Agape - meaning of unconditional love

Piney Church of Christ

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 God has given to man all he needs to have eternal life in heaven. All these can be ours through the wisdom and grace of God as explained in the Bible.

II Peter 1:3,4 says 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 ( all people of the world with no respect of person) to glory and virtue): whereby are GIVEN unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of God`s DIVINE NATURE having ESCAPED the CORRUPTION that is in the world through lust.

Read II Peter 1:5-15. There are seven or more words in the Greek language that are used in the Bible that talks about love. The first one we will discuss is eros. Eros is a born passion for an intimate and romantic relationship. This is an attraction for man and animals. Without this there would be no more babies of man or animals. For man this can only be had in the marriage relationship. The second word for love is Phileo. This is the love for friends, neighbors, and brotherly love. This is the love that builds proper marriages, communities, and nations. The basic unit being the family. Husbands love your wife as Christ loved the church.

Titus 2:3,4 says that the aged women teach the young women to love their own husband, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Eros does not mean much without Phileo and agape. Eros by itself is often nothing but lust.

Hebrews 13:4 says marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Xenia is love for strangers.

Hebrews 13:2 be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained ANGELS unaware of what they did. Do not neglect hospitality. Philautia is the love of self. Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. Self-love is self-esteem which will enable man to have personal growth and maturity. To thy own self and God be true and thou canst be false to any man. God wants us to have the proper love for him and all men.

I Timothy 2:1 says I exhort that FIRST OF ALL, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be MADE FOR ALL MEN, because God is not willing that ANY MAN perish but that ALL should come to repentance. The NEXT word for love is storge. The love for family. The love for children, parents, spouse, siblings, grandchildren, with the love for GOD already in place. What is love without GOD, ESPECIALLY in children?

 I Timothy 4:12 says let no man despise thy youth, but be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity (love), in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

II Timothy 3:14,15 says continue Timothy IN THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST LEARNED and assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them (thy mother Eunice and grandmother Lois). And that from a child thou hast KNOWN the holy scriptures which are able to MAKE THEE WISE UNTO SALVATION THROUGH FAITH which is in CHRIST JESUS. So, study to SHOW thyself APPROVED unto God, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT to be ashamed, RIGHTLY dividing the word of truth. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from that teaching. Next is pragma which is common practical character-building love for godly maturity in Christ Jesus. The building of compatibility to be a good spouse, neighbor, citizen, parent, with kindness, a tender heart, compassion, long suffering, gentleness to all men, and purity. Building the ability to share GODLY goals with our family, neighbors, friends, co-workers especially with our supervisor. If I need godly characteristics then ALL MEN AND WOMEN NEED THEM to be effective workers for GOD, the supervisor, Father, and shepherd of ALL MEN.

Luke 1:37 says with GOD NOTHING shall be impossible.

John 15:5 says without GOD ye can do nothing because I am the vine and ye are the branches.

Luke 6:32 says if love them that love you what reward have you. Sinners love those that love them.

Romans 5:8 says GOD commendeth HIS love toward ALL MEN, while WE were yet sinners CHRIST died for all men, because GOD is no respecter of person. If man does not have agape (unconditional love) then it is conditional love. That means man can only love someone else if certain conditions are stated and carried out by the other person first. So, every one that is not willing to do what I command them to do will never receive my love. That means there will be a lot of people that I will NEVER LOVE. Love for man must be unconditional love for their soul.

 In ACTS 2:37 the question is asked and verse 38 answers it for ALL men.  Now when they heard that they had crucified the SON OF GOD, they were pricked in their HEART, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren what shall we do? Then PETER said, repent and be BAPTIZED EVERY ONE of you IN THE NAME of JESUS CHRIST for the remission of sins, and ye shall RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. MARK 16:15,16 preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be SAVED.

Please join us at Piney Church of Christ, on Rhinehart Parkway, in Spencer. Sunday morning worship at 0:30 a.m. and Wednesday night Bible study at 6:30 p.m.         

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