Saturday 29 September 2012

Unfailing Love


 Agape Love.

Brief is life but love is long.

There is much confusion today on the subject of Love because we are limited to only one English word (love) with a broad range of meanings. Love is misunderstood and perverted subject. Love as taught in the Holy Bible is not simply a sentiment, platitude, or indefinable emotion. Most of the people who say they love you may just be tolerating you. The rest of them probably have ulterior motives.
 As humans, we do things for others so that we can get things done for us. If it is one thing that the world needs now is a genuine love. The true meaning of love, as defined in the Holy Bible, has been corrupted in the common usage of our English language and society. Most often, love is confused with infatuation - that elated, "high" feeling we get when we "fall in love." This kind of "love" is something that lasts typically less than a year, and unless replaced by true love, results in broken relationships. . For example, if I say, “I love my God, I love my country, I love my family, I love my books, I love ice cream," obviously I am not talking about love in the same degree or definition.
There are four words in the Greek language that are used for love during the New Testament period. But only one word for love in English. As numerous scholars have researched and discussed, the Greeks have identified four kinds of love. Those four kinds of love are an attempt to describe the different motives for love. So let us reflect on the excellence of love; marvels of love; presence and absence of agape love; and love, misdirected and rightly directed.

The First Greek word for love is Eros 

Eros Love – stands for passionate, sensual, longing, sexual, romantic love. From eros we have the word erotica. Eros is the kind of love mostly known by the world. Eros is a selfish love. It seeks to satisfy only the individual senses and is limited in scope, as that between two persons or a person and material things. we can easily notice most people’s in the world are preoccupied with Eros love. In the Bible this is one of the kinds of love between husband and wife. This level of love is possessive so that the two involved are joined, become one flesh.In Eros a man and his wife, different sexes are joined to become one flesh. This is the Bible standard. Since Eros is over possessive and many a times selfish, it is easily perverted. One   perversions of Eros is Fornication which refer to the sexual relationship between unmarried people. Apostle Paul said "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. (1 Corinthians 5:9-11) another perversion is Adultery, which is sexual unfaithfulness of a husband or wife in marriage. This could be in thought or indeed. Same Sex Attraction also is another perversion which is unnatural affection between two males or two females. It is against nature. Follow God and you will find the power to break off any perversion or unnatural behaviors. Don’t get distracted with the human doctrine of tolerance. You are not to follow any worldly standard. Love people the way they are but don’t partake in their waywardness.
Eros is the only kind of love that God restricts to a one-man, one-woman relationship within the bounds of marriage .

The Second Greek word for love is Phileo  

Philia love generally refers to affection between friends. From this word we have Philadelphia, the “Brotherly Love.” This also motivated by self-interest, self-gratification and self-protection and designed to satisfy the desires of the one doing the loving. There may be an element of giving involved, but it is a giving for the purpose of getting something in return. Philia has a wider scope − though natural, the love expressed may be conditional as that among family, friends and neighbors.
Phileo simply means friendship or companionship. This manifests in human relationship. This is not to be confused with a man and woman cohabiting without marriage. Cohabitation is not God’s plan, marriage is. Most friendships are built around Phileo. It is something you see in someone that attracts you to be his or her friend. For every marriage there is something in your companion which is attractive. That is what you need to discover. When you do, your spouse will become your best friend.


The Third Greek word is Storge

Storge love is the natural bond between mother and infant, father, children, and kin. William Barclay states, "We cannot help loving our kith and kin; blood is thicker than water" The Bible encourages Christians to be supportive and caring at all times and most especially to those in need. The supportive and caring love is Storge. It is a love demonstrated indeed and in truth.“ [My] Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.” (1 John 3:18)
This is no more a physical show of affection. In Storge is found care and concern for the person or people loved. This applies also to pets and objects. This kind of love is shown at:

·                     The time of defeat and victory
·                     The time of failure or success
·                     The time of sickness or in good health
·                     The time of sadness and joy
·                     The time of achievement and disappointments
This is the most needed kind of love in marriage and in the family. A practical love, when shown among couples, children and all family members is a great blessing. God wants us to demonstrate love in our little world, to friends and neighbors. In fact to everyone we come across. This is Storge.


