John 13:34-35
A new (as of time and substance) commandment (order to be done) I give unto you, That ye love (agape) one another (each other mutually); as (even in the same way) I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

This truth is so plain that it speaks clearly without much commentary of any kind. Obviously, love is seen as a mark of genuine discipleship and if any man or woman does not possess this kind of divine love for all believers, they are not Christ disciples. Also the love is to be mutual and reciprocated as it is seen again and again by the words, "One another." God’s love displayed among believers is the number one characteristic to the world that truly we are followers, learners, students of the Lord. If indeed the love of Christ is displayed towards one another, it will show the world the supernatural power of God. The world needs to see a supernatural distinction that should be manifest in His church, and that distinction is a body of believers filled with and actively involved with the love of Christ. This is why I’ll say again that unbelievers cannot add this dimension to the body. They can only corrupt the beauty of God’s love in His church. Not to mention that they don’t even have the capacity to perform God’s love in the first place.

John 15:12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

This kind of love is a self sacrificing love, in life and in death. In life, it is to be displayed in the support of the needs of the saints (I John 3:16-18 Read). In death, we are to be ready to lay down our lives for one another.

John 15:17
These things I command you, that ye love one another.

1.) It was new for these apostles because it would be experienced when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Thus, it is essential that for this kind of love to be carried out, there needs to be a supernatural enablement for it to happen.

2.) It was, and is, commanded by the Lord to be done. The word commandment speaks of an order to be carried out. This is not an option.

3.) The word love speaks not of a human ability, but of God’s divine love. This is the love of believers only, it cannot be performed by the unsaved, and unless believers are filled with the Holy Spirit, we too, will not perform it. (Romans 5:1-2, Read)

4.) The Lord commands that this kind of love is to be done mutually, and reciprocally.

5.) Christ is the standard of this kind of love. It isn’t that we don’t have an example of how this love is to be displayed, we have the greatest example in Christ. Examine His life in the pages of scripture. Seek the Lord, diligently, that we may emulate and imitate such a life of love. Then as we pray to the our Father for His strength and wisdom to carry out His command, we will do such with joy and with an understanding heart because we have studied the scriptures, and embraced them, thus we will perform our task without ignorance.

Romans 12:9
[Let] love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

The kind of love that we are to demonstrate to each other is to be without hypocrisy, hidden agendas, and insincerity. In fact, we are to abhor (have a horror and a dislike) that which is evil, and certainly, hypocrisy is just that, evil. And we are cleave (stick two objects together with glue) that which is good and certainly God’s divine love is just that, good.

Romans 12:10
[Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

This love that is to be displayed to one another is a love that cherishes the fellowship of other believers. It is a mutual relationship that can only be experienced between believers. There needs to be a cherishing of the brothers and sisters that God has brought into the body of Christ. The latter portion of the verse could be understood to mean, esteem others, but it could also be understood to refer to the leaders of churches, to set the example of this love to the body.

Romans 13:8

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

We as believers owe a debt of love to each other and it is a debt that can never be paid in full while we live on this earth.

Galatians 5:13
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Our freedoms in Christ are not to be used as a base of operation to fulfill our fleshly desires, but instead, we are to be slaves of one another. We are not to use our liberty in Christ to abuse other, to use one another, to manipulate one another, to try to satisfy some fleshly craving from one another, but we are to be slaves, servants of one another, love being the motive and the foundation of it all.

Ephesians 4:1-2
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

The salvation that we received results in a walk that is worthy of that great calling. It is a walk that is to endure with the weakness of others in love. It is a love that is patient in the growth process of other believers.

Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

This love is to be demonstrated in kindness, meaning useful, benevolent, tenderhearted, meaning, compassionate, forgiving one another, gracious to one another as Christ forgave you. Again, Christ is the standard.

1 Thessalonians 3:11-12
Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all [men], even as we [do] toward you:

This kind of love is to be ever increasing towards one another. Paul says that his desire is that the Lord makes the church to superabound, in an ever increasing measure, not only towards other believers, but towards all men, as Paul and his helpers has demonstrated towards them. Remember, it takes a supernatural enablement for this to happen and with that enablement, the willing hearted individual(s) will carry out this command and be blessed.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

Concerning the love of the believers towards one another, the love that is cherished between believers, Paul said that it was not necessary for him to write again, for the church at Thessalonica, and today’s church, are "God-taught" to love one another. Then he commends them that they are doing it, then he encourages them to increase in it more and more, to exceed in over and above, to a greater degree. This should be the same attitude that is to be manifest among believers today. We are to increase in our love to each other as believers in helping each other to grow, and towards the unbeliever in that we proclaim the message of the gospel to them.

