What is the opposite of biblical agape love? __ Hate? No, hate is the opposite of emotional love. Biblical love is not a feeling orientated love. The opposite of biblical love is selfishness. Remember, agape love is the sacrificial giving of one’s self to meet the needs of another expecting nothing in return. Since biblical love is not a feeling, that is the reason God can command us to love. Love is a choice.

Transition

In John’s short note to Kuria and her children, he reminds them of God’s command to love one another. We too may benefit from what God told John to write.

John’s Request, v.5

  1. He worded his message as a request
    1. John besought Kuria. The word “beseech” means to beg or to request. John was an old man and a spiritual elder. He could have simply made a demand, but this was a kinder and gentler approach.
    2. Though John’s request is a bit different, it reminds me of the wise statement, “Questions stir the conscience, accusations harden the heart.”
    3. The way we approach counselling situations makes a big difference. Kindness goes a long way. This is true when we are talking with our spouse, when we are dealing with our children, and it is also true when we work with other people.
    4. Solomon’s words also apply to situations like this. (Proverbs 15:1) “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
  2. His request was Christ’s command
    1. He reminded Kuria that he was not writing a new commandment. It was not recently made. It had been around for 50-60 years, since the time of Christ.
    2. The command was to love one another. This command originated with Christ. (John 13:34) “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
    3. This command that originated with Christ was that Christians love one another. The grammar in this phrase tells us that we should continually love one another. Present, Active, Subjunctive The subjunctive mood describes an action that is uncertain but probable. It is possible if the conditions are met; in this case if we choose to obey.
    4. John was emphasizing Christian brotherly love because he was going to warn about a problem that sounds unloving (v.7-10). Jesus’ command to love one another was a love between genuine Christians.

John’s Reminder, v.6

  1. He defined the love
    1. He begins verse 6 saying “And this is the love”. The love for one another that he just mentioned involves more than just being nice to others. It actually involves walking after Christ’s commandments. Was he talking about all of Christ’s commandments or specifically commandments that related to relationships? It is difficult to say for sure.
    2. Let’s look at some of the commands Christ gave.
      1. He commanded that we love God first and love our brother as ourselves. (Mark 12:30-31) “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
      2. Jesus commanded us to treat others as we want to be treated. (Matthew 7:12) “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
      3. He commanded believers to love one another (John 15:17) “These things I command you, that ye love one another.”
      4. He commanded that we love others as He loved us (John 15:12) “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” Christ’s love was sacrificial. He left heaven and became a human on earth. He cared for the needs of others. He taught others how to live godly. He suffered and died on the cross of others. He rose again to give us life. His love was VERY sacrificial. (2 Corinthians 8:9) “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
      5. His Word commanded husbands to love their wives as He loved them. (Ephesians 5:25) “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
      6. His Word commands that we are to be kind and forgiving. (Ephesians 4:32) ”And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
      7. Christ commanded believers to let their light shine (Mt 5:16) and to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Mr 16:15).
      8. In reality, every command in the Bible that applies to Christians is a command from Christ, but here he seems to be referring to Christ’s commands about love.
  2. He applied love
    1. He said that true love is walking in Christ’s commandments. The grammar in this phrase tells us that we should continually walk according to His commandments. Present, Active, Subjunctive This is possible if we know the Lord as our Saviour and submit to Him.
    2. The word “walking” refers to putting it into action. It is fleshing it out in our daily lives. It is doing it. (1 John 3:18) “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” His commandments ought to govern the way we conduct our lives.
    3. Remember, love is “giving of ourselves to meet the needs of another expecting nothing in return.” Our problem is not the definition but the application. We struggle to walk in Christ’s command to love one another.
      1. We may say that we love Christ, but if we are not selfless enough to obey His commands, we do not show that we truly love Him.
      2. It is one thing to talk about loving our spouse. It is quite another to selflessly seek to meet the needs of our spouse.
      3. We can say we love our fellow Christian but if our actions are unkind and selfish, we are not obeying the command.
    4. To love one another, we need God’s help. Love is a fruit of the Spirit. As we flee temptation and allow the Holy Spirit to lead our lives, He will enable us to love biblically.

John’s Repetition

  1. He repeated the origin of the commandment
    1. John said, “as ye have heard from the beginning”. Christ was the authority behind the command. He commanded us to love one another as He loves us.
    2. The command has not changed. It is still the same as it was in the beginning. From the beginning, Jesus wanted Christians to love each other as He loved them. That desire had not changed late in the 1st century and it is still true today in the 21st century.
  2. He repeated the duty of the command
    1. He said, “ye should walk in it.” The grammar in this phrase tells us that we should continually walk in Christ’s commandment. Present, Active, Subjunctive John was saying to Kuria, you need to love fellow Christians continually like Christ commanded.
    2. We might wonder why John said the same thing again. It is probably to get it to sink in better. As the saying goes, “Repetition is the key to learning.”

Conclusion

As Christians, God expects us to be loving toward other Christians, not selfish. We are to sacrifice to meet their needs. We are to put others ahead of ourselves. Biblical love is against our nature. To love biblically, we need the Holy Spirit’s help. If you are selfish and struggle to love biblically, draw close to the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit of love in your life.

Song: More Like the Master – 325
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Love One Another
19 June 2016 PM – 2 John 1:5-6 – 2Jn 2016 – Scott Childs