The Greek words expressing love:
“agape” in Scripture means the deepest, God-wrought love. It is holy, pure, selfless love that sacrifices itself for others.
“phileo” means affection, for example deep sympathetic love directed toward relatives and friends.
“eros,” which means erotic love between a man and a woman.
Jesus asked Peter, “Lovest thou me?” He used the word “agapē.” Peter answered, “thou knowest that I love thee,” using the word “phileō.”
Jesus asked the same question twice using the word “agapē.” The third time Jesus came down to Peter’s level, asking the same question using the word “phileō.” John 21:15–17.
The New Covenant in the blood of Jesus is written on the fleshly tables of our hearts by the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:3,6 (KJV). “ A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Ezek. 36:26–27 (KJV). / “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil. 2:13 (KJV).
This is the content of the Covenant of Life for those who have come to faith: “because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Rom. 5:5. Now we no longer desire to act against the will of God. Why? Because love “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” 1 Cor. 13:6. This means that the love received from God within us always and in everything seeks that which is holy and according to God’s will revealed in the teachings of Scripture. Love and truth absolutely belong together.
LOVE IS THE IDENTIFYING MARK.
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34–35. The covenant of the law given through Moses was replaced at the cross by the covenant of grace.
“This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. ” Luke 22:20. The way into “the holiest” was opened by the blood of Jesus. Heb. 10:19.
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17. “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things…” Heb. 10:1. The New Covenant brought forth the true essence of the requirements. “It is finished!” John 19:30. Gal. 4:4–11. Heb. 7:18–19. 8:13. 9:10. 10:19 (READ) . The old covenant was temporary. Gal. 3:19,27. Hebrews 10:9. 2 Corinthians 3:11. The New Covenant endures forever! Matt. 24:35.
““Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Rom. 13:8–10 (KJV). Jesus “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” Col. 2:14 (KJV). Eph. 2:14–22. 1 Pet. 1:25.
It was the law of commandments engraved in stones with its ordinances, which was “the ministration of death” and “the ministration of condemnation.” 2 Cor. 3:7,9. On the cross therefore the law of the Ten Commandments engraved in stones, with all its ordinances, feast days, ceremonies and ritual forms was fulfilled. It was nailed to the cross, to the perfect substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus, which opened to us the fountain of God’s love.
“We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him….” 1 John 3:23–24.
The new commandment is therefore to walk in fellowship with God, in the commandment of love! Mark 12:28–34.
Weijo Lindroos
From the congregation of God in Turku.
Jeesus pelastaa 