Title: Eternal Unchanging Agape Love
There are 4 different words describing different types of love in Greek. Firstly, Stolge represents the love among family or clan or nation. It is a selfish love because it doesn’t care about other family, other clan and other nation. Secondly, Phileo represents the love between friends. However, it doesn’t care about an enemy who hurt, attack or damage me. Thus, it is also selfish love. Thirdly, Eros represents the love between men and weman (sexual love). In order to have such love, it naturally brings a competition. So, it is selfish love. However, there is Agape love which represents God’s love. Agape love is overlooking. God knows everything: He knows that you committed a sin against Him, but He accepts your iniquity and forgives you.
Because of this Agape love (Jhn 3:16), our sins are forgiven and we are given eternal life. So, Agape love from God to us is done. However, God asks us to give this Agape love to others. Furthermore, this Agape love is the proof that we belong to God (1 Jhn 4:7).
- Without Agape love
1 Cor 13:1 talks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This person must be deeply rooted in Christian culture and well-practiced in spiritual authorities in order to have the gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, Apostle Paul said that if there is no Agape love, it is noisy gong: it doesn’t bring anything profitable.
1 Cor 13:2 talks about understanding the Word of God and having faith that can bring miracles. This person must be enthusiastic about studying the Bible and studying the Word of God. However, Apostle Paul said that if there is no Agape love, I am nothing.
1 Cor 13:3 talks about sacrificial and charitable works. This is likely considered the noblest way to express our love to our society or to other humanity. However, if there is no Agape love, it profits nothing.
- What is Agape love?
1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind, (and) is not jealous; love does not brag (and) is not arrogant
- Long Patience (MacroDuimeo)
Patience naturally brings an idea of enduring for a certain period time long enough to see the final result. Thus, it means “when we feel victimized because we are illtreated or treated unjustly, and even if we have power to revenge, we overlook it.”
Agape love (being patient) is to overlook in it and to forgive: it means even when I can take a revenge, I will be patient and endure it (Col 3:12; 2 Peter 3:9). God has been patient toward us and we have to clothe with patience. When we forget, we may truly forgive.
- Kindness (KresTuomai)
Kindness means not hurting, not damaging. It means “I rather treat someone who hurt me and damaged me with the best of the best.” (Mat 11:29)
The founding pastor said we have to become a spiritual sponge or an absorber. If someone threw a punch at you, if you are a sponge, you absorb the punch and cause no damage to the one who threw the punch. This is the kindness which is Agape love.
As when Jesus said “Take courage”, the people’s sickness and troubles were resolved, for the damages we received, Jesus will take care of them (Mat 9:2; Mat 9:22).
- Not Jealous (Zelou)
It means “to be heated or upset when seeing others’ success or happiness.” Why do you feel upset when seeing someone is doing well? Because you think he doesn’t deserve it or didn’t work as hard as you do.
Thus, it also has the meaning of “to esteem himself higher than others, to look down on others.”
The Bible tells us that jealousy is not from God and fleshly thought. Furthermore, it rotten our bones (1 Cor 3:3; Pro 14:30).
How can we not have such jealousy? We should regard one another as more important than ourselves (Phil 2:3).
(4) Does Not Brag (Pelperuomai)
If jealousy is the heart to bring down someone, boast is to exaggerate one’s work. Pharisee regards himself as the righteous, thus his prayer is long because he has to say about his tithe, his sacrifice and etc. But a tax-gatherer regards himself as a sinner, thus there is nothing much to say apart from “God, I am a sinner. Please, forgive me.” (Luk 18:9-10)
If there is any good work, you feel proud for yourself not to boast to others. Do not boast about yourself or exaggerate because God is the one who helped from the beginning. If there is anything we should boast about is the God who is being with us (Gal 6:4).
(5) Not Arrogant (Fuisiou)
It means ‘to be inflated, to bear one’s self loftily.’ If you are arrogant, you feel like you are the best believer and the most spiritual.
We should be humble from the first place and remain humble all the time (1 Pet 5:5; Luk 14:8-11).
Conclusion:
Agape love is forgiving
Luk 23:34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 