Devine Nature Access - Love

2 Peter 1:1–9 NKJV

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary B. The Function of the Divine Nature (1:5–9)

In this beautiful paragraph Peter orchestrates a symphony of grace. To the melody line of faith he leads believers to add harmony in a blend of seven Christian virtues which he lists without explanation or description. A carnal Christian has spiritual myopia (v. 9), but a spiritual Christian is both effective and productive (v. 8) in his understanding of the Lord Jesus and his application of biblical principles to daily life.

Agape

Selfless, unconditional love. This is the love of God.

John 3:16 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Philia

Affection

John 11:35–36 NKJV

35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

Eros - (Erotic) Passionate love. Although not identical to lust, it is a physical desire with the intent of building personal connection.

This word is not in the Greek, but is represented in biblical Hebrew, specifically in the Song of Songs, which is Solomons.

Storge

The love between parents and their children

A compound form is found in Rom 12:10. The word for brotherly love is Philostorgos, is a combination of Storge and Philia.

Romans 12:10 NKJV

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Philautia

Loving oneself.

2 Tim. 3:2

The Bible Knowledge Commentary B. The Function of the Divine Nature (1:5–9)

In this beautiful paragraph Peter orchestrates a symphony of grace. To the melody line of faith he leads believers to add harmony in a blend of seven Christian virtues which he lists without explanation or description. A carnal Christian has spiritual myopia (v. 9), but a spiritual Christian is both effective and productive (v. 8) in his understanding of the Lord Jesus and his application of biblical principles to daily life.

Mania

Obsessive, possessive desire, unhealthy obsession

Acts 26:24 NKJV

24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

I. The Love of God Manifest To Us.

A. The Gift of Jesus Birth - Storge

If you have ever read, or watched, C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia then you know that the series opens with the Pevensie children be rushed out of London to avoid the air raids. Although shipping your kids off seems like a ludicrous idea, in war time, everything changes.

B. The Gift of Jesus Death - Agape

The miracle of the birth of Jesus is not just that God sent Him to us, but it is the purpose in which He was sent. Unlike Mrs. Pevensie, God did not send his son to save His life, rather it was to sacrifice it.

C. The Gift of Jesus resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:22 NKJV

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

II. The love of God Multiplied In Us.

2 Peter 1:8 NKJV

8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A. In our love for God - Agape, Philia, and Storge

Unconditional, affectionate, and familia.

B. In our Love for one another - Agape, and Philia

Unconditional, and affectionate.

C. In our love for the Lost - Agape

Unconditional.