respect and honoring others, not just focusing on ourselves. When we talk about love in the Bible, we're looking at something extraordinary – a divine kind of love a compassionate heart.

It's the sort of love that's all about sacrifice and compassion, the kind Jesus showed us through His great sacrifice. This love is rooted in God’s nature, inspiring us to care for others just as deeply as we care for our own lives.

Expressions of Love in the Bible

In the Bible, love takes many forms, ranging from God's immense love for humanity to the intimate connections between individuals. Getting to grips with these different expressions of love gives us a deeper insight into what it truly means to love someone in the way the Bible teaches us.

Love Through Actions

One of the most significant expressions of love in the Bible is through actions. This type of love is not just about words but is shown through deeds.

1 John 3:18 (NIV): “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

James 2:17 (NIV): “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

1 John 3:16-17 (NIV): “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”

These verses are just a handful of examples illustrating what Jesus expects from us as His followers, as part of the body of Christ.

Love in Relationships

The Bible also talks about love in the context of relationships. Romantic love is one type of love, but the Bible also speaks of the love between friends and family members. The Great Commandment, found in

Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV): “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

We find Jesus articulating two of the most fundamental commandments. He says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” This passage beautifully captures the essence of what it means to live a life rooted in love, both for God and for those around us.

Love and Forgiveness

God’s incredible love for us shines in His readiness to forgive our missteps.

1 John 1:9 NIV says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

In the same vein, we’re encouraged to extend forgiveness to those who have wronged us. No exceptions…

Jesus himself laid this out in Matthew 6:14-15 NIV, teaching that our willingness to forgive others opens the door for God’s forgiveness toward us.

Love in the Bible comes in many forms – it’s in our actions, our relationships, and in the act of forgiveness, teaching us that love is a vital thread woven through the fabric of our lives.

The Role of Love in Salvation

For every believer, salvation is the ultimate aim. It's rooted in the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Yet, there's more to it. Love also plays a significant role in this journey of salvation.

Love's Connection to Faith

The apostle Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 13:2 NIV: “If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

This passage highlights the importance of love in the life of a believer. While faith is essential for salvation, it is love that brings faith to life. Without love, our faith is empty and meaningless.

Love is also a gift of the Spirit that accompanies faith. Galatians 5:22-23 lists love as the first fruit of the Spirit. This means that when you receive the gift of the Spirit, you also receive the ability to love as Christ loves. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you can love others sacrificially, just as Christ loved you.

Love as a Fruit of the Spirit

Paul really hit the nail on the head about love: it’s patient, kind, doesn’t get jealous or boastful, isn’t all puffed up with pride. It’s about treating others with respect, not just looking out for number one, keeping your cool, and not holding grudges.

Love doesn’t cheer for the wrong team but celebrates the truth, always sticks up for people, trusts, hopes, and keeps on keeping on.

This love we’re talking about?

It’s way more than just a fleeting feeling or emotion. It’s about having a heart that genuinely wants the best for others, just like the love Jesus showed when He laid down His life for us. This is define as agape love (greek word).

On our own, reaching this kind of love might seem like a tall order. That's where the Holy Spirit comes in. It’s a love that sees and values everyone, kicking fear to the curb. The more we spend time with God, getting to know Him through the Holy Spirit, the closer we get to living out this love.

Just picture it: a world where everyone lets the Holy Spirit guide their way in loving others. How awesome would that be? People looking out for each other's best interests, without an agenda.

That's the dream, right? And if we can't quite get there in this world, God's got us covered with a promise of this perfect love when we meet Him at the end of the road.

Jesus' Teachings on Love

The Great Commandment

The teachings of Jesus about love are at the heart of Christian beliefs, anchoring in the “Great Commandment”. Like we've talked about, Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is all about loving God with every bit of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and equally important, loving your neighbor just as much as you love yourself (Mark 12:28-34 NIV).

Parables Illustrating Love

Jesus often spoke in parables to illustrate his message. Take, for instance, the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 (NIV).

In this story, a man is beaten and robbed, and two religious leaders pass him by without helping. However, a Samaritan, who was despised by Jews, stops to help the man and cared for him. What

Jesus is getting at here is pretty clear: we’ve got to be there for each other, regardless of where we come from, our skin color, or our social status. And sometimes, the need isn't something you can see right away.

In the story of the Prodigal Son a son asks his father for his inheritance and squanders it on wild living. When he returns home, his father welcomes him back with open arms and throws a party. Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)

There is so much more in this parable but is Jesus’ way of saying, “Look, even if you mess up big time, you’re still welcome back. Our Father's love doesn't run out.”

These stories from Jesus teach us a lot about the kind of love that goes the extra mile, that shows real compassion, and offers forgiveness, even when it's hard. Let’s try to be more like Jesus, less like ourselves, and watch how everything starts to click into place.

