Two distinct Greek words for love appear in the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible. The word phileo means "to have ardent affection and feeling" -- a type of impulsive love. The other word agape means "to have esteem" or "high regard".

The warm word agape is the characteristic term of Christianity. This word for love is used several different ways in the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible. In the memorable conversation between the Lord Jesus and Saint Peter, there is a play upon these two words.

After the meal Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?' He answered, 'Yes Lord, you know I love you', Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs'. A second time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He replied, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you'. Jesus said to him, 'Look after my sheep'. Then he said to him a third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, 'Do you love me?' and said, 'Lord, you know everything; you know I love you'. Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep'. - John 21:15-17 -

Agape love indicates the nature of the love of God toward His beloved Son.

I have made your name known to them
and will continue to make it known,
so that the love with which you loved me may be in them,
and so that I may be in them. - John 17:26 -

Agape love toward human race generally

Yes, God loved the world so much
that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life. - John 3:16 -

but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. - Rom. 5:8 -

Agape love toward those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them
will be one who loves me;
and anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I shall love him and show myself to him. - John 14:21 -

Agape love conveys God's will to His children about their attitude toward one another. Love for one another was a proof to the world of true discipleship.

I give you a new commandment:
love one another;
just as I have loved you,
you also must love one another.
By this love you have for one another,
everyone will know that you are my disciples. - John 13:34-35 -

Agape love also expresses the essential nature of God.

Anyone who fails to love can never have known God,
because God is love. - 1John 4:8 -

Agape love can be known only from the actions it prompts, as seen in God's love in the gift of His Son.

God's love for us was revealed
when God sent into the world his only Son
so that we could have life through him;
this is the love I mean:
not our love for God,
but God's love for us when he sent his Son
to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away. - 1John 4:9-10 -

Agape love found its perfection, expression in the Lord Jesus, Christians love is the fruit of the Spirit of Jesus in the believer.

What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. - Gal. 5:22 -

Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit. We must stop being conceited, provocative and envious. - Gal. 5:25-26 -

Without such love, we are as nothing. Such Spirit-inspired love never fails but always flourishes.

                                                                          Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -