LOVE ABOUNDS


LOVE GROWS 

• our love for one another may grow (1 Thess 3:12; 2 Thess 1:3; 2 Peter 1:7–8) 

2 THESSALONIANS 1:3 

• "because" introduces two reasons why Paul, Silas, and Timothy should always thank God for the Thessalonians:
(1) 'your faith is growing beyond measure'—the present tense of hyperauxano indicates their faith is continually growing,
becoming stronger and stronger, (2) auxano 'grow, increase' is used of flowers growing (Matt 6:28) and of a mustard seed
growing into a large plant (Luke 13:19), (3) the prefixed preposition hyper means 'above measure'
(severe testing helped their faith grow—"faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure" 1:4)
• 'and the love of every single one' emphasizes individual believers in the local church:
loving one another starts with individuals—you must do your part, not just wait for others to love you
• 'of all of you for one another' refers to the whole church: all must love and all must be loved
• 'is growing'—the present tense of pleonazo 'grow, increase' indicates a steady growth in their ability to love each other—
including their enemies and the unlovely
• the church at Thessalonika was fantastic: their faith and love were continually increasing—let's be like them
(note Paul's commendation—"We ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God!" 1:4)
1 THESSALONIANS 3:12 

• "increase and abound in love for one another" confirms that our love for one another may grow
• "may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love" indicates the Lord Jesus is the cause of this growth in love
• "for all men" takes us beyond the local church—our love for all men, both believers and unbelievers, may also grow
• "but you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev 19:18) is called the Royal Law—
the second most important commandment in the Bible (Mark 12:31)
2 PETER 1:8 

• this verse confirms that both brotherly-love (philadelphia) and love (agape) can grow
• 'if' introduces a condition—maybe you have these qualities, maybe you don't
• 'these qualities' refer to the preceding eight virtues mentioned in verses 5–7:
(1) faith (pistis)—comes from hearing God's Word,
(2) moral excellence (arete)—comes from obedience to God's moral commandments,
(3) knowledge (gnosis)—comes from the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit,
(4) self-control (egkrateia)—comes from knowledge and from the Holy Spirit (a fruit of the Spirit),
(5) endurance or steadfastness (hypomone)—comes from testing and self-control,
(6) godliness (eusebeia)—maintaining a godly attitude while persevering, not complaining or cursing God,
(7) brotherly love (philadelphia)—comes from the Holy Spirit,
(8) love (agape)—comes from the Holy Spirit (a fruit of the Spirit)
• 'render you neither useless nor unfruitful'—argos means "unemployed, lazy, useless" and akarpos means "unproductive"—
it's possible to be a useless and unproductive Christian
• 'are yours and are increasing' means you will be useful to God and productive in your Christian life
if these eight virtues are present and continually growing in your soul