Introduction: As I said this morning, Bible love is a wonderful and delightful subject! Though it is one of the most notable subjects in the Bible, it perhaps is also one of the most misunderstood. Most equate love with feeling, but love is not just feeling. Being loved brings a good feeling, but love itself goes far deeper than feeling. Sometimes, Bible love has to be stern. Sometimes, it has to "lay down the law." Sometimes, love is gentle; and sometimes, love is very, very tough.
Love is so important, it is the first in a list of fruits the Holy Spirit produces in our lives, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness..." (Galatians 5:22) Word order is very important in the study of God's Word. The very first thing the Holy Spirit desires to produce in the lives of believers is agape love. By its definition, agape love is unselfish, and 1 Corinthians 13 reveals to us what it means to be unselfish in our love. We also find that this agape love is the greatest of all the gifts. 1 Corinthians 12-14 are chapters that deal with the gifts of God. 1 Corinthians 13:13 makes a plain statement, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." In other words, no matter what your gift, if it is not motivated by God's gift of love, then it is empty and worthless.
We also find that Jesus made one of the most important statements ever made about agape love, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35) Notice with me that Jesus did not say, "By this shall all men know that ye are born again." He said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples." A disciple is one who goes beyond being simply a believer. The word "disciple" literally means "a learner or a disciplined one." Jesus told His disciples that the rest of the world would know they were learners concerning the things of Christ if they had agape love among themselves. ** The life you live reveals whose student you are!
* A person gets saved when he trusts Christ as his Saviour, but he does not become a true disciple until he decides to be a learner and follower of Christ and His teachings. Are you a disciple or just a believer?
1 Corinthians 13 lists for us the characteristics of agape love:
1. Agape love gives real worth to work.
2. Agape love suffers long and doesn't quit when the trials come.
3. Agape love is kind, which means it's pleasant and desirable.
4. Agape love does not envy or desire the same thing another has.
5. Agape love does not vaunt itself, which means it is not boastful.
6. Agape love is not puffed up; meaning, Bible love is not proud.
7. Agape love does not behave itself unseemly, that is shamefully toward others.
8. Agape love does not seek her own, is not self-seeking.
9. Agape love is not easily provoked, is long-fused.
10. Agape love thinketh no evil, does not keep a list of wrong-doings.
This brings us to the next two characteristics of agape love:
11. Real love rejoiceth not in iniquity. - 1 Corinthians 13:6
"Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth."
- Literally, agape has no delight or joy in hearing an evil report.
- Personally, I am not sure why God even included this in the list of agape love characteristics. Why? I can't imagine a Christian actually rejoicing when iniquity happens.* Rejoice (1) = To rejoice, be glad, to rejoice exceedingly.
* Iniquity = This same word is translated as "unrighteousness" 16 times, "iniquity" 6 times, "unjust" twice, and "wrong" once, for a total of 25 times throughout the New Testament. It describes the injustice of a judge, unrighteousness of heart and life, a deed violating law and justice, and an act of unrighteousness.- Iniquity is crookedness and a deviation from the truth. It is a departure from what is right. How could one, who names the name of Jesus, be glad at the appearance of iniquity?
- Do you rejoice when someone falls; do you frown when another receives God's sweet blessing? This reminds me of Jonah's anger when the people of Nineveh repented. He was angered when they did what God wanted them to do.
- What real agape love does is rejoice in the truth!* Rejoice (2) = To rejoice with, take part in another's joy, to rejoice together, to congratulate.
- Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
- A Christian, with true agape love, rejoices with the truth. In this verse, "truth" is personified. The Christian, with agape love, rejoices when truth wins.
- Notice 1 Corinthians 12:26, "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it." (1 Corinthians 12:26) When one of us hurts, all of us hurt. When one of us suffers, all of us suffer. When one of us is honored, all of us are honored. There is far too much envy and jealousy among God's people.
10. Real love beareth all things. - 1 Corinthians 13:7
"Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
- Literally, the Christian, with agape love, does not use his privileges to the detriment of others or the work whereunto he is called.
* Beareth = to forebear, that is, in this case, to cover over, to hold off, to conceal.
- 1 Corinthians 9:12 uses the same word, "If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ."
- Let me read what Paul said might hinder the work of God, "Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void." (1 Corinthians 9:1-15)
- The Christian, with real agape love, does not abuse the authority God has graciously granted him. He does not take advantage of his office. He does not lord over those whom he serves.
- You don't have to always have it your way. You don't have to always be first. You don't have to always be the leader.
- Dr. John R. Rice would rarely, if ever, take the front seat when being driven from one place to another. He would go for the back seat first.
- My grandma, Ma Ma Parton, was one of the finest cooks in Tennessee. Ma Ma Parton, would get up early and start cooking breakfast for all the family. When the breakfast dishes were done, she was preparing for the noon meal. When those dishes were done, there were other household chores that were attended to. The evening meal was just as big of an event as were the other meals. She did her work and did it well!
- She would fry chicken! I remember all of us sitting at the table eating the chicken she had been preparing since mid-afternoon. I remember her sitting on a stool eating the neck and back. I don't think I ever saw her eat a leg, wing, or thigh. She never ate the chicken breast.
- I asked her one day why she was gnawing on that chicken neck. She said it was her favorite part of the chicken. She wasn't a good liar, but I did not know that then.
- She deserved better but chose lesser. She caught it, killed it, plucked it, cleaned it, prepared it, and fried it. She had every right to the best part of the chicken, but she chose the neck and back every time. This was her way. This was a Christian example of bearing all things. By the way, she NEVER complained. She had agape love for her family.
Conclusion: Now, we have learned that real Bible agape love does not rejoice over iniquity but rejoices when truth wins. We have also learned that real Bible agape love doesn't over-exert its God-given authority. It forebears and gives way to others while covering up its authority so as not to take advantage of people and hurt the testimony of the Lord. Are you practicing this kind of Bible love?