In our last study, we saw how much we need love:
- Not one of us on our own has what the New Testament says is the real thing.
- What we have in common with everybody (even the heathen) is the natural endowment of eros-the love that loves others because they are nice to us, or because they are beautiful, or valuable to us.
- When the Bible says that "God is love," it says "God is agape." This kind of love loves the unlovable, even enemies. That's something beyond us unless we get help!
- The Bible says that unless we have agape, even if we can speak with "the tongues of angels," we are nothing but beating a gong. If we "understand all mysteries," and even have all faith so that we could remove mountains, and have not agape, we are nothing. We can even give everything to feed the poor, and give our bodies to be burned, yet it "pronteth ... nothing" without this wonderful gift of agape.
- The common denominator of all humans is fear, but it is cast out by agape. This immediately lights up something within us that tells us: not one of us as yet has too much agape!
- Our common love, eros, is dependent on the beauty or goodness of its object. Agape is a love which is free, and independent, and therefore it can love bad people, even enemies.
- Eros is a love that rests on a sense of need. Agape, on the other hand, is so rich that it has no need, and loves with no thought or desire for reward of any kind. What a treasure! It makes life worth living!
Can We Be Happy Without Agape-Love?
1. Even though agape is not natural to us, is it possible for us to receive it? John 13:34.
ANSWER: "A new commandment I give __________, __________ __________ __________ __________ __________; as I __________ __________ __________."
2. When will the world finally recognize God's true people? John 13:35.
ANSWER: "By this shall __________ __________ __________ that ye are my disciples, if ye __________ __________ __________ __________ __________."
3. List several of the seven characteristics of agape that you feel you need especially. (See those listed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.)
YOUR LIST: ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________.
4. If one follows Christ because of an appreciation of His agape-love rather than from selfish fear or hope of reward, do you think he will ever fall away? Compare 1 Corinthians 13:8 with John 10:27-29.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________.
It is not the fear of punishment, or the hope of everlasting reward, that leads the disciples of Christ to follow Him. They see the Saviour's matchless love revealed all His life, and the sight of Him attracts. Its oftens and subdues the soul. Love awakens in the hearts of the ones who look. They hear His voice, and they follow Him.
More Contrasts Between Agape and Eros
5. Eros is a love that seeks after God. This is the foundation of most religions. This is why shrines and temples have been built. Eros is a noble search. But agape is the opposite: it is not man seeking after God but God seeking after man.
Read Luke 19:10, and fill in the blanks: "For the Son of Man is come __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________.
6. When we think of God's love as eros, we see Him playing "hide and seek" with us, making Himself difficult to find. That makes it hard work to search Him out, and we are never sure we are successful. In contrast, how near has God come to every one of us? Acts 17:27; John 1:9.
ANSWER: He is "not __________ from __________ __________ __________ __________." He is "the true Light, that __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ into the world."
How near is the Lord to you? How earnestly is He seeking you? He is as near as this "word of faith" which this lesson proclaims to you right now! Through this word He has already found you. He is knocking on your door at this moment (see Revelation 3:20).