If I could define what I believe, what Jesus and Paul "exhibited" as "Love", it was Self Sacrifice.
'Sacrifice' for others only, for the sake of Truth or what's right. And in that attempt, the person will do whatever it takes to save someone from damnation, save them from dangerous or erroneous beliefs or sin or help in a time of need ... despite the cost to themselves, whether it be laying down their life for them, losing their "reputation", being misunderstood, losing friendships, having them get mad at you, ostracize you, lose out financially, stand completely alone ... 'whatever' the loss ... Love must be an 'action' verb, and only 'self-less-Action-Sacrifice' - with others in mind Only, can even begin to describe The Love that is displayed in God's Word by Jesus Himself and his disciples.
You had requested some verses.
Starting in Deut. and several times throughout Deut and the rest of the O.T. ... 'Before' the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who 'assists' us now, to Love with HIS Love.
Deut. 6:5-7 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. (Mat 5:43) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Mat 5:44)
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (Mat 5:46)
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Mat 6:24)
Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Mat 19:19)
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (Mat 24:12)
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (Mark 12:30)
And the second is like, namely this, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself".
There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mar 12:31)
And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mar 12:33)
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, (Luk 6:27)
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. (Luk 6:32)
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. (Luk 6:35)
And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? (Luk 7:42)
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. (Luke 10:27)
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Luk 11:42)
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Luk 16:13)
Joh 3:16 FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. (Joh 5:42)
"Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (Joh 8:42)"
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (Joh 13:34)
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (Joh 13:35)
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (Joh 14:15)
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (Joh 14:21)"
Jesus answered and said unto him, IF a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (Joh 14:23)
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. (Joh 15:9)
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (Joh 15:10)
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (Joh 15:12)
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (Joh 15:13)
These things I command you, that ye love one another. (Joh 15:17)
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (Joh 15:19)
"And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." (Joh 17:26)
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (Joh 21:15)He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (Joh 21:16)He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (Joh 21:17)
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Rom 5:5)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Rom 8:35)Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:39)
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (Rom 12:9)
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; (Rom 12:10)
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another "hath fulfilled the law." (Rom 13:8)
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Rom 13:9)
Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Rom 13:10)
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; (Rom 15:30)
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1Co 2:9)
But if any man love God, the same is known of him. (1Co 8:3)
1Co 13:1-8 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (Charity = Agape), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1Co 16:22)
My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. (1Co 16:24)
For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. (2Co 2:4)
Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. (2Co 2:8)
By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, (2Co 6:6)
Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. (2Co 8:7)
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. (2Co 8:8)
Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. (2Co 8:24)
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. (2Co 13:11)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (2Co 13:14)
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; "but faith which worketh by love". (Gal 5:6)
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. (Gal 5:13)
For ALL the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy "neighbor as thyself". (Gal 5:14)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Gal 5:22)
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Eph 1:4)
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, (Eph 1:15)
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (Eph 3:17)
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph 3:19)
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (Eph 4:2)
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Eph 4:15)
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Eph 4:16)
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor. (Eph 5:2)
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Eph 5:25)
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. (Eph 5:28)
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself ; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Eph 5:33)
Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 6:23)
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. (Eph 6:24)
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; (Phi 1:9)
Phi 1:15-17 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: Phi 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. (Phi 1:17)
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, (Phi 2:1)Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (Phi 2:2)
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints. (Col 1:4)
Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. (Col 1:8)
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; (Col 2:2)
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. (Col 3:19)
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; (1Th 1:3)
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: (1Th 3:12)
"But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." (1Th 4:9)
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, "putting on the breastplate of faith and love"; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. (1Th 5:8)
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. (1Th 5:13)
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2Th 2:10)
SEEMS SO FAR ... THAT WE CAN'T BE SAVED IN THE END WITHOUT HIS LOVE IN US !
And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (2Th 3:5)
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (1Ti 1:14)
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (1Ti 6:11)
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2Ti 1:7)
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, "in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (2Ti 1:13)
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2Ti 4:8)
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, (Tit 2:4)
Phm 1:3-7 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
1:7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. (Phm 1:9)
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (Heb 6:10)
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (Heb 10:24)
Let brotherly love continue. (Heb 13:1)
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, "which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." (Jam 1:12)
"Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" (Jam 2:5)
(Jam 2:8-9)If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1Pe 1:8)
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1Pe 1:22)
Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (1Pe 2:17)
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (1Pe 3:8)
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: (1Pe 3:10)
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: 'hereby' know we that we are in him. (1Jo 2:5)
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1Jo 2:15)
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1Jo 3:1)
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (1Jo 3:11)
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (1Jo 3:14)
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1Jo 3:16) [Compare to John 3:16 - Neat coincidence in verse numbers ? :)
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (1Jo 3:17)
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (1Jo 3:18)
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (1Jo 3:23)
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (1Jo 4:7)
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1Jo 4:8)
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1Jo 4:9)
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1Jo 4:10)
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1Jo 4:11)
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. (1Jo 4:12)
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1Jo 4:16)
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1Jo 4:17)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1Jo 4:18)
We love him, because he first loved us. (1Jo 4:19)
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (1Jo 4:20)
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1Jo 4:21)
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. (1Jo 5:2)
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. {He gave TWO commandments} (1Jo 5:3)
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; (2Jo 1:1)
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. (2Jo 1:3)
And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. (2Jo 1:5)And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. (2Jo 1:6)
Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. (Jud 1:2)
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jud 1:21)
Rev 2:1-4 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
God Bless you Diane.
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