Agape Love

Not long after leaving the city of Ephesus, the Apostle Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy, his "own son in the faith." He'd left him in Ephesus to charge certain men "not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation, rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith."

Paul continued, telling him"the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, and of a good conscience and a sincere faith," but, "some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion." (1 Tim.1:3-4, 5-6 NASB)

Consider the profound simplicity of Paul's statement! He said the objective goal and supreme purpose of all spiritual instruction is to bring us to a nature of love - agape love. All instruction is given to produce a quality of love that flows from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith!

There is probably no other subject that has been sung, preached, written, and taught about more than love, but it is still the most elusive and misunderstood of all human pursuits. Lives have been lost, fortunes squandered, and nations brought to ruin in vain attempts to grasp and retain its illusive fragrance.

How are we to obtain the true quality of agape love - love that loves just because it is its nature to love? Is such love really attainable, or is it beyond our ability to comprehend, let alone ever hope to experience?

Scripture provides numerous examples of the characteristics of the love we're called to, as well as revealing what expressions such love should take as we reach toward our goal.

This article is not intended to be an exhaustive study on the subject of love. Therefore, I'll concern myself primarily with the noun and verb form of the Greek word "agape." For the sake of clarity and distinction, I'll break the development of agape love down into four dimensions, and relate each phase to the relationship of a marriage.

Approximately 30 years after Paul had written to Timothy and reminded him that agape love is the goal of all spiritual instruction, the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation on the island of Patmos. As he wrote to the seven churches of Asia, he commended the same Ephesian church for their works, their labor and patience, and their spiritual discernment.

Then, as he continued writing under the inspiration of the Spirit, John said, "I have this [one charge to make] against you, that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first - you have deserted [Me], your first love." (Rev.2:4 AMPL) (Please note they had not lost their first love, they had left it.)

Following his charge, he admonished them to "remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place - unless you repent." (vs.5 NASB)

Just what are the "deeds you did at first"?

Our first response toward God was to recognize our need for him. As long as we were sufficient in our own abilities, which basically means that we were in love with ourselves, we never looked to him for anything. But when we recognized our need, we found that we had the ability to respond to his love for us. Therefore, "we love him, because he first loved us." (1Jn.4:19)

Love is known by the actions it prompts. God demonstrated his love for mankind by giving his Son. ("Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us." 1 Jn. 3:16) His action was a deliberate choice of the divine will, motivated solely by that which is in the very nature of God himself - agape love. (1 Jn.4:8)

Therefore, our first "deed" toward God was our heart's response of faith to the love he exhibited toward us. It was the action of "faith which worketh by love," (Gal.5:6) that is, the measure of faith the Creator put into every person that has ever been born. (Rom.12:3) Without an awareness of God's love, there is no basis upon which to believe and respond to His promises - promises that enable us to partake fully of the divine nature. (2 Pet.1:4)

Knowing God loves us, and our response in faith to that love, is the foundation for all true spirituality. Any positive spiritual growth or victory over self and sin, is directly related to our response to the love of God.

Without a conscious awareness of his love, we have no basis upon which to trust the word he gives us. Attempting to relate to the Lord by any other premise is an attempt to relate to him on the basis of self-awareness and our own human merit - the ultimate exercise of futility.

Once we've been made aware of God's love, and we've partaken of its benefits, we must allow it to produce its own nature in us. If we don't allow that to take place, we'll turn from it and become self-centered - an attitude that is usually expressed in presumption. Thus John's admonition to the Ephesians to repent and do the first works, lest their candlestick be removed.

The love of God stimulates and provokes a heart response of abandonment toward him. First love is that abandonment - an abandonment of all for a love that has abandoned all.

First love is the heart's response to love that is undeserved, unselfish, and unending. It is the realization that Someone cares and has paid the price to release us from an unfruitful past of sin and guilt. It is the joy of having the weight of darkness and degradation give place to illumination and dignity. It is espousal love - the flame of love springing to light.

At this point in our relationship with the Lord, we might think that we really love him. And we do - in an initial stage. We've responded to his wooing and everything seems to be "coming up roses." The joy of knowing we're loved gives a new perspective on life.

However, the implication of the term "first love" is that other dimensions of love are to follow. As we understand and experience each progressive dimension, we're being made partakers of his divine nature, which is agape love. This doesn't mean that we'll receive more of his love, but that the nature of his love is being produced in us.

