Are you loving with the love of God?

Love of God can mean either love for God or love by God. Love for God (philotheia) is associated with the concepts of worship, and devotions towards God.

The Greek term theophilia means the love or favour of God , and theophilos means friend of God, originally in the sense of being loved by God or loved by the gods ; but is today sometimes understood in the sense of showing love for God.

More than anything, the Bible makes it clear that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). He isn't just loving, but he is the very definition of love. He loves us because he created us. His affection is unconditional. He both generates and demonstrates love — and that love endures forever (Psalm 100:5).

The Bible states that God loved us while we were still sinners; His love abounds from His infinite goodness and mercy. God's love is steadfast and unchanging. Though we may grow distant from Him or fickle in our attitude toward Him, He continues to love us.

The Greek term agape is applied both to the love that human beings have for God and to the love that God has for them.

agape, in the New Testament, the fatherly love of God for humans, as well as the human reciprocal love for God. In Scripture, the transcendent agape love is the highest form of love and is contrasted with eros, or erotic love, and philia, or brotherly love.

“Agape” is one of several Greek words for love. When the word “agape” is used in the Bible, it refers to a pure, willful, sacrificial love that intentionally desires another’s highest good.

We often use the word love in different contexts and meanings. We say, “I love chocolate” and “I love you.” Our love for a significant other, a favorite food, and a friend are all different (hopefully). However, English doesn’t lend itself well to making these distinctions.

However, the Greek language used in the Bible does make those distinctions. Even though the various Greek words for love are all translated into the same English word in most instances, they held different meanings for Greek-speaking readers.

"Agape love” differs from other types of love in the Bible. It is the highest, most pure form of love as a choice, not out of attraction or obligation. Agape love is beautifully described in 1 Corinthians 13.

This differentiation can be helpful for us to think about what love means, especially in discussing the highest form of love, agape love.

Agape Love.

Agape love is a sacrificial love that unites and heals. It is the love of God that we see through the cross of Jesus Christ. This love saves and restores humanity in the face of sin and death.

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13).

Agape is a Greek word pronounced ah-gah-pay.

Agape love is a love of choice, not out of attraction or obligation .

Agape love is what Jesus Christ displayed on the cross for us as he took our place for the sin.

The word "agape" is used 106 times throughout the New Testament, with the most use in the book of 1 John.

Agape could be defined as charity. However, we often think of charity nowadays as giving away money or things, which doesn’t encompass all of what agape is about. Agape love is unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. Agape isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction but from the will and as a choice. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return.

This is the type of love the Bible speaks about the most. The New Testament references agape over 200 times.

To the Greeks, proper agape meant a general empathy or lovingkindness for all people. Though in the Bible, Christians are indeed expected to care for all in the name of Christ, Christianity took this a step further. Biblical writers used God as the standard for true agape.

Agape love, in the Bible, is love that comes from God. God’s love isn’t sentimental; it’s part of His character. God loves from an outpouring of who He is. As 1 John 4:8 states, “God is love [agapos],” meaning He is the source of agape love. His love is undeserved, gracious, and sacrificial.

We are to love God and others with agape love. Agape is a choice, a deliberate striving for another’s highest good, and is demonstrated through action. God set the standard for agape love in sending Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners.

Matthew 22:37-39, also known as “The Greatest Commandments,” instructs us to agapao God and our neighbors, while Matthew 5:43-46 instructs us to even agapao our enemies.

However, a person can also agape or wholeheartedly love the wrong things. 1 John 2:15 warns believers not to love the things of the world.

1 Corinthians 13 lays out a list of things that define agape.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Agape love does not come naturally to us in our sinful state. However, it does come naturally to God and is an integral part of Him. By drawing closer to Him and experiencing His love, we can begin to understand what this real love means. Only through Him can we show and experience agape love.

Though other types of love can accompany agape, agape is not just a feeling but a choice.

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