Love

Read Galatians 5:16-25

What is Love when used in the Bible?

Well, when looking at the Greek, which is what our New Testament was translated from, there are four common words used for Love.

Eros, which refers to a romantic love, which would be used between a husband and a wife.

Storge, which refers to a familial love, which an example of that would be a love that a mother would have for her baby.

Philia, which refers to a friendship, someone you consider at school to be a friend, you of course do not love them like you love your parent, but as a friend.

Agape, which refers to the love that is of and from God

Agape Love From God:

God’s nature is Love.

Read 1 John 4:8 >God does not just merely love to love, but it one of God’s attributes is that He is love. Everything that God does, flows from His love.   

A commentary that I read this week described Agape Love in this way, “Agape love is always shown by what it does.” Explain what that means? Someone can say they love someone, but not have actions behind it. Ex. If I say I love Milo or Bryson, but then punch them in the face for no reason, did I truly love them?

Think of areas in the Bible where Agape love was shown > most common was Jesus on the cross > Read Ephesians 2:4-5 > Romans 5:8 > 1 John 4:10 > 

The way God loved us can be broken down to these three categories = Selfless, Sacrificial, Unconditional 

Ask, what does those words mean?

Selfless: It does not think of themselves. God’s love toward us clearly was not for Himself. Jesus did not die on the cross for His own gain. He did so for us. 

Sacrificial: A love that we are willing to give up something. Jesus did not pay for our sins, but He gave His life, and laid His life down for us. Willing to think of someone else, rather than ourselves.

Unconditional: It is not based on condition. Meaning, Jesus did not die on the cross, only if we did not commit this sin or only if we got our lives right and then He would love us. No, it was not based on anything we can do, but how great He is. 

That is a brief understanding of how God loved us, His children. Now, in reading Galatians 5:22, the first fruit of the spirit is love. 

What does fruit of the spirit mean? 

When someone is saved, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. And when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, it will produce things. For example, you have an apple tree, what does the apple tree produce? It’s not going to produce oranges… But what the root of the tree is. Same thing with the Holy Spirit. It will produce fruit, in our lives. Like I talked about when defining Agape Love, it is referenced to the love that is FROM GOD and OF GOD. When does it mean that the love is of God? It means that those of us that are saved, we are Children of God, meaning that because God lives within us, we bear His name or are a witness of Him.

Agape Love of God:

Just the way God loved us, we are called to love others in that same way. 

Here are some passages in the Bible to help us to have Agape Love: 

Read Luke 6:32-35, in essence this passage basically means that we are called to love those who can’t repay you, with the kindness/love that you have shown to them. 

Read Philippians 2:3-4, putting others above yourself. 

Read Ephesians 4:29, 32, when you speak, speak to build others up, not tearing them down, being kind to one another, giving forgiveness, why? Because God did that for you. > Read John 13:34-35 > Here is a differentway to be a light of Christ and to show His love, is thinking in this mindset: Christ loved me so much that He paid for my sin and died on the cross for me, so what gives me the right to not be loving to someone else?   

Now, how does all these passages and verses apply to me? What are some examples of Agape Love?

Lets look at some Examples of Agape Love and break them down into those three categories:

Selfless [Putting others First] : Giving up your seat, phone time, or free period to help someone who’s struggling. This could be sitting with a kid everyone ignores at lunch or helping a classmate who struggles with schoolwork, without expecting any credit.

Sacrificial [It costs you something]: Forgiving a friend who hurt or betrayed you. Standing up for someone being bullied, even if it risks your reputation. Giving your time, money, or energy, even when you don’t feel like it or you’re already tired. 

Unconditional [No Strings Attached]: Loving someone even after they betrayed you, your parents loving you even when you continue to mess up, 

Follow Up question:

Who is someone in our lives who we can do better in showing God’s love toward?