It can be likened to a young woman who becomes aware that a potential husband is interested in marrying her. The enamored awareness seems to her like a true reality. However, as their association continues and her response matures, hindsight will undoubtedly reveal that this initial impression was as mere infatuation by comparison to the mature love she learns to appreciate.

Many Christians wish to remain at this initial level with the Lord. They've never realized that a deeper dimension of the love relationship is available. They're content with a "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love" association. (Song 2:4) But there is so much more!

For any love relationship to take on meaning, it must lead to commitment. Without coming into some form of commitment, love remains a mere attraction - an association of individuals who are never joined into one expression.

God demonstrated his commitment of love to us by giving his Son for our redemption. That action enabled us to begin comprehending his devotion to mankind. Without that selfless demonstration of his love, understanding that the love of God is attainable would have been idle philosophy.

Likewise, if there is no tangible evidence of our love toward God, our testimony of him is reduced to passive and meaningless rhetoric. But herein is a dilemma: How can man who is physical, demonstrate his love to God who is spiritual?

God anticipated this predicament. So, through the process of regeneration, he mysteriously made us "members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." (Eph.5:30) In doing so, he provided the perfect environment to practically demonstrate our professed love toward him: If we claim to love him, we can tangibly express that love to other members of his body.

The eternal principle is this: "If some one says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment have we from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also." (1 Jn.4:20-21 NASB)

Notice that this is not a suggestion, nor an option - it's a commandment! Any meaningful commitment made to God is also a commitment to his word and to his body.

The only way to benefit by a word (commandment) from the Lord is in making a commitment to it. As the Psalmist said of one who will abide in the tabernacle of the Lord, he "keeps his oath, even when it hurts." (Psa.15:4 NIV) The definition of a commitment is "to pledge oneself to; to make a declaration which binds one in honor and good faith."

Commitment is an act of faith. It means that we give our heart to another, and regardless of what that leads to, we'll entertain no options as to withdrawing from the commitment.

Because love is the essence of God's nature, he desires that we come forth in the same quality of life. To facilitate that desire, he gives us the principles of his life through his word, then places us in an environment which serves as a laboratory to test our fidelity to it. While in that environment, we're responsible for the choices we make, and in reality, are susceptible to just one illusion - that of deceiving ourselves. Our deception becomes evident when we claim we love God, but our actions demonstrate something less.

This has been the situation since the Garden of Eden. There, God placed Adam in an environment with everything he needed to sustain his life forever: There were trees that were pleasant to the sight and good for food, and the tree of life. (Gen.2:9) The only restriction God gave him was that he not partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

But we know what happened. Disobeying the word God had given him, Adam responded to his wife's suggestion and partook of the forbidden tree. When he did, he, in effect, failed to demonstrate his love for God. He presumed that God's love for him was sure, regardless of his response to it.

He had unwisely chosen union with his own life instead of remaining committed to the Creator's life. (Eve came out of his side, therefore, she was an expression of Adam's life.) Consequently, he lost his spiritual life and became limited to the natural and physical dimension.

God's love for Adam didn't change, but it did take on a different expression: He lost the benefits of the love union God had wanted him to enjoy with himself.

To keep Adam from partaking of the tree of life and locking himself into eternal separation from him, God lovingly dismissed the first couple from the Garden, subjecting them to futility (profitless toil - see Rom.8:20; Eccl. 3:10) in the hope that they would turn back to him. The Lord then began unfolding his redemptive plan to bring mankind back into a love union with himself.

As Jesus came to the final days of his earthly mission, he advised his disciples how they could demonstrate their love for him. He told them, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (Jn.14:15)

He had been the perfect expression of the life and love of his Father, and before leaving them, he wanted to teach the disciples the principles of the life he enjoyed. To do that, he gave them the beautiful analogy of the vine and the branches recorded in the fifteenth chapter of John.

As he drew the parallel to a close, Jesus said the Father is glorified when they (we) bear much fruit, that is, express the life of the Vine. He then gave the key to his own relationship with his Father: "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." (Jn.15:9-10)

Obedience to the revealed will of his Father was the key to the effective life of Jesus. He lived his entire life as an example that the will of God could be done in the physical and mortal realm. His only requirements were that he love the Father more than he loved himself.

Jesus continued his instructions to his disciples, saying, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." (vs.12)

The Lord doesn't expect anything of us that he hasn't first demonstrated. He exemplified a quality of love to his disciples that was unselfish and unreserved, even when they weren't very lovely! He did not withhold himself from them at any time, but continually revealed the nature of his Father in both word and deed.

Jesus told the disciples to follow his example of expressing the true nature of love. He knew the real test of their commitment to him would be revealed through their relationship to each other. He asked them to love each other as he had loved them - a demonstration that would reveal to the world that they were really his followers. (Jn.13:34-35)

When we receive the atonement of Christ for the forgiveness of sin, something unique happens. Through our conversion experience, we're placed into the body of Christ and are no longer our own, but have been made "members one of another." (Eph.4:25) This bonding takes place through faith in "the operation of God" (Col.2:12) and mysteriously places us "in him" as members of the household of God - "fellowcitizens with the saints." (Eph.2:19)

From our position of being "one" in Christ, we're able to bring our commitment to the Lord out of the abstract and into a visible expression. This is done by simply expressing the love of God, first to the brethren we're "one" with, then to the world. At times, this is nothing more than choosing to do so as an act of obedience to the word we've received.

Such choice is not based on the brethren being lovely or all the conditions being right, and it doesn't matter whether or not the love we express is returned. Committed love is not based on the principle of "what's in it for me." It's an obedient response in faith to the word he gave us.

A commitment can be one-sided, and often it is. One person might be committed to another without receiving a commitment in return. Such a situation is often evident in the breakup of a marriage - one spouse remains obedient to their marriage vow while the other begins to withdraw and look to the world for fulfillment. The root cause of such withdrawal is the desire to be free and be an uncommitted individual.

Commitment to obey the word of the Lord is always a personal and individual matter. It should always be the expression of our love for him - it must never be dependent upon the response of others around us. However, when a group of believers commit themselves to respond to God's word to love one another, the benefits of their obedience are mutual and lead to a further dimension of agape love.

Perhaps the Apostle Paul had this in mind when he wrote to the Thessalonians: "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father." (1 Thess.3:12-13)

These verses make a direct link of increasing in love toward each other and being established in holiness. Could it be that practical holiness is dependent upon the way we relate to the brethren around us?

Man was designed to love God. Therefore, it's in our nature to express deep affection toward someone or something. Because it is difficult to love God whom we can't see, we're prone to turn to visible and tangible objects as we try to express the desires within us.

Because of this inborn trait, scripture cautions us not to "love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification], and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance of one's own resources or the stability of earthly things] - these do not come from the Father, but are from the world [itself]." (1 Jn.2:15-16 AMPL)

As we can see from these verses, love for the world and the things of the world, is really love for ourselves. In light of this principle, committed love is the visible and tangible expression of our position in Christ. Without some means of demonstrating our love for him, our commitment to him becomes meaningless.

Committed love can be summarized as being an act of faith springing out of the commandment Jesus gave to love our brethren. It is not dependent on the conditions being right, nor being loved in return. It is a beginning evidence that the love we've received from the Lord is working in us. In practical terms, it causes us to pass from death into life. For "we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." (1 Jn.3:14) Committed love is the fan that blows upon the flame of the espousal. But there's still more!

When a group of believers are committed to love each other, a further transformation takes place. They move beyond a commitment and enter into a covenant relationship together.

A covenant is different from a commitment in that it is not one-sided. It's based on mutual trust and respect that is an expression of a nature of integrity. It's the bond among all concerned to do some act or thing. A covenant is not dependent on performance for its existence, although it can be rendered ineffective when its conditions aren't met! It has mutual devotion for the well-being of its participants.

Because a covenant has its existence in mutual trust, it instills the same quality in all who embrace it. It gives precedence and honor to those it joins together. It sees beyond imperfections and in faith calls "those things which be not as though they were." (Rom.4:17)

Covenant love is what Peter was talking about when he wrote: "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." (1 Pet.4:8) It is what Romans 12:9-10 refers to as it tells us to "let love be without hypocrisy" and "be devoted to one another in brotherly love; giving preference to one another in honor." (NASB)

Paraphrased, verse ten could be read, "be devoted to each other like an affectionate family; in every honorable matter leading one another on, willing to take the initiative in order to make a way for the other."

Covenant love is love that goes beyond obedience. Therefore, it is not dependent on a word to give it motivation - it is motivated by the initiative of its own nature. Neither does it need to be reminded to remain faithful: It never considers withholding itself from the object of its devotion, so unfaithfulness and disloyalty are not within its concepts.