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Let us understand one another (that takes an active relationship and time) to agitate God’s love and good works. The believing family, loving one another, will first, set their mind on others as to minister to them, to love them, to urge them on to a course of good works. We will congregate in an environment where we can agitate each other to continue God’s love and good works among believers. The environment that the love and gook works are to be urged of stimulated is clearly among the fellowship of believers, the assembling of ourselves together. Exhorting one another means that we come alongside of each other to help someone, usually by teaching them and instructing them. The context again implies that it is in the gathering of the believing body, the church.

1 Peter 1:22
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:

Salvation produces this love. As we have already seen, the believer is "God taught" in this matter of loving each other. We are also reminded again that this kind of love is supernatural in nature (Spirit). We are to love one another with a clean heart and with intensity.

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, [be ye] all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, [be] pitiful, [be] courteous:

Concordant, harmonious (one mind), like feeling or sympathetic (Compassion of one another), tenderhearted, kind or friendly (Pitiful and courteous).

1 John 3:11
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (We have seen that extensively)

1 John 3:16
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.

God demonstrated His love in that He gave His son to die in our behalf. This example is also for believers today. In our love for one another, we are to be ready to lay down our lives in death for one another. As we saw earlier, we are to lay down our lives in death as well as in life. Christ is the example.

1 John 3:17
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?

The love of God does not dwell or abide in any person who refuses to demonstrate love to other believers in need. It is as simple as that. If we are willing to lay down our lives for believers, which would be the greater demonstration of love, how much more should we be more than ready to lay down our lives for believers in life?

1 John 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

This verse speaks for itself. We should not love with our mouths, but by our actions and in truth, sincerity. God’s love is not theory, but it is demonstrated in behavior towards believers.

1 John 3:19
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

It is God’s love demonstrated by which we know, with full assurance, that we are of the truth. It is by God’s love that our hearts our persuaded, assured that we are believers. One of the reasons why so many people have this sense of either questioning or losing salvation, is because their hearts are not persuaded before God that they are His because of practices in their lives that they will not repent of.

1 John 3:20
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

This is a very difficult verse to interpret. I’ll try to give you an interpretation of this verse. First, in the context, It would appear that this could refer to a believer feeling the conviction of his or her lack of an act of love, not as a habit of love. Thus this believers act of a lack of love causes their hearts to feel a great sense of guilt which can be corrected by repentance and performing God’s love. God knows the true nature of our heart. He knows what we are not doing as well as what we are doing.

1 John 3:21
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God.

If our hearts are free from conviction of a lack of love, then we can be free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, with boldness and assurance before God.

1 John 3:22
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Loving believers is not divorced from an active and vibrant prayer life. In fact, loving believers is a sure way to have your prayers answered. If our prayer lives are in a shambles and we are not experiencing any answers to prayer, we must examine our lives, seriously, to see that one of the reasons might be that we don’t love other believers. Look at the verse again (Read). If we are actively loving believers (all believers) we have confidence towards God, to the extent that we can ask (beg, desire) anything, according to His will, we will receive from Him, because we take careful heed to obey His commandments (orders), and do those things that are agreeable and pleasing God, in His presence. What is the commandment? What is it that pleases God? What is it that we should be actively doing in His presence?

1 John 3:23
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.

Loving other believers, not an option, but a command!

1 John 3:24
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

The keeping of the commands of Christ is the clearest way for ourselves to know that we belong to Christ. The life of love is empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will manifest the love of God through all believers. We can know with full assurance that we are His, if we demonstrate a supernaturally empowered love.

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

God’s love comes from God, as of source, and that supernatural love actively displayed in the life of a believer, demonstrates that this person is saved, and knows God.

1 John 4:11-12
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought (owe a debt) also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Divine love, demonstrated towards one another, is the greatest demonstration that God is in us. As we have seen before in, John 13:35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

2 John 5
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.

What a great conclusion to this first of many "one another" of the scriptures. The foundation of it all is God’s divine love. In fact, it is interesting to note that this is the first "One another" listed for the believer in scripture.

