Fruit of the Spirit – Love – Galatians 5:22-23
Concepts of love
- Eros – Romantic – we should talk about this in the church, there is a healthy, Biblical view of this.
- Philia – Friends, “brothers” (Philadelphia – for those in the NE)
- Storge – Family
- Agape – Unconditional, altruistic
- Bible’s use of particularly philia and agape is much more nuanced and blurred. Need a more organic approach, and if we think about it, we know this is true.
Clearing our focus
- Luke 6:27-31 – these actions lead us to a change in attitude – we begin to care as we show love.
- Let’s not distill a version of this love into something sterile.
- The act must work its way to the heart
- It’s not a fruit otherwise – Galatians 2:22
- Let’s look at it from this angle – 1 Corinthians 13 – it’s not love if there isn’t compassion, depth.
Spirit lead
- Does not allow for self-justification – Luke 10:25-37 – point – everyone is our neighbor, everyone is our responsibility
- It must communicate something to the world, the world can understand – even with its imperfect understanding of love, what we are doing should resonate deeply with the lost – John 13:35
- Must come deep from within – 1 Peter 1:22
- The world can imitate for a while, but the veneer wears thin over the long haul if not from the Spirit.