Covenant love is a state of being - not limited to what it does. It is a constant - not a variable based on the responses it receives. It does not love in response to past experience or reward: It loves because it is its nature to love.

It is at this level of agape love that 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 applies. The first three verses give the contrast between doing and being, then verse four begins to list some of its attributes.

"Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy; is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

"It is not conceited - arrogant and inflated with pride; it does not act rude (unmannerly), and does not act unbecomingly.

"Love [God's love in us] does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it - pays no attention to a suffered wrong.

"It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

"Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything [without weakening].

"Love never fails - never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end." (AMPL)

As we consider the glorious qualities of agape mentioned in these verses, we can readily see that the characteristics of covenant love are not to be limited to God, but are also to be expressed through us. However, the attributes revealed here are only possible if we have the life and love of God working in us.

What is also apparent in these verses is the total abandonment of all self-interest. Because of such abandonment, covenant love has no fear. As 1 John 4:18 tells us: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear."

The fears of being misunderstood, used, abused, and rejected all melt away in the passionate heat of love that just gives of itself. Its only concern is the well-being of the other and it is fully devoted to meeting that need - knowing that in doing so, its own need will be met.

Covenant love goes beyond all natural schemes of personal apprehension and gratification. David and Jonathan were one of the greatest examples in scripture of such love. Here were two men destined for the same throne at the same time. One was in line by birth, the other by election. Neither could ascend to it as long as the other lived. But in spite of that, they entered into a covenant relationship that lasted until Jonathan's death, approximately 14 years later! (1 Sam.18:1-4)

For most of that time, King Saul sought to kill David, knowing that he must die if Jonathan was to continue his dynasty. However, their covenant bond was so strong that Jonathan would not betray David to his father, though he knew where he was hiding! Instead, the added pressure served to strengthen their relationship. (1 Sam.23:14-18)

The frustration of knowing Jonathan knew where David was so angered Saul that he couldn't contain himself. On one occasion he screamed out at him: "Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?

"For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die." (1Sam.20:30-31)

Saul's anger became so severe that he even cast a javelin at Jonathan! But in spite of the threat on his own life, the integrity of their covenant held and Jonathan wouldn't betray his covenant brother - even to secure the throne for himself.

God also proved David's heart by giving him several opportunities to kill Saul and put himself on the throne. When he had refused to avenge himself, God so ordered the circumstances that both Saul and Jonathan were slain in battle on the same day. Then he himself turned the kingdom over to David. (1 Sam.31:1-6; 1 Chron.10:13-14)

When David heard the news, he mourned for his covenant brother, crying out, "How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in your high places.

"I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women." (2 Sam.1:25-26 NKJV)

David's agonizing cry did not come out of the loss of some perverted relationship: It came out of his grieving heart - a heart that had known the bond of covenant love. Their bond had been so strong, that to David, it went beyond the love of women.

Could this be the reason "David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Heron"? (2 Sam. 5:13) Was he looking for the same level of bonding and integrity in a natural relationship that he'd known with Jonathan in a covenant relationship?

Covenant love can be likened to the mature relationship in a good marriage. It is a level of love that, over time, has seasoned and developed into a bond of mutual trust, honor, and appreciation. The desire to be together in faithful companionship doesn't need to be reminded by commandments (husbands love your wives; wives submit yourselves to your husbands) to maintain the integrity of the relationship.

A nature has come forth in both spouses that can conceive of nothing other than being together. Their love bond is no longer dependent on their word, their vows, or some external commandment. It is unthinkable for them to even desire any status or expression other than that of being "one" together.

This is the level of relationship the Lord desires us to come into with himself. He committed himself to us by loving us before we knew we could be lovely. From his perspective, his commitment was forever, and he sees himself as married to us. (Jer.3:14)

From our perspective, we're espoused to him. That is, he has paid the price for our hand in marriage, but we have not yet come into full union with him.

In the Biblical sense, when a man paid the price for his bride, the agreement was a binding contract - often accompanied by a written agreement. Having been spoken for, the woman was considered married and no longer her own, although she did not yet live with her "husband."

