It is not easy to add, this agape type of love. It is the last and most difficult thing for our human nature to comprehend and to persistently have. But it is part of the divine nature of God and we know it is not impossible since we are commanded through the Holy Spirit to have this agape type love. In this chapter, we want to investigate the agape type love and hopefully come to better understand it and how to add it to our Christian life.
CHARITY (AGAPE type love)
I CORINTHIANS 13:4-7 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
To possess this agape type love, one must be long suffering, kind, not envious, not think of one’s self better than others, not be puffed up, does not act in an unseemly manner, does not seek their own way, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rather rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
This is a lot to add to one’s life, but it is not only desired by God for us to add, but it is commanded by God. The question really is “How much do we want to please God and to be truly Christ-like?” Do we really want to go to heaven? The answer to that question is shown forth in our lives. How much effort are we putting forth to add these things to our Christian lives?
1 John 3:16-19 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him."
These verses show us the love God has to us can be perceived. The level of love Jesus has for us is seen in the fact he laid down his life in order we could have a chance to change our eternal destination. The verses go on to say in the same way Jesus Christ laid down his life for us we should be willing to lay down our lives for the brethren. We can only know if we would be willing to die for a brother or sister in Christ if we through our lives show we are willing to live for them.
We show this in a number of ways, one of which is when we have been blessed by God are we willing to share these blessings with our brethren who have need? If I have food and my brother is hungry, do I share or do I find reasons not to share? One of the ways the love we have for God is perceived is the way we show forth compassion for our fellow brethren.
Just saying Lord, Lord, does not show forth the love of God, but rather doing the will of the Heavenly Father is the method we show we love God. We are to make sure our compassion for our brethren is not shown forth only through words, but also by our actions. This in turn shows we are resurrected with Jesus. This is how we as Christians give witness or testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, through the way we show compassion to our brethren.
HOW CAN AGAPE TYPE LOVE BE PERCEIVED?
OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S COMMANDMENTS
John 14:21-24 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent Me."
One of the simplest ways we can tell if we have begun to grow to the point of adding this agape type love is to look at our attitudes towards keeping God's commandments. If we have written the commands of Jesus in our hearts and continually obey them, this is how we show we love Jesus the Son and God the Father. Then in turn he keeps God's commandments is loved by God the Father and Jesus Christ. They abide with us.
Titus 2:1-10 "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things."
Sound doctrine teaches we be under submission (obedience) to God. Sound doctrine teaches us aged men and women, wives and husbands young men women and servants are to be under submission to God. Also it is important to notice agape type love, (charity) is part of this sound doctrine. If we want to be rooted and grounded in the truth, if we want to become mature Christians, we must be in the process of adding charity to our Christian lives.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
This verse in first John teaches us an important fact about the love we as Christians have towards God. We can not separate the love of God from keeping the commandments of God. They are one and the same thing. God's commands are not hard to keep. They may be confusing to us at times, they may not always be easy for us to stick to, but they are not troublesome or hard to bear.
CONSIDER OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN EVERYTHING WE DO.
Hebrews 10:22-25 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
If we have been baptized, we need to hold fast to the profession of our faith, we need to consider one another to provoke (encourage) each other to grow unto love and good works. One way we encourage each other is to not miss the assembling of ourselves together. How can I encourage my brothers in Christ, if I never see them or spend time with them. Part of agape love is letting what is best for our brothers and sisters in Christ determine what we do and say.
Romans 12:9-11 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
The word dissimulation means hypocrisy. So we need to make sure the love we show to our brethren is not based on hypocrisy. Part of this is that we are to hate evil and we are to hold fast to good. We are to be kindly affectionate one towards another. This affection will be able to be seen by others, people will know we enjoy each other’s company. This agape type love causes us to seek one another's company. This agape love is shown forth by the effort we spend to provoke one another unto love and good works and the effort we put forth to spend time together as fellow Christians.
Colossians 3:12-25 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
If we possess this agape type love it means also we have empathy one towards another. We feel the joy of our brothers in Christ and we also feel the sadness. Shedding tears for the Church is something any teacher or really every Christian who loves the Church and its members should be no stranger to. Possessing agape type love means we forbear and forgive one another, it also means we admonish (encourage) one another in song, hymns, and spiritual songs. Having agape type love means we appreciate what God does for us and we take time to thank him. Agape type love means we as Christians treat everyone in the way we would treat Christ. So when we get upset at someone, we need to remember Jesus Christ expects us to treat others as we would treat him. So when we lose our temper and mistreat others, it is the same as if we were mistreating Christ.
For me to add this agape type love means I need to have already added virtue and knowledge to my Christian life, and I have learned self-control. I must also know how to set goals and stick to those goals. It also means I recognize the importance of serving one another by submitting one to another. Basically by this time in my Christian growth, I will have achieved a level of maturity it will be seen by others and I should have no need to point it out.
BADGE OF CHRISTIANITY
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
We see possessing this agape type love is not a request or even a strong wish it is a commandment Jesus has given unto us as his followers. This is not just any type or level of love that is being spoken of here, but is clearly the agape level of love since this is the type of love Jesus had for us.
This is how people will know we are true followers (disciples) of Jesus that we love one another as Christ loved us. Agape type love can always be perceived through actions and this is how all men, even non-Christians know we are Christians by the love we show each other on a daily basis.
Matthew 22:35-40 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
If we possess the agape type love it means we love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, and as we have noticed if we love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind, we are obeying the commandments of Jesus because we want to please Him. Agape type love means we love our neighbor as we do ourselves and as we noticed in first John, this means we obey God also. The agape love is the reason for all of the laws of God and the reason God has communicated with man.
To put it in simple English, because God has the agape type love for us, is the basis of everything God has done since the beginning of time. Every thing that has happened has taken place recorded and not recorded because God loved us. Every law has been given for our benefit and for our growth, because of this agape type love God has for us.
1 Peter 4:8-10 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
We are to have a fervent agape type love among ourselves. For one to have added this agape type love means they understand and practice what being hospitable to one another cheerfully, without grudging truly entails. It also means as good stewards of God, we are to minister to one another with our abilities and the various gifts God has blessed us with.
1 Peter 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Peter teaches that having an agape level of love means we are glad to see each other and it is manifested by the way we greet one another with affection. Having agape type love means we genuinely care for each other and every one who sees us understands that.
1 John 3:16-19 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
Agape type love can always be perceived, and God’s love for us is clearly seen in the fact he laid down his life for us. The agape level of love means we share what we have with our brethren. This level of love means basically as a Christian we are to put our money where our mouth is. In other words, when we say we love the brethren our actions will show it. This agape type love is how we both know and how others know that we are Christians.
LOVE WILL BE NOTICED AND SPOKEN OF.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We can perceive the love of God because he gave his son for us. I know several people I honestly believe I would be willing to give my life in order to save their life. But I do not know anyone I would be willing to give the life of one of my children or of my grandchild for. This shows to me more than anything else, the level of love God has for me. When others look at me, can they perceive the same degree of love I need to have for my brethren?
HOW YOU TREAT YOUR ENEMIES.
Matthew 5:43-48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
There is even more expected of us by God than just loving one another. The agape type love means we also love our enemies in a way they can perceive it. Possessing this agape type love means we do good unto them who hate us and we pray for those who despitefully use us. It all boils down to this, if we want to be like Christ, we need to add the agape level of love which demands we MUST rise above our human weaknesses and love in the same way Jesus Christ loved us.
Chapter Summary
AGAPE TYPE LOVE
1. Is Long suffering.
2. Is Kind.
3. Is not envious.
4. Does not build itself up.
5. Is not puffed up.
6. Does not behave itself unseemingly.
7. Seeketh not her own.
8. Is not easily provoked.
9. Thinketh no evil.
10. Rejoiceth not in iniquity.
11. Rejoiceth in the truth.
12. Beareth all things.
13. Believeth all things.
14. Hopeth all things.
15. Endureth all things
16. IS PERCEIVED BY
a. Our obedience to God's commandments.
b. How we treat our Brother's and Sisters in Christ (Badge of Christianity)
c. How we treat our enemies.
2 Peter 1:3-11 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
1. We MUST add these things to our lives to be like Christ and make it to heaven.
2. If we add these things, we have a promise from God that we will never fall.
3. We have here a plan from God as to how he wants us to grow.
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