Love

What is one of the defining characteristics of a Christian? One of them is Love.

Jesus has a lot to say about love. The NT writers all have much to say on this topic.

In our reading for today in 1 John 4:7-21 John has much for us to learn from regarding love. I’m going to focus on verses 7-11.

1 John 4:7–11

New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 4

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (as a sacrifice in the NIV) for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Love is the focus of these verses. The word love appears 11 time in the NASB. What is love?

In English, the word “love” can be applied to various situations. The word “love” can be applied to your feelings toward your spouse, your parents, siblings, strangers, or even a cup of coffee, or even a camera. Koine Greek, however, designates a specific word for each type of love that we experience in different situations. Here are the Greek words that were used during Christ’s time to convey the meaning of the word “Love.”

Eros (ἔρως):  Refers to romantic love felt towards one’s spouse. The word "Eros" is not actually used in either the Old or New Testaments.  This is an important fact to remember when we are reading the NT. We are not talking about romantic love.

Phillia (φιλέω, φιλία): Refers to feelings one has towards close friends “brotherly love.” This word was used in the New Testament to describe Jesus’ love for his disciples (John 20:2) and for Lazarus (John 11:3).

Agape (ἀγάπη): This is the kind of love that we should have for all men, and also for our enemies. It is a selfless kind of love that Christians must have in regard to acting in the best interest for all human beings. “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44).

Storge (στοργ): This Greek word refers to love we have for our parents, siblings, our children and other members of our family. Paul used this word in the negative in Romans 1:31 when he described the pagans that he was in contact with being without “natural affection.”

     As you can see, Koine Greek was a very descriptive and specific language, which helps readers fully understand God’s Word. And there are many variations of these word in Greek that are further nuanced.

http://www.blessingofheaven.org/blog/the-4-greek-words-for-love-used-in-new-testament

The New Commands of Jesus Regarding Love

Jesus gave us some new commands that superseded the old commands.

In Matthew 22:37–40 He takes the Shema from Deut 6:4-5 and restates it and adds to it a second command.

New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 22

37 And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE (agape) THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’

38 “This is the great and foremost commandment.

39 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE (agape) YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’

40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Then John records Him adding a third commandment,

John 13:34–35

New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 13

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love (agape) one another, even as I have loved (agape) you, that you also love (agape) one another.

35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love (agape) for one another.”

Agape, Phillia, Storge, Eros Love - Emotion or Choice?

My take and experience. I’m not a very emotional kind of guy. I used to struggle early in my life with Christ in that I didn’t seem to have the emotional experiences in my spiritual life that I observed in others. I thought I was missing something. And I thought that maybe I’m not even a Christian.

I learned a very important truth from a Campus Crusade for Christ military missionary, that I met while stationed overseas. He taught me that the facts of my faith (trust in a reliable source, not a blind faith) is what should drive my walk with the Lord. Not my emotions. I learned that emotions are not a reliable source to drive my walk with Jesus. Emotions go up and down and all around. Tossed in the wind. Emotions are not reliable or consistent.

The same is true in NT love. All Greek words for love are a choice we make. Emotion can be a natural outflow of our choice.

How many spouses here can say that they love they spouse? Is it possible to love your spouse and hate them at the same time?

One Saturday morning when I was about 10, I was at the breakfast table with my mom and dad, and there was an icy chill in the air. My dad had gotten home after midnight after drinking with the guys. They had a very loud argument. It scared me. At breakfast, they were not speaking to each other. I blurted out, “Mommy, are you and Daddy getting a divorce?” What my Mom said was profound and has stuck with me ever since. “No, sweetie, we are not. Right now I don’t like your Dad, but I still love him.” She separated her feelings and emotions from her love and commitment to my Dad.

What is the The Fruit of Love?

We choose to agape love others sacrificially.

Others see our love for each other and attribute it to our relationship with the Lord.

We are motivated to serve the Lord.

Why is Love so important?

Paul hits a bullseye in 1 Cor 13 where he teaches the great importance of Agape love as the motivator for all we do. In exercising our spiritual gifts, in serving the Lord, … in everything we do.

How does Agape Love motivate me?

First, my love for the Lord motivates me to serve Him in the most effective way possible. Ultimately serving here at GFA World.

Next, my love for the people in Africa and South Asia motivates me to serve here. To see as many give their lives to the Lord as possible.

And my love for the Lord and people motivates me to help fulfill the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:18–20

And our love for the Lord and the people in Africa and Asia motivates us to help transform communities through the love of Christ.

One of our core values is being a people of grace and love.

That’s why love is one of the defining characteristics of a Christian.

Is Love Motivating You?

Why are you here? Are you here because the Love of Christ is compelling you?

Not your feelings or emotions. But your choice to follow the Lord. To love the Lord with all your heart, mind and strength. To love your neighbor as yourself.

Our decision to love is manifested in action. What we think, say, and do.

John 15:12–14 NASB95

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. “You are My friends if you do what I command you.

Jesus demonstrated His love for us by dying for us. He is our standard, the example we must follow.

Call To Action

What do we do with all this information about love tonight?

Back to 1 John 4:7-11 we can see that John wrote a lot about Agape love.

We can see in this passage that we need to choose to love one another and that true Agape love is a product of God working in us, through His Holy Spirit.

We need to agape love.

Love comes from God.

If we are Christians and born again and know God, if we are Bond Servants of God and the Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, then the natural outflow is that we will love others.

Vs 7-11 are very logical.

God loves us, therefore, we love others. We need to choose to agape love each other and others.

So, tonight we have the opportunity to express our agape love for others through prayer. Our love, expressed through prayer, is a choice we make.

We have a wide range of topics to pray about tonight.

So let love motivate your prayers tonight. And may the Love of Christ motivate us everything we do.