Re: Peter was saved but...

We do not have Agape Love. We lost it at the fall, we must get it back, the way to get it back is by walking the narrow way to find life which is Jesus Christ.
This is so very simple yet people trip all over it.

AGAPAO and the corresponding noun AGAPE PRESENT "the characteristic word of Christianity, and since the Spirit of revelation has used it to EXPRESS IDEAS PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN, inquiry into its use, whether in Greek literature or in the Septuagint, throws BUT LITTLE LIGHT UPON IT'S DISTINCTIVE MEANING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT...."

I would like to stop right there, for this statement is more profound than most realize Agape love was UNKNOWN
PRIOR TO CHRIST. There is no corresponding word in the Old Testament. It is UNKNOWN because CHRIST CAME TO REVEAL IT. The life of Jesus Christ REVEALS THE NATURE OF AGAPE LOVE. The life of Christ REVEALS WHAT AGAPE LOVE IS. Prior to Christ the created nature of man was locked in the distant past, an unknown, a mystery. Christ came to show us ABOUT THE MYSTERY. The Old Testament was merely a TESTIMONY OF THE AGAPE LOVE OF GOD. Christ came as PERSONIFIED AGAPE LOVE. Christ was the actual and literal SPIRIT OF AGAPE LOVE IN THE FLESH, BORN OF A WOMAN TO BE A SON OF MAN, BORN OF A VIRGIN TO BE THE SON OF GOD. THE VERY NATURE OF CHRIST, HIS VERY ESSENCE, THE FIBERS OF HIS BEING WERE PURE AGAPE LOVE.

Agape love is indeed a DISTINCTIVE TYPE OF LOVE and by and large expositors IGNORE THIS RADICAL DISTINCTION. Christ was a RADICAL and His distinction lies in HIS ESSENCE: PURE AGAPE LOVE. Scripture proves MANKIND KNOWS NOTHING WHATEVER ABOUT THIS FORM OF
AGAPE LOVE. Man has a form of agape love, but that form is nothing more than a sub-definition of his PHILEO LOVE, HIS NATURAL LOVE. We will learn about phileo love later. We will now continue:

"AGAPE and AGAPAO are used in the NT (a) to describe the attidude of God toward His Son, John 17:26; the human race, generally, John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; and to such as believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, particularly, John 14:21. (b) to convey His will towards His children concerning their attitude one toward another, John 13:34, and toward all men. 1 Thess. 3:12; 1 Cor. 16:14, 2 Peter 1:7. (c) to EXPRESS THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF GOD. 1 John 4:8

Love can be known only from the ACTION IT PROMPTS. God's love is seen in the gift of His Son. 1 John 4:9-10. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it is not drawn out by any excellency of its objects Rom. 5:8. It was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that WHICH LIES IN THE NATURE OF GOD HIMSELF. Deut 7:7,8.

Love had it's perfect expression among men IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2 Cor. 5:14; 5:3; Eph. 2:4; 3:19; 5:2. CHRISTIAN LOVE IS THE FRUIT OF HIS SPIRIT IN THE CHRISTIAN. Gal. 5:22.

Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself FIRST OF ALL IN IMPLICIT OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDMENTS. John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10; 1 John 2:5; 5:3, 2 John 6.

Christian love, whether exercised towards the bretren, or towards men generally, IS NOT AN IMPULSE FROM THE FEELINGS, IT DOES NOT ALWAYS RUN WITH THE NATURAL INCLINATIONS, NOR DOES IT SPEND ITSELF ONLY UPON THOSE FOR WHOM SOME AFINITY IS DISCOVERED. LOVE SEEKS THE WELFARE FO ALL. Rom. 15:2, and WORKS NO ILL TO ANY, 1 Cor. 13:8-10. LOVE SEEKS OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOOD TO ALL MEN AND ESPECIALLY TOWARD THEM THAT ARE OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF THE FAITH, Gal. 6:10, See further 1 Cor. 13 and Col. 3:12-14.

In respect of AGAPAO as used of God, it expresses the DEEP AND CONSTANT LOVE AND INTEREST OF A PERFECT BEING TOWARDS ENTIRELY UNWORTHY OBJECTS, producing and fostering a reverential love in them towards the Giver, and a practical love, towards those who are PARTAKERS OF THE SAME, and a desire to help others to SEEK THE GIVER."

This is probably the best book definition you will find on the actual FACTS, concerning AGAPE LOVE. IT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF LOVE IN THE UNIVERSE. IT IS ALSO NOT EMOTIONAL, IN THE SENSE THAT WE VIEW PHILEO LOVE. IT IS FAR DEEPER, ALIEN TO THE HUMAN CONDITION. Mankind, in his fallen natural state DOES NOT POSSES THIS DIVINE TYPE OF AGAPE LOVE. It is not that man does have a FORM OF AGAPE LOVE, but that form is perverted, and twisted, and thus MAN'S AGAPE LOVE IS FEIGNED LOVE. AN UNTRUE LOVE. The religious of the world attempt to MANUFACTURE A FORM OF AGAPE LOVE WITHOUT GOING TO THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST TO GET IT.

There is no question that AGAPE LOVE IS THE KEY TO SALVATION. It will be proven so in this series with hundreds of verses of Scripture. To be regenerated, we MUST BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE AGAPE LOVE, and we MUST ENTER THE STRAIT GATE AND WALK THE NARROW WAY TO OBTAIN IT.




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