What is Biblical Love? (2)

I started to post on biblical love in the recent past and I am now returning to the subject. When we read the many times in Scripture that God demonstrates His love in this; that He sent or gave especially His Son, we should be able to muster the mental prowess to surmise that love is more than emotionalism, sentimentality, and romance. Those may be fine attributes, they may be part of having loving feelings and I do not wish to downplay or diminish these qualities. However, biblical love is more, much more. It is demonstrable, it is giving, forgiving, and it is gracious, among other characteristics that I may or may not get to (I want to do short posts).

A wise counselor gave me this definition of love and for no extra charge I will share it with you.

Love is giving of oneself to another/others for their benefit without demanding or expecting anything in return.

I wish I knew who originally said this because it is so rich. I do, on the other hand, know some one who put this principle into motion and He is none less that God Himself. Hear His Word, heed His Word. Here are some verses you can read on this topic.

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. (John 3:16)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 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 savour. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:1-2; and v. 25)

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. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1John 4: 9-11)

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Love is the giving of myself for the benefit of others without expecting anything in return.

Please add your thoughts to this and help me to expand mine.

Be a blessing,
Brother John