Romans 12:4
For as we have many members (limbs, parts) in one (human) body, and all members have not the same office (work or function):

Romans 12:5
So we (the Church), [being] many (members), are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another (mutual).

Being mutual does not in any way take away from our own personalities, but it adds a tremendous dimension to the whole of the church body itself. God uses our talents, gifts and abilities, that we all share, and uses them to serve each other in the body of Christ to accomplish His will.

Ephesians 4:25
Wherefore putting away (an act that should have already been done as a believer) lying, (deceitful schemings, falsehoods and lying) speak every man truth with his neighbour (friend): for (because) we are members one of another.

Romans 12:16
[Be] of the same mind (harmoniously together, cherish the same views) one toward another. Mind not high things, (don’t set your mind on being haughty or proud) but condescend to men of low estate (be of a humble spirit). Be not wise in your own conceits.

I believe that the Proverbist says it best in Proverbs 3:5-7 (Read).

Romans 15:5-6
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded (harmoniously together, cherish the same views) one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s break down tis important verse and see some tremendous truths. First of all the words, one mind, is a unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New Testament occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand the uniqueness of the Christian community. This Greek word is a compound of two words meaning to "rush along" and "in unison". The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonizes in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ’s church. This, my beloved, is truly the image of the work of the Holy Spirit.

One mouth refers to, what we say. What are we to do with one mind and one mouth? Glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is to be unity in the body, a single-mindedness, that eliminates any other mind or purpose that would hinder the purposes and the plan of God for His church.

Romans 15:7
Wherefore (on account of what we have already seen in the two previous verses) receive ye one another, (be a companion of each other, welcome one another as you would welcome someone into your home with kindness, be a friend) as (just as) Christ also received us to the glory of God. (salvation & future glory)

Romans 14:19
Let us therefore follow after (to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavoring to aquire) the things which make for peace (harmony between believers), and things wherewith one may edify another (building up each other, promoting Christian growth among believers).

Romans 15:14
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness (uprightness of heart and life), filled with all knowledge (filled to the full, nothing lacking, with Christian understanding), able also to admonish one another.

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (the thought being, not knowledge alone, but that the truth influences your own life first) in all wisdom; (application of the truth) teaching and admonishing one another (warning one another on to a course of Godliness and to stay away from ungodliness) in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

The admonition is not in the music but in the wisdom and the teaching of God’s word. This is the tool that we use for everything

Romans 16:16
Salute one another (bid welcome, receive joyfully) with an holy kiss. (This is a kiss with which, as a sign of fraternal affection, Christians were acustomed to welcome or dismiss their companions in the faith) The churches of Christ salute you.

1 Corinthians 16:20
All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. (Same instruction and definition as Romans 16:16)

2 Corinthians 13:12
Greet one another with an holy kiss. (Same instruction)

1 Peter 5:14
Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. (Godly affection) Peace (harmony) [be] with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

1 Corinthians 4:6
And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and [to] Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up (swell-headed, proud, selfish) for one against another.

1 Corinthians 12:24-25
For our comely [parts] have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that [part] which lacked: That there should be no schism (tear, division) in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care (provide) one for another.

Galatians 5:14-15
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite (wound with lies) and (and also) devour (ruin) one another, take heed that ye be not consumed (destroyed) one of another. Love prevents that.

Galatians 5:26
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another (combatting one another), envying one another. Empty, useless, selfish self-exaultation, promotes the kind of behavior that Paul cautions the Galatians, and ourselves, against.

Colossians 3:9
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; We are to stop lying to one another, since we have put away the old life with its deeds or actions.

Not only is the believer separated from that old life of lying, but we need to strip of any act of it in our practical behavior.

Ephesians 5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another (a voluntary attitude of cooperating, assuming responsibility, carrying a burden) in the fear (dread or terror) of God.

1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves (same word as in Ephesians 5:21) unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, (same word) and be clothed with humility: (put on the servents apron and serve one another) for God resisteth the proud (God stands in opposition and sets up His armies to resist the activities of proud people. God has made it clear that He hates pride and that He stands in opposition against anyone who will exersice it), and giveth grace to the humble. (to the lowly, the God-dependent ones, God continues to pour out His grace).

Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, (enduring with one another) and forgiving one another, (bestowing grace and pardon to one another) if any man have a quarrel (complaint or blame) against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye. (Christ being the standard)

1 Thessalonians 4:18
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

During times of grief, the Christian church is to console and to encourage each other. This brings strength to the person in sorrow. It is a comfort which is to be mutual.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Again, the thought is the same as in chapter 4:18. Comfort and edification, by the scriptures.

Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another (this speaks of training, urging one another to a course of Godly behavior, comfort and strengthing each other) daily, (this very day) while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened (stubborn, obstinate) through the deceitfulness of sin.

Titus 3:3
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.

James 4:11-12
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of [his] brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

James 5:9
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

James 5:16
Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

1 Peter 4:9
Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

1 Peter 4:10
As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

The unsaved world has never been a friend to the believer. This can be easily seen in any serious study of the text of scripture. Especially in the New Testament this is true. Jesus, as well as the other writers of the New Testament, have clearly revealed this truth. Because of this truth, the believer will suffer oftentimes at the hands of those who reject the savior, who happens to be the one whom we profess undying allegiance to. If we identify with Jesus Christ, we will also identify with His sufferings. Jesus said it best in John’s gospel when He said in chapter 15:18-21

John 15:18-21
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 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. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. (KJV).

The believer who identifies with Christ must also identify with His sufferings and persecution. Look at Philippians 1:27-30.

Philippians 1:27-30
Only let your conversation (conduct) be as it becometh (is worthy of) the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast (firm) in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: (those who oppose and withstand you) which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict (contest, struggle) which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. (KJV)

Peter describes the persecution towards the believer as fiery trials, meaning, a burning. The burning by which metals are reduced and refined by fire. Figuratively, it speaks of, calamities or trials that test the character of the believer.

Yes my friends, Christians who are truly living for Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, sometimes physical. Sometimes the sufferings are non-stop and seemingly never ending. But how are we to live as believers in the mitds of sufferings? Is there no hope for Christians? Are we exiled to a life of hopeless doom? To suffer needlessly, without ceasing? The answer may surprise you. Let’s establish some biblical facts.

1.) Suffering for Christ was the rule, not the exception.

2.) No earthly hope as ever been promised for the believer. Suffering would be foolish to the nth degree if there was no hope after the grave. Look at, I Cor 15:19.

I Corinthians 15:19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

If all we have is an earthly hope then all of this living for Christ, all of the restrictions on the flesh, all of its denials of earthly pleasures is moronic foolishness, we are to be pitied for being so stupid.

The truth is my friends is that in the midst of the greatest sufferings for Christ, the believer can experience a hope that the unsaved world knows nothing about. Our hope is not in this world, but in the world to come. This is what caused the multitudes of believers to have confidence in the world. It was the hope that believers had in Christ coming that caused believers to suffer the greatest trials of life, to suffer death at the hands of the adversary. The hope of the believer is as sure as Christ in the Heavens, the one to whom the hope is fixed.

Hebrews 6:17-20
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (KJV)

1.) Our hope is a Heavenly hope.

Colossians 1:1-6
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Colossians 1: 21-25
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to Fulfill the word of God; (KJV)

2.) Our hope is in the one who saved us, Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For ye are our glory and joy.

1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. 6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (KJV)

3.) Our expectation of the return of the blessed hope, Christ Jesus, affects our behavior in this life. Titus 2:11-14

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (KJV)

Also 1 John 3:1-3

John 3:1-3 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. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (KJV)

4.) It is a hope that is not diminished one iota by suffering. In fact, suffering intensifies the hope!

1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 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: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:13-21 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Notice that Peter states that we are to hope to the end. We are to hope, going the distance. The writer of Hebrews also echoes the same truth:

Hebrews 3:6
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Hebrews 6:11
And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

1 Peter 3:10-16 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: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (KJV)

You see how it all comes together in these verses? Peter is writing to saints that were scattered abroad, (1:1). Saints that were under extreme persecution. In fact, Peter knows that his own death is near and what does he spend most of his first letter on? The hope of the return of Christ Jesus and how that hope affected the lives of the believers who were scattered through persecution.

Psalm 43:5
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (KJV)