Lesson 15

God loved us while we still hated him. Loving those who do evil towards us might be the hardest trait of love to live out, but it will be the one that will positively identify God’s love within us. Fear is driven out from true love and has no place within it. When our love perfects using the sound mind of God to guide our actions, we will not fear being punished for them, by man or God. The love of God comes to us by the grace of God, through His Spirit. Are you fearful of events that are out of your control? Do you worry about the spiritual fate of your loved ones? How is the Kingdom of God able to save those who willingly determine to follow Jesus regardless of when they make that choice? Will love conquer all? Does love win?

Romans 5:8 New King James Version
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Luke 6:27-33 New Testament for Everyone
27 ‘But this is my word’, Jesus continued, ‘for those of you who are listening: love your enemies! Do good to people who hate you! 28 Bless people who curse you! Pray for people who treat you badly! 29 ‘If someone hits you on the cheek – offer him the other one! If someone takes away your coat – don’t stop him taking your shirt! 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask for things back when people have taken them. 31 ‘Whatever you want people to do to you, do that to them. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Think about it: even sinners love people who love them. 33 Or again, if you do good only to people who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Sinners do that too.

2 Timothy 1:7 King James Version
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

1 John 4:18 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.

Hebrews 13:6 English Standard Version
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

1 John 4:7 Christian Standard Bible
Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Romans 5:5 New King James Version
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.