“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; AGAINST SUCH THINGS THERE IS NO LAW. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:22-25) These are attitudes and habits that God promotes and encourages, rather than forbids, since they assist believers in fulfilling the overall intent of the whole law by loving God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving their neighbor as themselves, Jesus said, “‘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 (kremannumi: they are summed up or suspended) on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:37-40). That is why Paul says that “there is no law” against those attributes.
Why is love so powerful AMY? Because, “Love NEVER fails.” (1 Corin. 13:8) “Love (agapē: This love is unconcerned with self and concerned with the greatest good of another) is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. LOVE NEVER GIVES UP, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (1 Corin. 13:4-7)
Just what is love? Though sources such as Psychology Today identify seven types of Greek words for love, we’ll focus on the four most commonly identified.
- Storge: might also be called affection or familial love. This word isn’t actually used in the Bible, but the concept is there. Storge is based on familiarity.
- Eros: also isn’t a word that appears in the Bible, though it plays a major role in a lot of Old Testament problems. Eros encompasses sexual and romantic love and is the root word of the English “erotic.”
- Philia: is friendship love. This word is used in the Bible. “Philia” is the opposite of “phobia,” literally meaning that those experiencing philia are drawn to one another.
- Agape: love is unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. Agape isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from the will and as a Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN. This is God’s love…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham