79

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Love Lesson (Part I) or
A Valentine Alternative #79
By Joseph Prescia

Movies and songs are constantly investigating the emotions between two people, usually portrayed as true love. This search for true love is often referred to as “unconditional love.” Yet rarely is unconditional love accurately known and explained according to the Scriptures.

There are three basic Greek words used for “love”:
Eros-sex attraction, animalistic in nature. Eros is also known as a pagan Greek god, equivalent to the Roman Cupid. The English “erotica” comes from this word.
Phileo-brotherly, conditional human love, like Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love.
Agapao-love from God, unconditional (See John 3:16). God gave his only begotten son regardless of how it would be received, in spite of ingratitude.

“Eros” love lasts as long as the sex is good. It’s conditional. Once the sex ends, the love (or lust) leaves with it. Immature relationships are built on this love alone.

“Phileo” love is often mislabeled as unconditional love. Phileo is conditional. It lasts as long as certain conditions are met. “I’ll do for you as long as you do for me. I’ll love you as long as you love me.” Many marriages end up in divorce because of this love alone. A person can get burnt out thinking that they were utilizing unconditional love when all along they were only giving or receiving “phileo” love. There’s nothing else left to give because phile? by itself, is selfish, with a list of conditions attached. Many stay here because of lack of instruction or refusal to change to the highest form of love.

“Agapao” love is the highest form of love. It involves giving without strings attached. Without an accurate knowledge of God’s Word a person cannot truly love the way God intended them to. God didn’t give His only begotten Son (John 3:16) when everyone was ready to receive him. God so loved that He GAVE in spite of ingratitude. God continued to give when they spit in Jesus’ face. God gave when they pierced Jesus with a sword and nailed him to the cross. God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for ALL mankind, to redeem ALL from the spiritual clutches of Satan, to set ALL free from the power of sin and death. God gave in spite of rejection and hatred toward Him. Today God continues to give even though He has been thrown out of public schools, even though politicians refuse Him, even though many of us refused Him yesterday or last year or twenty years ago. His love is ready and waiting when we are ready to receive it.

Agape love is the force that motivated God to give to a people so undeserving. He loved so much that He gave first (I John 4:19). God set the example on giving. When a person is born again (Romans 10:9) they receive the gift of holy spirit (Acts 2:38). With that holy spirit, the love of God is spiritually born in that individual (Romans 5:5). The Scriptures are required for that person to properly learn HOW to love. I Corinthians 13 lists seven things that the love of God does and nine things that it does not do. Don’t you want to know how to be your best? Wouldn’t you want to know how to bless people? Don’t you want to give from an unlimited supply? What a joy to know that the instruction manual for life (the Bible) is available to ALL! We will continue this subject in Part II.

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