What is Biblical Love?

Is our love of Jesus different from our humanistic, emotional love?

The difference between “agape” love and humanistic emotional love is foundational, separating a divine, transformative reality from a fragile human sentiment. This “agape” between Jesus and ourselves is the rock of our salvation and the evidence of a sanctified soul.

Agape Love

Agape is the primary word for love used in the New Testament to describe God’s love for humanity and the love believers are commanded to have. It is not an emotion but a willful, purposeful, and unconditional commitment.

Agape is a Greek word used 116 times in the New Testament, and translated in the KJV 84 times as love, and 28 times as charity. (Source: King James Concordance). I would have thought love and charity were two different things, but I am not a translator.

Perhaps spiritual charity is “agape”.

Worth a thought…..

Source of Agape:

It flows exclusively from Yahweh’s nature. “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), meaning it is supernaturally produced in the believer. No “agape”, no salvation.

Nature of Agape:

It is unconditional and unchangeable. It is a by-product of our regeneration. We receive it because He knows us from the beginning of time:

Isaiah 46:9-10 LSB  “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,  (10)  Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My counsel will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’,

The ultimate demonstration is Yahweh giving His Son, and Christ laying down His life for sinners.

John 3:16 LSB  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 LSB  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Object of Agape:

It can be directed toward anyone—the lovely and the unlovely, friends and enemies. Christ commands love for enemies, which is impossible by human emotional standards.

Matthew 5:44 LSB “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Standard of Agape:

Its standard is Yahweh’s own righteous and holy character. It is rooted in truth and is inextricably linked to obedience to Yahweh’s commands.

John 14:15 LSB  “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Outcome of Agape:

It is eternal, immutable, and cannot fail. It seeks the ultimate spiritual good of the other, which is reconciliation with Yahweh.

1 Corinthians 13:8 LSB  Love never fails, but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

Paul is advising us that, when glorified, the only gift we will display is love; the other gifts will cease.

Humanistic Emotional Love

This is the natural love of fallen humanity, which is fundamentally self-referential and conditional. It goes by many names (Greek philia, eros, storge) and is based on affection, mutual benefit, and emotional response.

Source of Emotional Love:

It originates from the self, the human soul. It is a natural, fleshly sentiment.

Nature of Emotional Love:

It is reactive and conditional. It is evoked by the perceived worth, attractiveness, or kindness of its object. It says, “I love you,” because you are lovely, because you make me feel good, or because you love me in return. It is inherently fragile because it depends on circumstances and feelings, which are fleeting.

Object of Emotional Love:

It is naturally reserved for family, friends, or those who provide some benefit. It has no inherent power to love an enemy or someone who is actively hostile.

Standard of Emotional Love:

Its standard is the self and its feelings. It is unmoored from any objective, transcendent truth and is thus subject to the corruptions of sentimentality, selfishness, and manipulation.

Outcome of Emotional Love:

It is temporary and fails when feelings change, when the object of love becomes unlovely, or when the cost becomes too high. It ultimately seeks self-gratification, even when it appears selfless.

The Crucial Distinction

Agape is a supernatural virtue grounded in Yahweh’s character and imparted to believers. It is a command that can be obeyed only through the Spirit’s power.

Humanistic emotional love is a natural sentiment grounded in human feeling. It is incapable of fulfilling the righteous requirements of Yahweh’s law, which is love.

In essence, human love asks, “What can I get from this relationship?” Agape love asks, “What can I give for this person’s ultimate good, as defined by Yahweh?” The former is the world’s foundation for relationships; the latter is the foundation for the Church and the Christian life.

The Modern Church

Unfortunately, we are humanistic and emotional in our relationships with other believers. We meet with those we “like”; we seek deeper relationships with those we have an emotional connection to. We are no different to unbelievers in how we relate within our church settings. We attend churches because we “like” the Pastor, or the Worship, or whatever else.

What happened to the days when we went to the local church because it was our community?

Have we not strayed from “agape”?

Are we totally reliant on those we “like” for accountability?

Is this what Jesus intended for His bride?

Conclusion

If we are ever going to get our churches back on track to how Jesus wanted them, let’s start with a fresh look at ourselves and how we behave with other believers first, before we begin evangelising the lost!

There are many theological non-negotiables, and “agape” is at the top of the list!