Teach the older men to be sound … in love …
Summary: Love may be a “many splendored thing,” but it also has many different definitions. In this meditation we look at the kind of love Paul is referring to (agapē) and some examples of what he is not talking about.
Oh, dear. We have done it again! Another word in the English language that is used in place of eight or nine different Greek words. What Paul is not saying here is as important as what he is saying.
Paul is not saying that the older men should be deeply involved in romantic relationships (eros). Actually, it is quite the opposite. The Deceiver has brought down many leaders in the church by confusing romantic love with Christian love.
Paul is not saying that they should be sound in brotherly love (philadelphia), although this is not a bad thing. Romans 12:10 reads, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves,” in the NIV. The KJV of the same verse reads, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another…” So while brotherly love is good, that is not what Paul is talking about.
Paul does not mean that the older men should care for their parents and children (storge). Again, this is something Christians need to do. The fifth Commandment is, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12) So it goes without saying that Christians should love their parents and children. But Paul is talking about something else.
The kind of love Paul refers to is agapē. This kind of love is what Strong’s defines as “divine love.” Paul wants the church to love as God does, and so the leaders of the church must be sound in the same kind of love God has for us.
The Bible is essentially a book about this kind of love. Even when mankind has pushed God to the limit, God’s response is still compassionate.
Jesus often scolded the Pharisees and teachers of the law for their hard hearts. He says:
“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love (agapē) of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.” (Luke 11:42)
Later, as he hangs from the cross, beaten, bleeding, hurting beyond any measure that you or I can understand, he looks down at the people who have successfully plotted to have him killed, and he says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23: 34) That is agapē. That is the kind of love that God wants from his people.
Application: Strive to understand how God loves and emulate it.
Food for Thought: How do we reconcile God’s love (agapē) with his wrath?
This question, reconciling God’s sacrificial love, His kind, compassionate love for His creatures and creation, but most of all for those He created in His image is an ultimate question.
If we are to reconcile God’s justice, righteousness and holiness with His love and desire to show mercy,, we need to understand that God is absolutely pure, holy and righteous and cannot look the other way and ignore sin. So what did He do about it.
He sent His own beloved Son to die a terrible death on a cross of crucifixion. and bear the penalty for sin and all unrighteousness. It caused Jesus the God man to be separated from His Father for a period of time.
God Himself in the person of the God-man Jesus paid the ultimate eternal penalty for sin for mankind. He being Deity is the only one who could do this effectually.
So salvation is now a fre gift offered by God’s grace and love to anyone who will believe what Jesus did on their behalf. and receive Him as their Lord and Savior. This is God’s way of solving the problem and reconciling His need to execute wrath or judgment on sin and unrighteousness while at the same time He Himself provides the only means of escape.
This is wht the gospel is Good News. We cannot earn, or do anything by works to please God or satisfy His need for justice. We must humble ourselves and be reconciled to Him by the means which He has provided and prescribed.
Only through Jesus can we approach or be reconciled to God. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no person can come to the Father except through Me”. John 14:6,
All of men’s righteousness are as filthy rags in God’s sight ( Isaiah 64:6).
Every religion in the world has a system of works to reach or reconcile people to God, a deity, a higher consciousness or whatever. All of their founders are dead ad gone.
Not so Christianity. Our founder is ALIVE! He is resurrected from the dead and offers an eternal relationship with the Trinity to all who will accept the Salvation which the God Himself has provided. This is incomprehensible to people who think only from a humanistic perspective. But it is true. All whom the Father draws to Himself have the opportunity to receive God’s gracious gift. People should not let their pride and self will keep them from the Lord. This Salvation permits no boosting. (Ephesians 2:8-9).
This eternal question, and eternal choice has eternal consequences as well. A person either receives God’s gift and a loving relationship with Christ as Lord and Savior in this life or they are destined for external separation from God, eternal punishment. pain and suffering of horrific beyond description magnitude. The Lake of Fire is nothing to scoff at, scorn, or wish on anyone. I do not even wish to think of it.
In contrast the Blessedness of the redeemed is so wonderful that what is planned for believers has not ever even entered into the hearts or minds of anyone (Revelation 20:10, 15; Isaiah 64:4, 1 Corinthians 2: 9-10)).
This is only the most important decision or choice of this life for all eternity. May we influence and persuade as many as possible.
I only wish it would be as simple as when a little child finds Jesus and runs and is excited to tell their friends about how they can know Jesus as well. Many times their friends want to know the Savior as well. It is unfortunate that many adults are so blinded by the god of this world, Satan, that they do not have the capacity, mind, will, or heart to see or accept the Gospel. Prayer is necessary, for the veil or blindness to be removed so they may see, know, believe, and embrace the truth.
This is the great decision. Many mnay choose wisely. It matters.
Experiencing God’s love and grace is something no one should miss.
Jeff,
Good words! Well said. Thank you!
With the cross. John 3:16-18, 36; Romans 5:8, 9; 2 Peter 3:9.
Thank you, JEC!
Great verses!!
Both are characteristics of God’s nature. We are under His wrath without faith in Christ. John 3: 18, 36. As JEC says, the cross is where His love and mercy meet His wrath. Jesus took our wrath. Now we need to take Jesus.
Rich,
Nicely said! Thank you!
How do we reconcile God’s love (agapē) with his wrath?
I once had a room marked “God” in my mind. My objective was to keep everything I knew about God neatly placed in this room for my reference. As time went by I found myself continually moving the walls out to make the room bigger. This process continued until I realized God is beyond my ability to understand. He is bigger than any room I can possibly imagine. Of course He is, He is God! He is our Creator, not a created being like us. He is everywhere, knows everything, has no limits no boundaries. How can we ever hope to contain the uncontainable, who is totally beyond my understanding?
Job 10:8-9, 11:7-8, Matthew 11:27, Isaiah 44:24, 45:9, 2 Corinthians 4:7
God confined Himself in flesh, and Humbly lived a life of Obedience among us for a period of time as Jesus Christ, an example for us. He provided a way we could “see” the depth of His love, His purity, His power, His Holiness.
God is Holy and His Love and Wrath are not a contradiction, but a confirmation of His Holiness. God is Holy and will not allow one tiny speck of unholy sin to be in His presence. He hates sin as we should each hate sin. God has provided a way for all mankind to receive His power over sin, become Holy beings in His sight capable of coming to Him by His power.To reject His gift is to choose to come to Him by ones own sinful power which is impossible, because all sin will receive His wrath.
John 3:16, Romans 9:14-24, Ephesians 1:4,1 Peter 1:16, Philippians 2:6-11
Ron,
Your story, “A Room Marked God,” is something I can relate to. God is much bigger than the human mind can comprehend. Thank you! Thank you for the excellent selection of verses, too. 🙂
To all who have commented so far:
Thank you for sharing your insights today. Your perspectives on this matter are a blessing to me.