This week we begin Week 4 of a series on the four different kinds of love in the Bible. We turn to agape love. Agape love extends beyond emotions. It's much more than a feeling or sentiment. It is active. It demonstrates love through actions. John 3:16 tells us that, “God so loved…” It is an all-encompassing love that the Creator of the universe had for the entire human race that was expressed in his action of sending His son, Jesus Christ, to die and, thus, make it possible to save every person who would believe in Him.
Agape love is the love God demonstrates because it is who God is. The Bible tells us that God is love. And we are called to show agape love, both to God and to each other. But this kind of love does not come naturally to us. Because of our fallen nature, we are incapable of producing such love. We are naturally inclined to be selfish. If we are to love as God loves, that love—that agape—can only come from its Source.
Additional scriptures referenced include John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:8; Luke 10:27; Matthew 5:44; Romans 5:5, 8; 1 John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4-5; Luke 9:23; Philippians 2:3-4; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 Corinthians 16:14; Colossians 3:14; Galatians 5:13; and 1 John 4:20-21.
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