And the Fourth Greek word for love is AGAPE.

The Fourth Greek word for love is AGAPE - that love which seeks only the highest good of others. The meaning of this word for love stands in sharp contrast to that of the other three words. This word alone points to a completely self-sacrificing love, a love that lacks self-interest, self-gratification and self-preservation. Agape love is motivated primarily by the interest and welfare of others. The word agape is used very sparingly by Greek secular writers, but in the New Testament, agape is the Greek word most frequently used for the love for God (Matt. 22:37, John 14:15), the love for spouses (Col. 3:19, Eph. 5:25), and the love for enemies (Matt. 5:44, Luke 6:35).

It is God’s standard of love for you. Never accept any lesser way of loving. You are to love without counting the price. You are to love unconditionally. You are to love people who deserve no love. Yes, this is God’s standard.

Among the kinds of love, Agape is the kind of love God demands from every one and in particular the husband to his wife and from the wife to her husband. (Ephesians 5:25)This is the only kind of love required to hold couples together until death.


Agape love is unique and is distinguished by its nature and character. Agape has to do with the mind and will. It is not an uncontrolled reaction of the feelings and emotion, but a concentrated exercise of the will. It is a caring love one which becomes involved with the need of others. It begins with the God of love. 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Agape love is divine in the sense that it is the love shown between the Persons of the Godhead from all eternity. The Bible refers to this in John 3:35: “The Father loves the Son” with this agape love. This is the love of the eternal Father to the eternal Son. The Father also loves the Holy Spirit. The Son and the Holy Spirit, likewise, love the Father. There is loving communion taking place continually among the Persons of the Trinity. Jesus was the greatest expression of love that ever came into the world, but it is never recorded that he ever said the words, "I love you!" Why? Jesus did not love with just words but in deed and truth (1 Jn. 3:18). Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. 
The Greatest Commandment in the Bible is love
In our further study we want to glance through the subject of Unfailing and Agape love in the light of the Bible. 

The greatest expression of God's love is communicated to us in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 5:8 proclaim the same message: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We can see from these verses that it is God's greatest desire that we join Him in His eternal home, heaven. He has made the way possible by paying the price for our sins. He loves us because He chose to as an act of His will. Love forgives. How incredible that the Creator of the universe would love you and me in this way! Do you know and experience the security and sweetness of His care? Gratitude and praise should flow from your heart. In turn, love others deeply out of thankfulness for the love that you have received.
                              
Let’s look at how the Jesus describes love, and then we will see a few ways in which God is the essence of love in Matthew. 22:35- 40-“One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”The synoptic gospels all contain this greatest commandment.

Two commandments are listed here where the law and the prophets are said to hang on. In the 10 commandments in Ex 20 & Deut 5) the first four of the Ten Commandments emphasize loving God and the last six loving another's neighbor. To love God and neighbor is therefore obviously linked with obeying His commandments! Notice also that the two commandments Jesus gives in this passage are not new ones. Deut 6:5 reads, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."

In Greek thought the heart, soul and strength are entirely separate entities whereas in the Hebrew they are distinct yet inextricably linked. In other words, believers are called to love God with all their energies and faculties. Therefore, worship towards Him should include the spirit, and not leave the mind, emotions and strength out of the equation. The careful reader might notice that Matthew mentions heart, soul and mind while Deuteronomy lists heart soul and strength. That is why it is necessary to also read Mark and Luke's account of the same! Mark wrote, "Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is: Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second is like it, is this: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these.: (Mark 12:29-31)

Interestingly Jesus quotes Deut 6:4, saying, "Hear O Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one" immediately before saying, "You shall love the Lord your God..." (Deut 6:5) So even though Matthew does not include Deut 6:4, they are obviously quoting from the exact same passage and chapter and verse divisions were not inserted until centuries after the Canon's of Scripture were established.

Also Mark records that believers should love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, whilst Matthew listed heart, soul and mind. The second commandment is not a new one either! Leviticus 19:18 reads, "but you shall love your neighbour as you love yourself: I am the Lord."

Finally Luke records Jesus response to the lawyer, saying, "So he answered and said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself. And He said to him, You have answered rightly; do this and you will live. But he wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbour?"
What an awesome obligation! In our own strength, none of us can live up to this commitment, but the Lord has provided a way for us to do the impossible. Bible says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22). Love is not a gift but fruit, the indwelling Holy Spirit works to produce His fruit in us, and first on the list is love. In fact, the other eight qualities are really just descriptions of its expression.

THE LOVE THAT LASTS
And out of the midst of the turmoil, violence and suffering of today's world stands the Cross of Jesus Christ of which there is no greater symbol of both love and hate ... death and life ... judgment and forgiveness.... despair and hope. Most crosses are a symbol only of death. But the Cross of Christ is much more than this. While it is a symbol of Christ's death on the cross, more than ever it is a symbol of eternal life. God's Word explains it this way: "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned." And again, "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

The love of Christ in its sweetness, its fullness, its greatness, its faithfulness, passes all human comprehension. His matchless and unparalleled love towards us is so vast and boundless and its depths immeasurable. Love of Christ is indeed measureless and fathomless; none can attain unto it. Before we can have any right idea of the love of Jesus, we must understand his previous glory in its height of majesty, and his incarnation upon the earth in all its depths of shame. But who describe the majesty of Christ? When he was enthroned in the highest heavens he was very God of very God; by him were the heavens made, and all the hosts thereof. His own almighty arm upheld the spheres; the praises of cherubim and seraphim perpetually surrounded him; the full chorus of the hallelujahs of the universe unceasingly flowed to the foot of his throne:
He reign supreme above all his creatures, God over all, blessed forever. Who can tell his height of glory then? And who, on the other hand, can tell how low he descended? To be a man was something, to be a man of sorrows was far more; to bleed, and die, and suffer, these were much for him who was the Son of God; but to suffer such unparalleled agony--to endure a death of shame and desertion by his Father, this is a depth of condescending love which the most inspired mind must utterly fail to fathom. This is the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.(John 3:16)For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Bible exposes the Greatest Act of Love in (Romans 5:6-11) “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

God loves because that is His nature and the expression of His being. He loves the unlovable and the unlovely, not because we deserve to be loved, but because it is His nature to do so, and He must be true to His nature and character. God’s love is displayed most clearly at the Cross, where Christ died for the unworthy creatures who were “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1), not because we did anything to deserve it, “but God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5 :8). The object of agape love never does anything to merit His love. We are the undeserving recipients upon whom He lavishes that love. His love was demonstrated when He sent His Son into the world to “seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10), and to provide eternal life to those He sought and saved. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for those He loves.

There is nothing in this world that men prize so much us they do Love. Show me a person who has no one to care for or love him, and I will show you one of the most wretched beings on the face of the earth. Why do people commit suicide? Very often it is because this thought steals in upon them—that no one loves them; and they would rather die than live.


When we wish to know the love of God we should go to Calvary. Can we look upon that scene, and say God did not love us? That cross speaks of the love of God. Greater love never has been taught than that which the cross teaches. What prompted God to give up Christ?—what prompted Christ to die?—if it were not love? "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends." Christ laid down His life for His enemies; when they were mocking Him and deriding Him, what did He say? "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." That is love.

When you see a depiction of Christ on the cross? Most of us are overwhelmed by the physical and emotional suffering that He endured—the scourging, beating, thorns, nails, mocking, and shame. We are horrified at the cruelty of the Romans and the hard hearts of the Jewish rulers. But during the crucifixion, far more was happening than the eye could see. God was carrying out His plan to rescue mankind, providing everything we need for salvation:

a. Redemption. Jesus paid the full price of the debt we owed for transgression: death. His payment set us free from bondage to sin.
b. Forgiveness. God could now release us from the punishment we deserved.
c. Propitiation. Christ’s payment satisfied the Father by fulfilling His demand for justice while letting Him forgive us.
d. Justification. On the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice, the Lord now declares believers not guilty. Although we will still sin in this earthly life, our standing before God is one of righteousness. This is a legal declaration that can never be reversed.
e. Reconciliation. The sin barrier that separated us from the Father was removed by Christ’s death on our behalf. We’re now God’s children—we have open access to Him and fellowship with Him.

