When we looked at phileo love, which cherishes and has tender affection for the loved, we learned exercising this level of love always expected a response. The illustration used was you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. The fifth level of love however is at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Of all the loves, agape, is the one you can generate immediately because it is exercised as a choice of your will and has no dependence on feelings. It is a love of action, not emotion. It focuses on what you do and say rather than on how you feel.

When teaching this lesson I draw from John 3:16-17. I misquote then correct verse 16:  “For God so loved the world that He felt good about us.”

No, God so loved the world that He went into action on our behalf:  “God so loved the world that He gave….” That is, He went into action not because we deserved, or had earned this “un-merited favor.”

John 3:17 details how and why He applied agape (love) mankind had not earned:  “For God sent no His son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Relationships and marriages possessing agape (love) can survive anything. Literally anything. It is agape that keeps relationships going when the natural loves falter and die.

Agape is one of the most exciting truths in Scripture. John 3:16 has been longed described as “The Gospel in a Nutshell.” What is more exciting to mankind than God’s Supreme Exercise of this level of love?

Agape love is plugged into an Eternal Power Source, and it continues operating when every other kind of love fails. It loves, no matter what. No matter how un-loveable the other person becomes. Scripture tells us:  “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Agape is as unconditional as God’s love for us. This level of love exists in both the Old and New Testaments.

Ahavah is the Hebrew counterpart of New Testament agape. Both words depict love from the spirit and the will, and is committed to doing the best for the beloved at all times.

 “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Matthew 19:19b KJV).”

Next time:  New Year’s Resolutions = Change