For The Love of Jesus: His Love Is Explosive

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For The Love of Jesus: His Love Is Explosive

Gospel Meeting Lecture: Westside Church of Christ, San Mateo, CA

9/10/04

Dr. Ammar Saheli, Evangelist

Biblical Text: John 14:14-21

The complete essence of Christianity is centered upon love. It is love that was and is directed by God to His children, and it is love that must be rendered and issued back to God and humanity by the church. The Christian only loves God because He first loved the Christian (1 John 4:19). The love of God is so supreme that while we were sinners Christ died for our sins (Romans 5:8). God is love (1 John 4:8). Paul helps the student of the Bible understand that every sacrifice imaginable can be exacted, but if love is not the motivating factor, it is futile, vain, and profits nil (1 Corinthians 13:3). John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. 1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

The only way a person can learn to love is through close examination of God’s love methodology and system. Three Greek words help us understand God’s magnificent system of love: Agape, Agapao, and Agapetos. In these three words is found the disposition of love, love in action, and the beneficial subjects of God’s love.

Agape represents the true essence of who God is and what all Christians strive to become. Agape is the pristine internal disposition of the heart. It is the psychological state of being just and holy despite attack, slander, or harm. The disposition of Agape love what allowed God to offer His Son as a sacrifice for an undeserving people. The general definition of Agape love/charity is the unconditional provision of what is needed as opposed to what is simply desired. God is Agape, but the Christian to simply possess a form of unconditional love is not fulfilling God’s law. Agape love is what allows love to transcend from internal stillness into outward praxis.

Agapao is love in action. A husband can only tell his wife he loves her so many times before she fosters the desire and need to see, visualize, and experience it in action. The statement, “I love you” can gain some mileage, but some flowers, sweet kisses and whispers, gifts, foot massages, and vacations can manifest internal love as outward love. God is love, but He put His love into action when He sent His Son to die on the cross for the sins of the world.

The awesome fulfillment of God’s love methodology is reveled in the end result. The subject of God’s Agape love manifested in action becomes the beloved (Agapetos). The Christian men and women of the world have become the beloved of God.

Scripturally, Agape, unconditional love is revealed in (1 John 2:15) while Agapao is illustrated in (Luke 6:27-28). Finally, an example of Agapetos, the subjects of Gods’s love, the beloved, is found in (Mark 1:11; Mark 9:7).

With a clear understanding of God’s love and that which is expected of the Christian, self-examination must begin. All that the Christian does must be enacted because of the love of Jesus. In our text (John 14:15) Jesus spoke with progressive language. Simply put, “If you love me keep my commandments” inherently assumes that the child of God is in the process of loving God because they are keeping His mandates. The Word of Jesus is that if we love Him, we are keeping His commandments. The words of Christ were not written with the negligent in mind but the obedient. Therefore, because God judges the heart (Proverbs 23:7), the primary motivation for every Christian act must be generated from the love of Jesus. Christians are able to act out the principles provided in Luke 6:27-36 because of the love of Christ. Because of the love of Christ for His Father He was able to travel to and suffer upon the cross (John 14:10-11).

1. The apostle Paul went from Judaism to Christianity because of the love of Jesus.

2. Paul confronted the bigotry of Peter because of the love of Jesus.

3. The church at Corinth corrected their sexual immorality because of the love of Jesus.

4. Three thousand souls put Christ on in baptism because of the love of Jesus.

5. Those of Berea searched the scriptures daily because of the love of Jesus.

6. The apostle Paul refused to get married because of the love of Jesus.

7. The church at Rome believed from the heart because of the love of Jesus.

8. The blind were made to see because of the love of Jesus.

9. The cripple were made to walk because of the love of Jesus.

10. The diseased were made whole because of the love of Jesus.

11. Through His stripes we are healed because of the love of Jesus.

12. The dead were resurrected because of the love of Jesus.

13. Paul took care of Philemon’s servant because of the love of Jesus.

14. The woman caught in adultery was forgiven because of the love of Jesus.

15. The world was created because of the love of Jesus.

16. People are called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light because of the love of Jesus.

17. Prayer is available because of the love of Jesus.

18. The ability to worship God is a blessing because of the love of Jesus.

19. Forgiveness and redemption is available because of the love of Jesus.

20. The blood of Christ can cleanse all sin because of his explosive love for humanity.

God forever sits on His throne seeking to unleash His love. The question remains, is the love of Christ enough for you to serve and dedicate your life to Him? He loves you, but will you love Him in return by keeping His commandments?