The crucifixion was the only way to rescue lost humanity. If there had been any other way, the cross would have been a grotesque display of divine cruelty. But because so much was at stake, it can truly be called the greatest act of love by both the Father and the Son. Let this love fill our hearts with adoring gratitude, and lead us to practical manifestations of its power.
Paul said I pray …. “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19) (NKJV)

God's Love is a supernatural Love that is poured into our hearts the moment we invite Jesus into our lives. It's God Himself who comes into our hearts at that moment, and He is that Love! Human love wants to possess and be possessed by the world. Divine love wants to establish its inseparable oneness with the world and then it wants to divinely enjoy this oneness. Supreme Love transforms human love into divine love and blesses divine love with boundless joy and divine Glory. “God’s Love is a gift because there are "no strings attached" to it. There are no conditions to fill-nothing to earn, nothing to do and nothing to be. Agape Love just loves unconditionally, spontaneously and continually.


Jesus is our living, breathing sign of the immeasurable love that God has had for all of us from the very beginning. Christ is the living promise that we are never ever alone. No matter where we are in life, no matter in what condition we find ourselves, no matter how far we might astray away, or how unfaithful we are, God, the supreme lover, will pursue us in love for eternity! It’s a love that never stops shining and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest love story ever written! The Bible says the greatest act of love is when one lays down his life for his friends (John 15:13). The God of the Bible displays this kind of love. Bible is the classic love story with all the right Ingredients: infatuation, pursuit, risks and relationship.

We are told of the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, of God's love. Many of us think we know something of God's love; but centuries hence we shall admit we have never found out much about it. That Love is a great ocean; and we require to plunge into it before we really know anything of it. God's love is not only unchangeable, but unfailing.

One of the greatest theologians that ever lived, Karl Barth, was asked to be a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago Divinity School. At the end of a captivating closing lecture, the president of the seminary announced that Dr. Barth was not well and was quite tired, and though he thought that Dr. Barth would like to be open for questions, he shouldn't be expected to handle the strain. Then he said, “Therefore, I will ask just one question on behalf of all of us."
 He turned to the renowned theologian and asked, "Of all the theological insights you have ever had, which do you consider to be the greatest of them all?


It was the perfect question for a man who had written literally tens of thousands of pages of some of the most sophisticated theology ever put into print. The students held pencils right up against their writing pads, ready to take down verbatim the premier insight of the greatest theologian of their time. Karl Barth closed his tired eyes, and he thought for a minute, and then he half smiled, opened his eyes, and said to those young seminarians, "The greatest theological insight that I have ever had is this: "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." 

The love of Christ in its sweetness, its fullness, its greatness, its faithfulness, passes all human comprehension. For this love of Christ is indeed measureless and fathomless; none can attain unto it. Before we can have any right idea of the love of Jesus, we must understand his previous glory in its height of majesty, and his incarnation upon the earth in all its depths of shame. But who can tell us the majesty of Christ? When he was enthroned in the highest heavens he was very God of very God; by him were the heavens made, and all the hosts thereof. His own almighty arm upheld the spheres; the praises of cherubim and seraphim perpetually surrounded him; the full chorus of the hallelujahs of the universe unceasingly flowed to the foot of his throne: he reigned supreme above all his creatures, God over all, blessed forever.


Who can tell his height of glory then? And who, on the other hand, can tell how low he descended? To be a man was something, to be a man of sorrows was far more; to bleed, and die, and suffer, these were much for him who was the Son of God; but to suffer such unparalleled agony--to endure a death of shame and desertion by his Father, this is a depth of Agape love which the most inspired mind must utterly fail to fathom. 

Napoleon Bonaparte said "I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between Him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius upon force. Jesus Christ founded His Empire on love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him." 

Agape is the only Love that can make us whole, meet our needs and give our lives the meaning and purpose that we are all seeking. In other words, it's the "bond" that ties everything together and makes everything possible. Without Agape love, truly we are nothing!?

Unfailing love for one another

“Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins (forgives and disregards the offenses of others).”( 1peter 4:8 AMP)

Whenever we demonstrate kindness, patience, or gentleness, we see the Lord’s love at work through us, especially when the other person has been unkind and doesn’t deserve pleasant treatment. Agape love is the reason we are able to care for someone who mistreats us—its God’s doing, not ours. Even the adoration we offer the Lord is not something that we can produce in our own heart apart from the Spirit flows through us, producing God’s love in us, so that we can pass it on to Him and others.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
There is no virtue, Gifts or emotion of greater importance than love. The Corinthians focused too much on their display of such gifts, so the apostle showed them the “more excellent way” of love (1Cor. 12:31). Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. Interestingly, he made no attempt to define love but instead described its importance and expression. The brand of love which Paul is talking about is not human in origin, but rather a love coming from God—a part of His very nature. It’s unselfish, sacrificial and everlasting love. Since the Lord wants to transform our character into the image of His Son, this priority makes perfect sense, because whenever we display such selfless care for one another, we manifest Christ love.

Paul said “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:16-19NLT)”

The most famous biblical verses on love is from (1Corinthians13:1-9) 

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. “Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass.  For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial; but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear.”

The above Agape refers to unconditional love. Therefore, if anyone attaches conditions or reasons to why he or she loves you, then agape, unconditional love has ceased. If someone uses the words “if,” “when,” or “because” when they say that they love you, this is not an unconditional perspective. Wherever there is a reason, there is a condition. Wherever there is a condition, there is expectation. 90% of all the problems in relationships have to do with expectation.

For instance, consider the condition: “As a husband, if you expect your wife to iron your clothes daily for you.” What happens when you both work from nine to five, and she is exhausted when you get home? Expectation guarantees disappointment. Consider another scenario. Suppose a man married a woman for her sleek curves, and she married him for his well-defined physique. What happens after twenty years and three children? She cannot get her curves back, and his chest has dropped into his stomach. If the physical appearance was the reason for love, there is going to be disappointment. Disappointment leads to division, which leads to divorce. Divorce can take place in any type of relationship and not just marriage. Therefore, we need agape love, which is love without reason or condition. May I challenge you from this Day forward to examine your motive for loving others and destroy these conditions because reason runs the risk of destroying your relationships.

There is no virtue, Gifts or emotion of greater importance than agape love. The Corinthians focused too much on their display of such gifts, so the apostle showed them the “more excellent way” of love (1Cor. 12:31). Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. Interestingly, he made no attempt to define love but instead described its importance and expression. The brand of love which Paul is talking about is not human in origin, but rather a love coming from God—a part of His very nature. It’s unselfish, sacrificial and everlasting love. Since the Lord wants to transform our character into the image of His Son, this priority makes perfect sense, because whenever we display such selfless care for one another, we manifest Christ love.

Without Christ’s love, all our good deeds—even service for the Lord—will profit us nothing. In God’s eyes, a loving and pure Heart is more important than all our impressive words, knowledge, generosity, and self-sacrifice. When we stand before Christ to be judged for our good works, those deeds done for selfish reasons will not be worthy of reward. We are all blinded to some degree when it comes to our motives, so discerning why we love God or do good deeds is imperative. As Psalmist prayed (Psalm 139:23-24) “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” May God help us to search our heart’s hidden intentions, and replace any self-centered motivations with the excellent way of Christ’s love. Then our works will be of eternal value. 


Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Only through him can we find true love and hope for this life and the life to come. This hope of eternal life can be yours today simply by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour.
God bless you