Challenges of Loving Biblically

Loving Enemies

Alright, hands up: who's ready to show some love to that person who really got under your skin? Maybe it’s someone who hurt you deeply or just the driver who cut you off on the highway this morning. It’s a tough ask, right? Apostle Paul says:

Romans 12:20-21, says “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

This isn't about getting even – far from it. It’s about flipping the script and being kind to those who haven't been kind to us. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? How on earth do you show kindness to someone who’s been anything but kind to you?

I won’t lie – this is super tough for me. Loving those who've rubbed us the wrong way isn't just a small hurdle; it’s like leaping over a mountain. It calls for a heart full of compassion and a willingness to forgive the unforgivable.

This is precisely why I named my blog Sip Pray Love, and why I always wear a bracelet bearing the same motto. It acts as a constant reminder to pray and love, no matter the situation.

Whenever I find myself getting a bit too caught up in my own world, a quick glance at my bracelet brings me back, helping me to realign with these core values.

Selfless Love

Putting others' needs before our own is what it means to truly love someone, selflessly. In today's world, where the focus often shifts to ‘me and my needs,' embracing this kind of love can be tough.

Take Jesus Christ as the perfect example. His ultimate sacrifice on the cross was the epitome of this selfless love. He loved us so deeply that He gave up His life for us, even when we were far from deserving. This type of love compels us to care for others similarly, not looking for anything in return.

Biblical love isn’t just about feeling warm and fuzzy inside; it’s about action. It calls us to show love to everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from. True love shows respect for others and isn’t about what they can do for us.

Practical Ways to Love According to the Holy Bible

When it comes to loving someone the way the Bible teaches, it's not just about the warm, fuzzy feelings. True biblical love also involves rolling up your sleeves and showing that love through your actions.

Serving Others

Even Jesus, in His time on earth, came with the purpose of serving others, not to be served. In my view, the ultimate expression of true love is found in selflessly serving others. The Apostle Paul said in

Galatians 5:13, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Serving others means prioritizing their needs over your own and demonstrating genuine care and concern for them add great value to our lives.

There's a whole spectrum of ways to serve. It might be the more visible acts like volunteering at a community organization, lending a hand with a neighbor's garden chores, or stepping in to help someone in need. Yet, serving others can also be found in the smaller, everyday gestures – like putting your spouse's needs ahead of your own, recognizing a coworker who's in desperate need of a break and stepping up for them, or graciously letting another car merge in traffic. These acts of good intentions, big and small, are also ways of serving and loving those around us.

Loving in Community

Loving within a community is all about being part of a circle where everyone shares similar values and beliefs, and where everyone's got each other's backs. Paul says:

Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

This might mean connecting with your church group, a cozy Bible study crew, or just a circle of friends journeying in faith together. You know, I couldn't quite find a community that ticked all the boxes for what I was seeking, so I took the plunge and started my own.

Why don't you hop over to our Facebook group? We dive deeper into our everyday challenges, discovering God in both the grand and the mundane, and lifting each other up.

In this community, it’s all about empowering one another, sharing prayers, and growing in our faith together. We'll be more than happy to have you!

Wrapping this up, the Bible lays out many down-to-earth ways to show love, like serving others and being part of a loving community. By embracing these ideas and the qualities of love described in 1 Corinthians 13, you can spread God's love to those around you and really make an impact.

Let's not forget, true love involves respect, sacrifice, and a heart full of compassion – just like the amazing love God shows us.

Sip Slow, Pray Deep, Love Always…

Frequently Asked Questions

How is love defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8?

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, love is defined as patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil, rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.

What types of love are described in the Bible?

The Bible describes different types of love, including romantic love (Song of Solomon), familial love (Ruth and Naomi), sacrificial love (John 15:13), and agape love (1 John 4:8).

How does the Bible characterize a loving relationship?

The Bible characterizes a loving relationship as one that is built on mutual respect, trust, and sacrifice. It is a relationship that is selfless, patient, and forgiving.

What does Jesus teach about the nature of love?

Jesus teaches that love is the greatest commandment and that it should be the foundation of all human relationships. He also teaches that love should extend beyond just those who are easy to love and should be shown to all, including enemies (Matthew 5:43-44).

What does ‘love is patient, love is kind' illustrate about Biblical love?

The phrase ‘love is patient, love is kind' illustrates that Biblical love is characterized by patience, kindness, and other positive attributes. It also emphasizes that love is an action, not just a feeling.

How is Real love distinguished from other feelings in Biblical scripture?

Real love is distinguished from other feelings in Biblical scripture by its selflessness, sacrificial nature, and commitment to the well-being of others. It is not based on fleeting emotions or personal gain, but rather on a deep and abiding compassion for others.