What is the meaning of agape love?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The word agape is a Greek word that means “a warm regard for and interest in another.” That is, it refers to loving others for their benefit despite there being no benefit for us. Jesus was the perfect example of this (Ephesians 5:1-2). He loved us when we didn’t love Him by coming and dying the death of a sinner, despite being sinless. Jesus was hated when He came and is still hated today (John 15:18). Yet, He sacrificed Himself for the wellbeing of men and women that some might escape the judgement they earned (Romans 6:23). That is agape love.

As believers, we are called to love in the same way. Scripture says that we are to put God and our neighbors above ourselves, loving them even when it costs us (Leviticus 19:9; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 6:29, 10:25-37). We can do this because God showed His agape love to us first (1 John 4:19) and has given us His love through His Spirit (Romans 5:5). As we show agape love, the world sees that we are Jesus’ disciples and comes to know Him (John 13:35).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Agape is one of a few Greek words for “love.” Because the Old Testament was not written in Greek, it doesn’t have that word. However, the Old Testament shows God demonstrating agape love. For instance, God chose the Israelites as His “treasured possession” and blessed them among all the nations, and that love was steadfast despite their frequent rebellion (Deuteronomy 7:6-9).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus was the perfect example of agape love. Paul said, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:1-2).
• Jesus expressed agape love by giving Himself up (dying) for us: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
• The Bible says we are to agapao God (Matthew 22:37), our neighbor (Matthew 22:39), and even our enemies (Matthew 5:43–46). In each case it is to be a sacrificial love. We are to put God above our wants (Matthew 22:37), desiring His glory more than our comfort. Likewise, we are to consider others as better than we consider ourselves (Matthew 22:39), wanting them to be well even if that puts us out. Finally, we agapao enemies because that’s what God did for us.
• The Bible also says that we are not to agapao money (Matthew 6:24), darkness (John 3:19), or men’s approval (John 12:43). We are not to have a “warm regard” for anything in the world (1 John 2:15).
• Jesus identified agape as the type of love that should characterize Christians: “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Jesus had to remind us to sacrificially love one another because, in our sin, we look to love ourselves.
• Romans 5:5: “the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Paul is saying that that love comes from the Father through the Spirit dwelling in us. Therefore, we can agapao because we are saved.
• John was personally affected by Jesus’ agape love and wrote about it extensively in his letter, 1 John. Two important themes come out of that letter. It is inconsistent and false to claim we have agapao God while not having an agape love for other believers and we can’t have agape love God if we don’t obey Him.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

We can love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). This love was expressed by the Father sending His Son to die as a propitiation (1 John 4:10). A propitiation is a blood sacrifice that turns away the wrath of God. When Jesus died for us, it was certainly painful. However, worse than that was having to experience a separation from God that He had never been separated (Matthew 27:46). On top of all of that, the Father poured out His burning wrath against Jesus as if He and not us was the one who sinned.

To be a propitiation, then, means that Jesus sacrificially loved us. By his warm regard for us, His enemies, He loved us without us loving Him back. In this way, He is the example for all believers.

As we go out into the world, we must remember that everyone is created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27) and is of infinite worth. While some sins might rightly repulse us because of how they are an affront to our Holy God, we must remember that as believers, we used to be just as undesirable. The difference between them and us is simply God opening our lives to understand Jesus’ agape love. In turn, out of our agape love for Him, we are to have an agape love for those in the world, praying that God might save them and being willing to be sacrificed so that they might come to know Jesus. It is not easy loving those who hate us, but that is what agape love is like. It’s like being like Jesus.

UNDERSTAND

• Agape love is a sacrificial, selfless love that seeks the good of others and is not dependent on receiving love in return.
• Jesus exemplifies agape love, as He loved us despite our enmity with Him.
• Believers are called to love God, neighbors, and even enemies sacrificially, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

REFLECT

• How do you experience God's agape love in your life, and how does that impact your ability to love others sacrificially?
• In what situations do you find it most challenging to love others without expecting anything in return, and how can you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you?
• How does Jesus' example of loving His enemies, even unto death, challenge or inspire you to love those who may not love you back?

ENGAGE

• How can we practically show agape love in our daily interactions with others, especially when it involves personal sacrifice?
• How should Jesus’ call to love enemies as part of agape love change our approach to difficult relationships?
• How does understanding agape love deepen our understanding of God's character and our relationship with Him?