Perfection of life is
the perfection of love.
For love is
the life of the soul.
-- St. Francis De Sales
"I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." -- John 17:23
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18). Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph. 5:2).
"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." -- John 14:23
Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us (1 John 3:24). If anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him (1 John 2:5).
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him (1 John 4: 16-17).
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." -- John 13:34
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7). Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves (Rom. 12:10). Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law (Rom. 13:8). The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Galatians 5:14).
No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us (1 John 4:12).
"The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father." -- John 16:27
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:1). This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother (1 John 3:10).
"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." -- Matthew 5:48
Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Cor. 13:11). And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity (Col. 3:14). Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Rom. 13:10).
