Lesson 15 - Understanding the Love of God We have studied many details of how we as Christians walk in the spirit; Baptism of the Holy Spirit, giving into the Kingdom of God, understanding how the Gifts of the Spirit should operate in the Body of Christ, understanding the Five-Fold Ministry and how what we say determines our future. Many other topics were discussed in detail, but Lesson 15 Understanding the Love of God will be the most important and the grand finale of how we are to walk in the spirit. People can read about Gods love and even hear about Gods love, but until a person experiences Gods love in their life; it is only an idea, not a reality. One of the greatest tools used by the devil is to have something so good, so unbelievable and advertised so much that is loses its appeal, truth, value or integrity to the majority that hear a scripture like John 3:16. This breeds compliancy in people over time that intellectualizes an idea or a theme and the truth fades away with time and never becomes real in their life. Another vehicle used by satan to diminish Gods love towards us is religion. Religion comes from the Latin word religare and is defined as to tie or to bind or return to bondage. Every religion known to mankind was created by a man and his belief in a higher being or a higher power. Jesus spoke against religion and the religious people of His day because He knew the bondage it put people into by thinking they were working to get Gods approval and acceptance by their individual performance and not by receiving the love of God as a gift. o John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, we be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how says thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin. o These people were blinded by religion and the traditions of men. o Matthew 15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, honor thy father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightiest be profited by me; 6 And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus, have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; 1 Study 2018- Written & Reviewed by David & Melda Bartholdi
but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. The third reason people have a difficult time understanding how much God loves them is due to ignorance. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge Knowledge of what? Knowledge of how much God loves us. The first thing we must do is to define Love. o 1 John 4:8-9 He that loveth not, knowth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. The definition of this word love used in 1 John 4:8-9 is defined as Agape Love. Agape Love is the highest degree of love a person can know or experience. It is unconditional love, it is perfect, sacrificial and pure without motives. It is the God kind of love. The majority of people, especially many Christians do not know, nor have they ever experienced this degree of love in their life. Most people know or experience the following definitions of love. o Greek word Eros is defined as sensual or romantic. This term originates from the mythological Greek goddess of love, sensual desire, physical attraction and physical love. o Greek word Storge (stor-gay) is defined as family love, the affectionate bond that develops naturally between parents and children, and brothers and sisters. o Greek word Phileo is defined is defined as intimate love in the bible that most Christians practice towards each other. This Greek term describes the powerful emotional bond seen in deep friendships. Phileo is the most general type of love in scripture, encompassing love for fellow humans, care, respect, and compassion for people in need. It can also mean to be fond of doing something; I love to fish. To define the word love used in the following scripture, we must understand the different uses of the words Agape and Agapao. The bests illustration of the use of these two words are outlined below. o Agape is considered a noun a person, place or thing o Agapao is considered a verb- describes an action, condition or experience. 2 Study 2018- Written & Reviewed by David & Melda Bartholdi
John 21:15-17 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, love (Agapao) thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou know that I love (Phileo) thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (Agapao) thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou know that I love (Phileo) thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (Joh 21:16 KJV) 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (Phileo)thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest (Phileo)thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou know all things; thou know that I love (Phileo) thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Why was Peter using a different meaning of the word love? The same reason people use it today. They have not experienced the God kind of love yet. Matthew 5:43-46 Ye have heard that it hath been said, thou shalt love (Agapao) thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, love (Agapao) your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for HE makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and send rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love (Agapao) them which love (Agapao) you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love (Agapao) the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love (Agapao) thy neighbor as thyself. Jesus was quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 Then Jesus goes right to the heart of Love and against all religion. KJV John 15:12 This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Truth Message You cannot give away something you do not possess. These scriptures help us understand what type of love we are to love God as well as our neighbors. The Agapao love is the verb and is unconditional, always giving and pure without motives. Romans 5:5-8 And hope makes not ashamed; because the love (Agape) of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commended his love (Agape) toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 3 Study 2018- Written & Reviewed by David & Melda Bartholdi