The espousal period was an agreement that could only be broken by divorce or death. The agreement was so binding that if the woman was violated sexually during that period, the man who defiled her was subject to the same laws pertaining to the violation of a married woman. The betrothed woman was also guilty, unless she cried out for help during the attack. (see Deut.22:22-27)

If the man discovered some moral uncleanness in the woman during the time of the espousal, he could give her a bill of divorcement, even though he had not consummated the marriage with her. (The man could divorce the woman, but the woman had no such right.- Deut.24:1)

Scripture gives a good illustration of this principle when Joseph found himself faced with a dilemma after discovering that Mary was with child, "before they came together." As he pondered his two options - bring her to trial before the priests to determine if she had been raped, or give her a bill of divorce and send her away - he, "being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream" and told him not to be afraid "to take to you Mary your wife...

"Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son." (Mt.1:18-21 NKJV)

The Lord paid the price to redeem us from our father Adam's house and gave us the terms of the espousal agreement - sixty-six letters of endearment! Because we had only the promise of what he could do for us, our first response to him was based on what he had done, and could do, for us. What we could do for him never entered our mind. It was our heart's response to being loved first. It brought us great joy, and at times, grand illusions.

During the time of our "espousal," we're responsible to keep ourselves "in the love of God," (Jude 21) and not allow ourselves to be contaminated with anything that would be displeasing to our heavenly husband. We need to keep our eye single so we'll not be drawn away by other "lovers" who would defile us.

When an adversary attempts to seduce us into sin, we need to cry out to the Lord for help, knowing that "He is able to keep you [us] from falling, and to present you [us] faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." (Jude 24)

As our relationship with his grows, and we read his "letters of endearment," we learn more about him and what he desires us to become. Inspired by his greatness and glory, we make a commitment to "live by the word." There might be times when his word seems hard, but "we're committed" and determined to remain faithful.

The reality and responsibility of our relationship takes on new meaning when we begin to understand that we're to be joined to him in full spiritual union, and we realize that he "is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and is made higher than the heavens." (Heb.7:26) As that glorious truth settles into our consciousness, we realize that if we're to come into union with him, our nature must be compatible with his.

But the Lord wants us to go beyond the level of commitment that is based solely on obedience to his word and come into the spirit of the terms of our espousal - a relationship of covenant love. He wants us to love him because of who he is, not what he has done, or can do for us. He wants us to love him because he is lovely, even as he first loved us when we were unlovely.

Covenant love is still obedience to our commitment - but it is more than obedience. When we first committed ourselves to him, it was an act of faith. In this dimension of love, being obedient is not something we have to remind ourselves to do - our love for him can't imagine doing anything less. It's a "though he slay me, yet will I trust him" relationship (Job 13:15) that goes beyond performance to maintain it.

It can be likened to the transition the Shulamite made from "My beloved is mine, and I am his" (Song 2:16) to "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine." (Song 6:3) At first she was enamored by her lover's attention and claimed him as her own. But as her relationship with him matured and her perspectives cleared up, she realized that her priorities were backward. Giving him the preeminence would not cause her to lack in any way, but would actually fulfill her.

Finally, when she had grown secure enough in his love, she concluded that "love is strong as death..., many waters cannot quench love, nor will rivers overflow it; if a man gave all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised." (Song 8:6-7)

Covenant love is a burning flame. It does not need a "fan" to blow on it to keep it alive - it perpetuates itself by the very heat it generates. Integrity, desire, and boundless enthusiasm are its fuels. It can only be broken by death, and even then, its inciting fragrance lingers.

Covenant love leads into a quality of life that loves just because its nature is love. It's the expression of the very nature of God. This love knows no fear nor restrictive bounds. It goes beyond past, natural, or sensual experience. It breaks the time barrier and embraces eternity.

God did not reveal the true nature of his love to his people in the Old Testament. They knew his mercy, his grace, his forgiveness, his provision, and at times, his Presence. They experienced his wrath, his judgment, and the law. Though all of these were products of his love, none revealed his true nature.

The patriarchs were admonished to love God with all their heart, soul, and strength, but discovered their attempts to do so were miserable failures. Then, wanting to cover their inability to love him, they became religious legalists, thinking that their performance would appease him. This too proved to be a futile effort.

At the appointed time, the Lord determined to reveal the true essence of his nature. He knew that if mankind was ever to understand his true characteristic, he would need to demonstrate it. So, through the birth and life of Jesus, he broke through the separating veil and revealed himself as agape love.

"And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (Jn.1:14)

In that indescribable and glorious moment of time, "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy!" (Job 38:7) Mercy and truth met together while righteousness and peace kissed each other! (Psa.85:10) The perplexing agony in men's hearts was about to be presented with an eternal remedy.

