Associate and youth pastor
Taylorville Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa
What is love? A kid might say he “loves” pizza. A man might say he “loves” his wife. People say they “love” Alabama or Auburn football. One word — many uses. Certainly what is meant by “love” of pizza is not the same as “love” of one’s spouse. The English language uses one word to describe many different facets of the emotion described in the word.
Ancient Greek used four different words for “love.” There was a word for romantic love, brotherly love and a general empathy type of love. But one word usage stood out — “agápe.” This word is best defined as unconditional love. It is love that demands nothing in return. Even when wronged, agápe continues undeterred. This type of love never gives up, will never fail and will never change.
This type of love is almost impossible for human beings. We will almost always demand something in return for our love. There must be something in the other person that causes us to love. Even when we are capable of a moment of this unconditional, unmerited love it is difficult for us to maintain.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Unconditional, unmerited love looks like this. God Almighty looks on helpless, dirty, sinful mankind. Mankind who constantly defies Him, denies Him, tries to defile His name. Mankind who has absolutely nothing to offer the Sovereign, Creator God. Nevertheless God looks down on them with a love so strong that He sends His Son, Jesus, to die in their place. To die the death they deserved so that they might live. God watched from heaven as Jesus was crucified, paying the price for mankind’s sin. Then on the third day Jesus rose from the grave, defeating sin and death, and offering mankind salvation through His victory.
That is love.
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