… and to mutual affection, love.
Summary: Peter has taken us up the mountain with him, and in today’s passage, he shows us the peak.
At the top of every mountain is something called a pinnacle. It is the point at the top where you cannot go any higher. The pinnacle is the very highest place on the mountain.
When we talk about spiritual mountains, there is only one game in town: God’s mountain. The pinnacle of God’s mountain is perfection. Interestingly, in God’s economy, perfection is seen as love.
In the Greek language, numerous words describe different types of love. They were aware of very distinct aspects of our relationships with each other, with things, and with ourselves. The Greek language is amazing in that respect.
In English, we have this one word for love; love. We love to go to the movies. We love our dog or cat. We love eating, and sometimes we love other people. All of that love is fine, but it is very vague. Using the same word for all of these different types of love leads to a kind of generalized thinking. It can be confusing.
The kind of love that Peter used for this passage is agapé. This type of love is a giving and sometimes sacrificial love.
John uses this word repeatedly in his Gospel account to describe the love of God.
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35 KJV)
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” (John 15:9 KJV)
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10 KJV)
And finally:
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 KJV)
These examples describe the goal of Christian living. Unity in Christ and in love. Agapē love. Sacrificial, caring, sharing, building up other people in love, love.
Application: As we grow in our faith, the goal of adding goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and mutual affection is love. Grow in love.
Food for Thought: How does our understanding of the word “love” affect the way we live as Christians?
If we buy the world’s definition of love, which can actually be self serving, we may miss the depth of relationship and meaning God intends for us. 1 Corinthians 13: 4 – 8a tells us what true love looks like. If our love does not resemble that description, it may not truly be love.
Thanks Rich
It is very weird to have been saved by Jesus, taste and know what real live is, and then look back at what the world calls love. The contrast is startling.
09-18-2021, How does our understanding of the word “love” affect the way we live as Christians?
We are required to humble ourselves before God and accept His life changing gift of unconditional Love for all before it will be effective believers. All gifts from God will grow to the degree we deny ourselves and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to direct our ways.
James 4:10, Matthew 11:29, Romans 8:5, 8:9-10, 8:14-17
God’s Love knows no boundries/limits.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, in order that “the world” might be saved through Him. As Jesus hung nailed to the cross, beaten to the point He was unrecognizable, stripped of His clothing, surrounded by a crowd of men men who mocked and hurled insults at Him, and left Him to die. A crowd of men looked on and verbally degraded Him as they waited to see Him die. Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, endured the pain of the cross because He loves us. His prayer was “ Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” An act of unconditional love for all mankind.
John 3:16-17, John 1:12, Romans 5:7-8, Luke 23:34, Hebrews 12:2
God’s Eternal Love is freely given to all believers:
All those who accept this forgiveness through Jesus will also receive the power of God’s love for others by the Holy Spirit. Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. This powerful work of the Spirit in our hearts is not by our works but by hearing with faith and will allow us to show the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s love to others.
Romans 5:5, Galatians 3:5, Galatians 5:22
God’s Love Glorifies Christ:
The gift of love by the Holy Spirit will glorify Christ as He guides believers into truth, and growth as we become more Christlike and will be the power of His fruit in our lives.
1 John 4:8, John 16:13-14, Galatians 5:22-23
God’s Love is to be passed on to others:
The love of of mankind is conditional, changes by situation, mood, opinion of another’s worth, or their ability to reciprocate. We who have died to sin are to live in Christ through faith. We are to let Christ be seen by His love for others. The love given to believers by the Holy Spirit is the pure, holy, love of God ,to be unconditionally given to all which includes our enemies. God’s love is patient and kind, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
John 1:29, Luke 6:27-36, I Corinthians 13:4-7, Galatians 2:20
Ron,
Your opening line provides a powerful clue to the impact of the word “Love.” If we understand what God’s love means and what it cost, as you have outlined above, if we humble ourselves before God and accept his love, our lives are changed. Totally changed and made new.
Hi Jeff
Well Jesus certainly was and is the cause and effect that has affected the way I live that’s for sure,..
If it wasn’t for the love of Jesus,..it’s easy to say that I would be on a highway to hell,..but because of His great love for me,.. I am on a stairway to heaven and it’s already been bought and paid for,..don’t think I will have to put any effort into climbing the stairs either,..
Through the love of Jesus HE has given us a free gift called salvation,..I have found His word to be a living revelation,..if I apply His word to my life,..I get to live in His love and His love shines forth for others to see and come to know for themselves,..it certainly is a love like no other,..and my perspective with the word love has broadened in my life,..as it should with Jesus in my life,..or anyone else for that matter,..
Thank you, John!
Beautiful testimony about our Lord’s love for us.