"REFLECTIONS"

On Love

INTRODUCTION
  1. We continue our "Reflections" on things that are...
    1. True, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report - Php 4:8
    2. Virtuous and worthy of praise - ibid.
  2. Three things certainly worthy of reflection are faith, hope, and love...
    1. Virtues joined together in several passages - 1Co 13:13; 1Th 1:3
    2. Virtues worthy of praise and careful reflection

[Previously, we reflected on faith and hope. Now let us focus our attention on the greatest: love...]

  1. LOVE DEFINED
    1. GREEKS HAD FOUR WORDS FOR LOVE...
      1. eros - carnal, sexual love, properly reserved for marriage - cf. He 13:4
      2. philia - the love of close friendship, such as brotherly love - cf. Jn 11:3
      3. storge - the love of family relationships
      4. agape - that love which seeks the highest good of others
      -- It is unfortunate that the English word "love" is not as clearly defined
    2. DISTINCTION BETWEEN PHILIA AND AGAPE...
      1. It is common to make the following distinction
        1. agape - active good will, as that which is commanded
        2. philia - fondness, heartfelt affection, as that which cannot be forced
      2. Yet the distinction between the two is not always clear cut
        1. agape - can also be defined as "brotherly love, affection" - Thayer, Strong
        2. philia - often commanded in the Scriptures - cf. Ro 12:10; 1Co 16:22
        -- Perhaps we should not make too much distinction between the two

      [Now let's reflect on the duties we have in regards to love...]

  2. LOVE DEMANDED
    1. TO LOVE GOD AND JESUS...
      1. We are commanded to love (agape) God heart, soul, mind, and strength - Mk 12:30
      2. We are commanded to love (philia) Jesus, more than family - 1Co 16:22; Mt 10:37
      -- The greatest command of the Law, reinforced in the Gospel
    2. TO LOVE OUR BRETHREN...
      1. We are to love (agape) one another as Christ loved us - Jn 13:34-35
      2. We are to be kindly affectionate (philostorgos, love of family) to one another with brotherly love (philadelphia, fraternal affection) - Ro 12:10
      -- With brotherly love that is affectionate and demonstrative to others
    3. TO LOVE OUR FAMILIES...
      1. Husbands are to love (agape) their wives (which includes to cherish) - Ep 5:25,28-29
      2. Wives are to love (philandros, to love as a friend) their husbands - Tit 2:4
      3. Mothers are to love their children (philoteknos, to be fond of one's children) - Tit 2:4
      -- With heartfelt affection that should only be natural in families
    4. TO LOVE NEIGHBORS AND ENEMIES...
      1. We are commanded to love (agape) our neighbor - Mk 12:31
      2. We are commanded to love (agape) our enemies - Mt 5:44
      -- With active good will that allows no distinction between friend and foe

    [As the people of God, we are certainly to be a loving people. But where love is weak, how can it be made strong...?]

  3. LOVE DEVELOPED
    1. TAUGHT BY GOD...
      1. Concerning brotherly love (philadelphia) to love one another (agape) - 1Th 4:9
      2. By way of example (how He sent His Son) - 1Jn 4:9-10; Ro 5:8
      -- God teaches us how to love one another
    2. TAUGHT BY JESUS...
      1. By way of example (how He was willing to die for us) - 1Jn 3:16
      2. How He loved (philia and agape) His disciples - Jn 11:3,5 (Lazarus, Mary, Martha); Jn 13:1,34 (the disciples); Jn 13:23; 20:2 (John)
      -- Jesus teaches us how to love one another
    3. TAUGHT BY PAUL...
      1. Who taught Christians how to walk in love - Ep 5:1-2
      2. Who taught husbands how to love their wives - Ep 5:25-33
      3. Who practiced brotherly love (agapetos, beloved, dear) - cf. Php 4:1
      -- Paul teaches us how to love in word and example
    4. TAUGHT BY PETER...
      1. Who taught us to love one another (philia and agape) fervently - 1Pe 1:22; 4:8
      2. Who taught us to love (agape) the brotherhood, as brethren (philadelphos) - 1Pe 2:17; 3:8
      3. Who practiced brotherly love (agapetos, beloved, dear) - cf. 2Pe 3:15
      -- Peter teaches us how to love in word and example
    5. TAUGHT BY OTHER CHRISTIANS...
      1. Older women should be capable of teaching the younger women - Tit 2:3-4
      2. Even young Christians can set an example of how to love - 1Ti 4:12; 2Th 1:3
      -- Brethren (young and old) can teach us to love one another
    6. DEVELOPING HEARTFELT AFFECTION...
      1. We can enhance philia love by adding agape love to it - cf. 2Pe 1:7
      2. Display agape (active good will), and philia (heartfelt affection) will follow - cf. 1Th 4:9
      -- The key to having heartfelt affection towards others is to be kind to them!

    [Finally, a few thoughts on how true love manifests itself...]

  4. LOVE DEMONSTRATED
    1. EXEMPLIFIED BY GOD AND JESUS...
      1. God's love was manifested by sending His Son to die for our sins - Jn 3:16; 1Jn 4:10
      2. Jesus' love was demonstrated by dying for us - Jn 15:13; 1Jn 3:16
      -- True love is sacrificial
    2. EXPLAINED BY JOHN...
      1. Demonstrated in deed and in truth - 1Jn 3:17-18
      2. Demonstrated by obeying the commands of God - 1Jn 5:2-3
      -- True love is demonstrative and exemplary
    3. EXPOUNDED BY PAUL...
      1. Love suffers long and is kind
      2. Love does not envy
      3. Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up
      4. Does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil
      5. Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth
      6. Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things
      7. Love never fails - 1Co 13:4-8
      -- True love is everlastingly kind, patient, humble, polite, and assumes the best in others
CONCLUSION
  1. What is love...?
    1. It is heartfelt affection toward God and man
    2. It is active good will toward everyone
  2. Where we lack heartfelt affection and active good will...
    1. We need to acknowledge the deficiency (as an indication of spiritual immaturity)
    2. We need to be willing to relearn love
  3. When we need to learn to love others with a heartfelt love...
    1. Look to the Father, to Jesus, to the apostles, and to other Christians
    2. Take the initiative to practice active good will, and heartfelt affection will develop naturally

We have been born again, purified to have unfeigned, affectionate love for one another (philadelphia); do we love one another (agape) fervently as we should? - cf. 1Pe 1:22-23

Perhaps we now more fully appreciate why Paul wrote in regards to faith, hope and love...

"The greatest of these is love"