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BIBLE REF.
Deuteronomy 6:5, 7:9
Matthew 22:37–40
John 3:16, 15:12–13
Romans 5:8, 13:8–14
1 Corinthians 13
1 John 3:16, 5:3
2 John 1:6
“Love wins!” is the popular rallying cry of the LGBTQ+ movement. It’s often used to shut down Christian opposition or to justify Christian inclusion. The argument is typically, “The Bible’s all about love, God is love, Christians should be all about love, so how can you be against people loving each other? Love is love!” It’s been so effective because who wants to argue against love?
However, who defines what love is? Once again, the choices are God or man. A man’s attempt to define love is eventually arbitrary because someone else can just as easily define it differently. And if everything is solely the result of natural processes, then “love” is nothing more than a chemical reaction in the brain no different in essence to the chemical reaction of “hate.”
God, the author of humanity, marriage, knowledge, natural laws, beauty, and all of reality, is the author and definer of love as well. Fundamentally, love is an action, accompanied by emotion, done for the benefit of another (John 3:16, 15:12–13; Romans 5:8; 1 John 3:16). Love necessarily requires relationship, which is why only the biblical worldview can reliably explain it. The perfect relationship of the three Persons within the triune Godhead is the source of the intangible reality of love and a unique experience of humans as God’s image bearers. No other worldview — whether originally there was nothing, a force, a singular god, or multiple disconnected gods — can consistently explain the existence of genuine love.
The love that originates and emanates from the biblical God is rooted in His nature and truth. Anything not in line with His nature and truth isn’t love, it’s actually antagonistic toward authentic love. Thus, the connection between God’s love and His law are the constant correlation of love to obedience (1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6; Deuteronomy 6:5, 7:9).
In Matthew 22:37–40, Jesus was asked by the Pharisees what the greatest commandment is. He basically responded that all the Old Testament commands are summarized with love God with all you’ve got and love others like you love yourself. In Romans 13:8–14, we again are told to love one another, and love does no wrong to a neighbor. What things are wrong? The things against God’s law, the Ten Commandments, God’s Word. Love for God and others is inextricably linked to obedience to God’s law, the standard for truth.
Now to 1 Corinthians 13, the renowned “Love Chapter” that illuminates the prominence and qualities of love. Verse 6 reveals a powerful truth for today: “It (love) does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.” Love, biblically and rightly understood, can never encompass homosexuality. Why? Because by definition, homosexuality is wrongdoing and love doesn’t
rejoice in wrongdoing. By definition, homosexuality is not love.
God’s love cannot be separated from God’s truth. The greatest truth is that sin and death have been conquered by the love of Christ. Perfect love has already won. Love won at the Cross!
