Love and TheologyLove and Theology

POINT OF DEPARTURE: MT 5:45

Mt 5:43-44

You have heardThat it was said,

“Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”

NowI am saying to you,

Love your enemiesand Pray for those who persecute you

Mt 5:45

In order that

you become sons of your Father Who is in Heaven

Because

His sun He causes to rise upon the evil and the good

and

Rain upon righteous and unrighteous

v48

Therefore you will becomplete/perfect/mature

just as your Father in Heaven is

complete/perfect/mature.

v48

Therefore you will becomplete/perfect/mature

just as your Father in Heaven is complete/perfect/mature.

Our Responsibility

• It is impossible for the believer to be righteous in his spiritual life if he does not love everyone unconditionally.– This kind of love is a command. – Disobedience of the commands of the Lord Jesus

Christ is arrogance...– ...arrogance is a sin...– ...THEREFORE: not loving is a sin

• Remember: Love in this sense is not emotion but kind intention.

• You can have love in this sense with or without emotional attachment to the object.

Examination of THIS Love: Rom 5:8

8 Συνίστησιν δὲ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἀγάπην εἰς ἡμᾶς ὁ θεός, ὅτι ἔτι ἁμαρτωλῶν ὄντων ἡμῶν χριστὸς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἀπέθανεν.

Now He demonstrates (in a universal sense) His own love toward us, GOD: while we were still being sinners, Christ as our substitute died.

Loving Your Enemies

• The emphasis in Romans 5:8 is GOD’s love.• The primary point is the lack of deservedness in

the object.• God’s love is defined in terms of His character,

not the object’s worthiness.• This is the same love of Matthew 5.• In both cases, love is directed at the enemy.• This is the exact opposite of what you would

expect.

To What Extent?

•You are told to pray for them.• Jesus went to the Cross for

them.•Don’t make this harder than

it is.