10/8/2017
The Word of Life Pt 5
1st John 1:1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched–this we proclaim concerning the Word of life!
Agape Is THE Principal Spiritual Truth
1st John 3:11-12 This is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
Agapē & agapaō are used in the NT:
(1) To describe the attitude of God toward His Son, John 17:26; to the human race generally, John 3:16; and to such as believe on the Lord Jesus Christ particularly, John 14:21;
(2) To convey His will to His children concerning their attitude one toward another, John 13:34, and toward all men, 1 Thess. 3:12; 1 Cor. 16:14; 2 Pet. 1:7;
(3) To express the essential nature of God, 1 John 4:8.
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament & New Testament Words.
Agape Is the Essence of God’s Character
John 17:20-23 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are One: I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.
Agape Reveals God Himself!
John 17:24-26 Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have sent Me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be in them.
Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God’s love is seen in the gift of His Son, 1 John 4:9-10. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects, Rom. 5:8. It was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself, Deut. 7:7-8. Love had its perfect expression among men in the Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Cor. 5:14; Eph. 2:4; Eph. 3:19; Eph. 5:2
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament & New Testament Words.
Agape Characterizes God’s Children
1st John 3:13-16 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: so we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Agape Demonstrated Is Assurance of Relationship
1st John 3:17-19 Whomever hath this world’s goods, and seeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
Agape Reveals The Children of God
1st John 3:23-24 This is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He commanded us. He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.