Most of us would probably agree that the word “love” has lost some of its impact. In fact, most people I’ve talked to claim the word “love” is overused and under appreciated – that love has gone from being something you’re committed to, to being nothing more than a strong emotion. As silly as it sounds, in today’s culture love has been confused with complete agreement – meaning if you don’t agree with me then you really don’t love me. And of course, the most obvious confusion comes when we try to distinguish between love and lust.
“Love” is a powerful word. And because it’s so powerful, our goal is to redefine love back to what it truly means. The word “love” is so full that the Greek language, which much of the New Testament was written in, actually has four words devoted to it: Eros, Storge, Phileto, and Agape.
EROS – Romantic or intimate love. The word was also used as the name for the Greek god of love … the Romans called him Cupid.
STORGE (Store-gae) – A familial love, or the word used for natural affection. Often refers to the love a parent has for their children and vice-versa.
PHILETO – Often described as “brotherly love.” This word is typically translated into friendship or affection.
AGAPE – The highest form of love. It captures every other kind of love. It is an active love … a committed love. It is the love that God has for us and the love we are to reciprocate to Him, and by extension to others around us.
Agape love is the love Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13 when he says:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
This is biblical love. Here are three ways to recognize biblical love:
- Biblical love is a COMMITTED love. Over and over we see Jesus model this type of love. Often the Apostle Paul wrote about the committed love of Jesus.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 8:31-39
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Biblical love is a SELFLESS love. This is how Paul describes the attitude of Jesus to the Church in Philippi.
Philippians 2:1-11
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!
Ephesians 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
It doesn’t matter how we feel toward another person because we’re not submitting out of reverence to them, but out of reverence for Christ.
- Biblical love offers GRACE without LOOPHOLES or SHORTCUTS. In other words, biblical love has no agenda and is always looking for the best in other people. To some this sounds naive, and rightfully so. However, this is why Jesus told his followers just before sending them into various hostile environments to be “shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Be aware. Be wise. But don’t presume everyone is against you. This is hard in our culture as we feel everyone has an agenda, but biblical love is hard in any culture because it looks past someone’s agenda.
Just think of how Jesus modeled this idea of love, offering grace with no loopholes or shortcuts.
The night Jesus was betrayed he was beaten, spat upon, mocked, ridiculed, humiliated, flogged, had a rapist released back into civilization instead of him, stripped naked while carrying a cross, had nails driven through his wrists and feet, he felt the pain as the foot of his cross was set into a hole and the top of his cross was hoisted towards the sky and gravity took over. He experienced all of this and more and still mustered the strength to say, “Father forgive them …”
Biblical love offers grace without loopholes and shortcuts. For us this seems remarkable, but to Jesus it was merely practicing what he preached.
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
How spectacular would it be if God’s people, who have been called by His name, rose to the occasion in a society that is lacking love in so many areas and decided they were going to love with a biblical love – a committed, selfless, grace-filled love with no loopholes or shortcuts?
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