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Increase and Abound

 

1 Thessalonians 3:12

"And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:"

Here we are told to increase and abound in love, in love to one another and in love to all men. Mutual love is required of all Christians, and not only that we love one another, but that we also have a love and concern for the welfare of all. Love is of God and is the fulfilling of the gospel as well as of the law. 

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

So, we are to increase and abound in love but also in all the fruits of the Spirit.

We are told in Colossians 2:6 - As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 

Colossians 2:7 - Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 

So, we are told to abound in love and in faith. How do we abound in faith? Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We are taught also to abound in grace in 2 Corinthians 8:7 - Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.