Although man did not realize the essence of God's nature was love until Jesus came, everything God did since Adam's transgression was an attempt to get man's attention away from his own futility and upon himself. He wants to do us good. His wrath and judgment against sin is really his love in action against defilement. If he did not purge sin, sin would ultimately contaminate the entire universe with its leaven.

God cannot come into union with anything or anyone that is not of the same holy and eternal nature he is. He can create something contrary to his nature - "I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things" (Isa.45:7 NKJV) - but he cannot become "one" with it. Therefore, if he is to consummate the marriage union with us and bring forth life after his kind, we must become perfectly compatible with his nature.

When the Lord demonstrated his love to us, Jesus emptied himself of the glory he'd known and became as we were. Now, if we're to come into perfect union with him, we must demonstrate our love for him by emptying ourselves of every stain of sin and become as he is.

He does not expect us to strain and "perform" our way into his favor - for that is utterly impossible. All we need "do" is abandon ourselves to his love and allow it to change our priorities. As our priorities change, and our passion to know him increases, everything contrary to the perfect bond of love is purged and reduced to insignificance and ashes.

Living in the Spirit is the means of perfecting the love of God in us. This is so because, "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 Jn.4:16) The perfecting process begins with obedience to his word and continues until any thought of disobedience is purged out of us. (1 Jn.2:5) As this takes place, our only desire is to love and serve him, not because of what he can do for us, but because of who he is.

When God's love has been perfected in us, that is, when it has come forth in a full and consistent expression, we'll walk as a revelation of that love in the same way Jesus walked. While he was here in his earthly ministry, he "went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." (Acts 10:38)

What is the main characteristic of perfect love? Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (Jn.15:13) If there is no greater love than laying down your life for others, then such love is perfect, and nothing can be added to it.

But what does perfect love look like in a practical sense? Again Jesus gave us the answer: "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

"For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

"And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Mt.5:43-48NKJV)

God gives us an example of his unbiased and unselfish love by sending the sun and rain to all people, regardless whether or not they acknowledge that this necessary provision comes from him. This gives us the principle of life his sons will also live by.

The sons of God will demonstrate a quality of life that leaves precedent and natural reasoning behind. They will express the same nature their heavenly Father expresses - pure agape love. Because this dimension of love is free from all, it can be the servant to all.

Paul and Peter both spoke of such love when they said, "being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat." (1 Cor.4:12-13)

And then, "For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable with God.

"For to this were you called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:... Who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously." (1 Pet.2:19-23 NKJV)

Such is love that requires no motivation or reward. The need for recognition or past experience is beneath its dignity. It requires no conditions nor commitments to it. This is love that asks nothing for itself - it is self existent by its nature: A nature that springs from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. The only need it has is to keep loving. It is the perfection of agape love.

Having seen some of the glorious heights and depths of agape love, we must ask ourselves a question. If such a degree of love is the purpose of our instruction, how shall we come to it?

The Lord will bring us to the goal as we continue to yield ourselves to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. As we allow the plumb line of his word to reveal the quality of life he desires for us, and commit ourselves to it, he'll work in us both to will and to do his good pleasure. (Phil. 2:13)

The Lord inspires us as he reveals his love for us, in spite of the circumstances we might encounter. As we remain faithful to him in the test before us, we're being made partakers of his divine nature.

This might seem like an over-simplification, but it really is true. The only "work" we need do is believe in him who came to reveal the love of God, (Jn.6:26-29) and remain true to our first love. If you find that your priorities are slipping and you are leaving that first love, repent, and do the first works again. The Lord has promised to meet you there if you really want to now him.

Tradition tells us that during the last days of his earthly life, the aged Apostle John was asked to address the church at Ephesus once more before he died. Being quite frail, he was carried into the assembly by faithful attendants. At the appropriate time, he propped himself up on one elbow to speak. As every ear strained to hear his last remarks, this is what they heard. "Little children, love one another." That was the full extent of his final message!

When his attendants asked him later why that was all he said, the gist of his response was, "When we love one another, the sum of all the Master told us will have been accomplished!"

"For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." (1Jn.3:11,14)

When this is our testimony, we will have reached the goal of our instruction and can boldly declare, "let us be glad and rejoice, and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." (Rev. 19:7-8 NKJV)

In the light of such a glorious and holy calling, "may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ." (2 Thess.3:5 NKJV)