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The Fruit Of Love
Introduction
1. The triad of spiritual graces we are now considering (Love, joy, and peace) are the foundation of good social conduct. The first of these graces is love, of which the Bible has much to say; which we cannot possibly cover in one lesson; therefore we will confine ourselves to a study of just two Greek words that are inadequately translated into English as ‘love’.
2. This lesson will focus on two Greek words: agape [25] and phileo [5368]. The meanings of which will be clarified as we proceed through the lesson.
I. WHAT LOVE IS
A. The greatest commandment is…
1. To love God (Deuteronomy 6:5; Luke 10:27).
2. To love thy neighbour (Leviticus. 19:18; Mt. 19:19; 23:39).
"Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law" (Romans. 13:10).
3. "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew. 22:40).
B. A badge of identification
1. Those who love are known by God (1Corinthians 8:3).
2. Those who love God can be identified by the love they have for their brethren (1 John 4:20).
3. The love we show toward one another identifies us as Christ’s disciples (John 13:35).
"So many Christians have taken to adorning themselves with crucifixes, charms, motifs, and other such icons; intended to identify them as those belonging to Christ, as if being identified was the main goal. Jesus shows that the true mark of a disciple is in the ‘doing’ of love; a principle found throughout the scriptures: `Do not let your beauty be that be that outward adorning...but let it be the hidden person of the heart.’ Adorning one’s self with icons, far from identifying one with Christ, indicates a lack of understanding and immaturity" (D. Collins, Quotes & Things).
C. The underpinning of faith
1. Christians are to be rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17).
2. Only faith that expresses itself through love will avail [2480], i.e., "be effective, capable of producing results" (Vine).
3. Love is the bond of completeness (Colossians 3:14)
II. THE SCOPE AND EXPRESSION OF LOVE
A. Christians are to love God (Matthew 22:37)
1. What motivates us to love God?
a) “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
b) God’s love is seen in the sending of His Son (1 John 4:9-10; Romans 5:8; John 3:16).
2. How do we express our love for God?
a) By keeping His commandments (1 John 5:3; 2Jn. 6; John 14:15, 21).
3. Are there different degrees of love?
a) One who has been forgiven much will love more (Luke 7:36-43).
b) Compare Luke 7:44-50 > Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 15:10. Paul is an example of one who had been forgiven much and loved much in return.
4. How can we develop a deeper level of love for God?
a) By understanding the seriousness of sin (Cp. Romans 7:13)
b) leading to a greater appreciation of Jesus.
c) Conviction brings godly sorrow, leading to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:8-10).
d) By keeping His commandments (1 John 2:1-5).
B. Christians are commanded to love their neighbours (Matthew 22:39).
1. Who are our neighbours? (see Luke 10:25-37)
2. How do we express our love for neighbours? Principles from the old testament
a. Not bear false witness against (Exodus 20:16).
b. Make good if damage borrowed goods (Exodus 21:14).
3. How do we develop a love for our neighbours? The more we learn about God’s love for us, the more we come to love others.
C. We are to love our brethren. (1 John 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:9)
1. How do we express our love for brethren?
a. By providing spiritual needs (1 Thessalonians 5:14; 1 John 5:16; Gal. 6:1).
b. Providing physical needs (James 2:14-17).
2. How does our love for a brother differ from the love we have for a friend?
a. We have greater things in common (Acts 2:44 > 4:32; Titus 1:4 > Jude 3). This comradeship draws us closer together (1 Peter 1:22; 3:8: phileo - 5368).
b. Christians are to have preference for one another (Romans 12:10; 1 Timothy 5:21)
3. How can we develop a greater love for our brethren?
a. We must stir one another unto love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25).
b. By being kindly affectionate (Romans 12:10).
D. We must also love our enemies! (Matthew 5:44).
1. Who are our enemies?
a. Those who hate us, speak evil of us, and persecute us (Matthew 5:11).
2. How do we show love toward our enemies?
a. By blessing them and doing them good (Matthew 5:44-45; Romans 12:20).
E. Love must be perfected.
Chart 1: The Scope Of Love.
Imperfect Love: love of God; love of neighbors; hatred of enemies.
Perfect Love: love of God; love of neighbors; love of enemies.
“Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18)
III. Definitions And Descriptions.
A. In this study we have been considering the Greek word agape, translated into English as ’love’. As we have seen, the word has more to do with action rather than feeling, which is acknowledged by the following:
1. "Christian agape not only considers but provides the physical and spiritual needs of all men, regardless of their position or worthiness, and in spite of personal feelings" (D. Collins).
2. "Seeing a person in need, one does not ask, ’Is he is a fellow Christian?’ or ’Is he rich or poor?’ or ’Is he worthy or unworthy?’ or ’Is he friend or foe? One simply asks, ’Do I have the ability to help?’, and this alone determines whether one acts" (D. Collins).
3. "Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings...love seeks opportunity to do good to all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of faith" (W.E. Vine).
4. John, indirectly, defines love as action (1 John 3:18).
B. A description of faith is found in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8,13
1. Positive aspects of love.
a) Suffers long (v. 4a)
b) Is kind (v. 4b)
c) Rejoices in truth (v. 6b)
d) Bears all things (v. 7a)
e) Believes all things (v. 7b)
f) Hopes all things (v. 7c)
g) Endures all things (v. 7d)
h) Never fails (v. 8a)
2. Negative aspects of love.
a) Does not envy (v. 4c)
b) Does not parade itself (v. 4d)
c) Is not puffed up (v. 4e)
d) Does not behave rudely (v. 5a)
e) Does not seek its own (v. 5b)
f) Is not provoked (v. 5c)
g) Thinks no evil (v. 5d)
h) Does not rejoice in iniquity (v. 6a)
C. Phileo [5368] is love that is more associated with feelings of tender affection. This love describes:
1. The love we are to have toward Christ (1 Corinthians 16:22).
2. The love Christians are to develop for each other (1 Peter 1:22; 3:8).
Conclusion
1. Love is the fulfilling of the law, the Christian’s true badge of identification, and the underpinning of our faith.
2. True love for God is expressed in the keeping of His commandments. True love for man (good or bad, friend or foe) is expressed in our attitudes and actions.
3. Love certainly includes our feelings toward God and man but can only truly be known by our actions.
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