By Kevin G. Smith

Love Explained

The Fruit of the Spirit 2

Love Explained

Lesson Outline

1. Love defined

2. Love described

3. Love demonstrated

Love Explained

LOVE DEFINEDPoint 1

Love Explained

Love Defined

But what is love?

The word is in such common use to describe such a diverse range of actions and emotions that it is essential to define exactly what love is.

Love Explained

Love Defined

Greek had three common words for love: eros, philia, and agapē. These words were used somewhat interchangeably, but in some contexts they have different emphases. Eros often referred to physical love; philia was the common word for love, and has a range of meaning similar to the English “love”; agapē is the word the New Testament prefers when speaking about the love of God (though it can be used for lesser forms of love too).

Love Explained

Love Defined

Three Kinds of Love

1. Eros

• Eros is physical love that results from sexual desire and is appropriate only between a husband and wife.

• Eros is based on need— what the other person can do for me.

Love Explained

Love Defined

Three Kinds of Love

1. Eros

2. Philia

• Philia is human love, the natural fondness and kindness between friends is the dominant characteristic of philia.

• Philia is based on mutuality—what we can do for each other.

Love Explained

Love Defined

Three Kinds of Love

1. Eros

2. Philia

3. Agapē

• Agapē is divine love, that which is based on the nature of God himself.

• Agapē is more than a wave of emotion, it is a decision of the will to always act in another person’s best interest.

Love Explained

Love Defined

Eros Philia AgapeSexual love Natural love Divine loveBetween loves Between friends From God to manBased on needs Based on likes Based on valuesWhat can you do for me?

What can we do for each other?

What can I do for you?

I love me and use you.

I love you; you love me.

I love you and serve you.

Love Explained

Love Defined

Agapē, or divine love, is the spirit which says, ‘No matter what any man does to me, I will never seek to harm him; I will never seek revenge; I will always seek nothing but his highest good.’ Agapē is unconquerable benevolence, invincible good will. It is a principle by which we deliberately live. In other words, it is a deliberate principle of the mind and a deliberate conquest of the will. It is not simply a wave of emotion (Rozell 1988:38).

Love Explained

LOVE DESCRIBEDPoint 2

Love Explained

Love Described

Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

Love Explained

Love Described

• Matthew 22:37-40 implies that there are three dimensions or directions in which we must express love: for God, for others, and for self.

• Jesus commands us to express love upward (for God) and outward (for others). He assumes that we automatically express love inward (for ourselves).

Love Explained

Love Described

1. Upward: Love for God

2. Outward: Love for others

3. Inward: Love for self

Love Explained

Love Described

Love Explained

LOVE DEMONSTRATEDPoint 3

Love Explained

Love Demonstrated

The basis of our love

We are able to love because we experience the love of God. We are able to love to the extent that we know the love of God.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Love Explained

Love Demonstrated

The basis of our love

We are able to love because we experience the love of God. We are able to love to the extent that we know the love of God.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Love Explained

Love Demonstrated

The basis of our love

We are able to love because we experience the love of God. We are able to love to the extent that we know the love of God.

1 John 3:1

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

Love Explained

Love Demonstrated

• The love of God empowers us to demonstrate love towards God, others, and ourselves.

• In the next few slides we shall explore how God expects us to demonstrate love.

Love Explained

Love Demonstrated

How are we to show love?

1. Love for God

John 14:15, 23-24‘If you love me, you will obey what I command …’ Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.’

Love Explained

Love Demonstrated

How are we to show love?

1. Love for God

2. Love for others

Galatians 5:22-23

• patience• kindness• goodness• Faithfulness

We shall focus on these in detail in a later lesson.

Love Explained

Love Demonstrated

How are we to show love?

1. Love for God

2. Love for others

3. Love for self

Biblical self-love• Do what God says is best for

you.

• Submit to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

• Nurture your relationship with the Lord.

• Say no to harmful lusts and sins that appeal to your flesh.

Love Explained

Love Demonstrated

Selfishness StewardshipHaughty HumbleFelt needs Real needsObey passions Apply principlesSelf-satisfaction Self-disciplineRuled by greed Ruled by God

Love Explained

CONCLUSION

Love Explained

Conclusion

1. Defined: There are various kinds of love. Divine love is based on values and seeks to serve others selflessly, always doing what is best for them.

2. Described: We are called to show divine love in three dimensions or directions, namely, towards God, others, and ourselves.

3. Demonstrated: We love God by obeying his commands, and we love ourselves by being good stewards of the life and responsibilities God has given us.