ἀγάπη, agapē: “the highest form of love” and “the love of God for man and of man for God” AMY, is considered to be the love ORIGINATING from God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, for humankind In the New Testament, it refers to the COVENANT LOVE of God for humans, as well as the human RECIPROCAL LOVE for God; the term necessarily extends to the love of one’s fellow man. This kind of love is IMPOSSIBLE for man to have WITHOUT GOD. Why? “Beloved, let us agapaō one another, for AGAPĒ IS OF GOD; and everyone who agapaō is born of God and knows God. He who does not agapaō does not know God, for GOD IS AGAPĒ.” (1 John 4:7-8) agapē is a noun, “Who shall separate us from agapē of Christ? (Rom. 8:35). agapaō is a verb, “…you must agapaō the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
The important point to remember AMY, is agape isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from THE WILL AND AS A CHOICE. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting ANYTHING IN RETURN. “agapē does not dishonor others, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. agapē does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. AGAPĒ NEVER FAILS.” (1 Corin. 13:5-8)
The greatest demonstration of God’s love was this gift of His Only Son. “For God SO AGAPAŌ the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not PERISH but have eternal life,“ (John 3:16). God did not send Christ as a reward to the obedient, but rather as a RANSOM FOR THE DISOBEDIENT.
How important is it for us to agapaō? “A NEW COMMANDMENT I give to you, that you agapaō one another; as I have agapaō you, that you also agapao one another. By this ALL WILL KNOW that you are My disciples, if you have agapē for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
-Bill Stockham