Agape means: Intentional Love. Agape is the Greek term that best expresses the Christian meaning of love. In the scriptures there are three main verbs that are translated as love. Eros, Phileo and Agapao. Eros refers to passionate love, Phileo describes love between friends and Agapao indicates loving a person by choice. It is not an emotional love, it is an intentional love, a sacrificial love.
- The greatest display of Agape was on the cross:
- But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
- Agape is God's gift to us:
- And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5)
- Agape is a commandment from God:
- Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10)
- Agape is the mark that identifies a follower of Christ:
- By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:35)
- Agape is the most important commandment in the life of the believer according to Jesus:
- 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 neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22: 37-39)
That is why everything we do and stop doing must be seen through the lens of Loving God and loving our neighbor.