Agape Love Thoughts.

What is agape love? Corinne explains where the word comes from and how it weaves its way through the Bible.

The Greek Word for Love

So I was recently doing a study to look up the original Greek word for “love” in the New Testament. In Ephesians 5:25, it says

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”

The Greek word, “agape”, is used here, the highest form of love, completely sacrificial, unconditional love that God has for us, in sending His Son, to take the punishment for our sins (John 15:13; Romans 5:8).

A New Commandment

It goes further. In John 13:34, Jesus tells His disciples,

“a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

This is the love that we are to have for other Christians, and again, the word “agape” is used here. Thus, the love that we ought to have for other Christians is the same love as a husband is called to love his wife, which is the same love God has for us!

It goes yet further. In Mark 12:3, Jesus says,

“the second [commandment] is this: love your neighbor as yourself.”

Your “neighbor” would be any fellow human being, even those who are not Christians.(See the parable of the good Samaritan, Luke 10:30-37) Guess which Greek word is used here? Agape! Thus the same love that God has for us, is the same love a husband is called to have for his wife, which is the same love that we are to have for other Christians, which is the same love that we are to have for our non-Christian neighbor!!

Love Your Enemies

But wait!! It goes still further! In Matthew 5:44, Jesus says,

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

Any guess as to the Greek word for “love” used there, the kind of love we are to have for our enemy, the kind of love for the people who hate us? Agape!!

That pretty well covers the entire human race, and with plenty of overlap as well! The same love that God has for us, is the same love that a husband is called to have for his wife, which is the same love we are to have for our brothers and sisters in Christ, which is the same love that we are to have for our non-Christian friend, which is the same love we are to have for even our enemy.

Agape Love

Brothers and sisters, this is humbling!!! And this most especially includes me!!! If we have anything short of the pure, sacrificial and unconditional “agape” love of God, for any other human being, friend or foe, Christian or non-Christian, we are breaking His precious command that He gave to us.

1 John 4:8 says,

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Love is God’s most iconic attribute, is what sets Him apart from any other god, that He would love us, and send His Son, to provide an opportunity for salvation, for any who would accept His offer of grace (John 12:32). If we are to conform to His mind, therefore, we need to live a life, and in a manner that is chiefly characterized by love, “agape” love.

The Love that God Calls us To

Please, I implore every brother and sister in Christ, before engaging in debates and discussions, online or offline, in every manner in which you engage with any other person throughout your day, please remember the kind of love God calls us to, that we may be a light to every soul we encounter, that they too would see the love of God through us, and be encouraged as Christians, or, as non-Christians, to know salvation through Him alone!!

Blessings in Christ!

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