V-7 For scarcely (with difficulty, not easy, rarely) for a righteous (of good constitution or nature, distinguished, excellent, upright) man will one die; yet peradventure (hastily, quickly, soon) for a good (a certain one) man would even dare to die. Verse 8 gets better!! But God commended (strengthen, to place together, to set in the same place, to band together, to set one with another, to put together by composition or by combination, to teach by combining or comparing, to unite parts into a whole) His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. When was this love decision made for the human race? Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: o The determinate counsel is defined as God the Father, Jesus the Son and Holy Spirit the Comforter. 1 Peter 1:19-20 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, o Hebrews 4:2-12 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limited a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 4 Study 2018- Written & Reviewed by David & Melda Bartholdi
Verse 10- For he (mankind) that is entered into His (Jesus) rest, he (mankind) also has ceased from his (mankind) own works, as God did from HIS. Truth Message Gods love and Gods rest is synonymous. When we believe and know and receive Gods love, we will enjoy peace, joy and rest that only God can provide. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love (Agape), joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. As we review these scriptures with Agape (noun) Agapao (verb) and Phileo (verb), we are able to better understand the true meaning of these words as we establish them in context of scripture. If we are honest with ourselves, most of us have never experienced the Agape or Agapao type of love until we met Jesus as our Lord & Savior. We as humans experience Phileo, Eros and Storge types of love from friends, husbands and wives and try to measure or distinguish this type of love coming from God. God s love is unconditional and it cannot be swayed by what we do or not do as it relates to the obedience to Gods word. o Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. o The name Abba Father is used in two other scriptures; Mark 14:36 (by Jesus) and Romans 8:15 (by Paul). Mark 14:35-36 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou will. o To help us understand the love God provides to us; we must see Him as Abba Father. If we see God as a distant person or even as a mean God waiting for us to do something bad so HE can punish us; we can never know God s true love for us. Remember 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. God is Love. God is not mean nor is God angry with us. 5 Study 2018- Written & Reviewed by David & Melda Bartholdi
The Holy Spirit can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30) if we are living in disobedience, God knows how hurtful sinful living can be to one of HIS children. o Truth Message Many people will try to compare or relate Abba Father to the behaviors and attitudes to our earthly fathers. There is no comparison. o Our earthly fathers can fail us and many times we are treated poorly by our earthly father, if we are disobedient to him or based on some higher expectations of his. As children we would get spankings, get screamed at and maybe even physically or emotionally abused as we received correction from our earthly parents. Many of us did not have a good earthly father, someone that loved us and care for us like we should have been loved. This experience has distorted many of our perceptions of what Abba Fathers love is like. Abba Father is nothing like our earthly father; as it relates to true Agape Love; this love is always unconditional and pure. Some may say, ok, but what about the chastisement of the Lord? Great question. If we really love our kids or family member or friends, would we not apply correction or instruction to those we love? If we see someone heading for destruction and we know they could be hurt; would we try and warn them of the impending doom? KJV Proverbs 23:12-14 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. 13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. This scripture is clear our children may need discipline from time to time, but if the love of God is given to our children as God loves us; physical correction will be few and far between. KJV 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraints us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: Truth Message God does not beat HIS children to keep them out of hell. He sent Jesus to keep us out of hell and teaches us how to live each and every day of our life. Hebrews 12:5-11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. 7 If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for 6 Study 2018- Written & Reviewed by David & Melda Bartholdi
what son is he whom the father chastens not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Truth Message True love will always warn, instruct, correct and exhort people we love and have compassion, just like Jesus. KJV Ezekiel 3:17-19 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore, hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die; and thou gives him not warning, nor speaks to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction (Greek word Paideia) in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. The words chasten, chastening, and chastisement comes from the Greek word Paideia and is the exact same word used in 2 Timothy 3:13 for the word instruct. o Definition of Paideia the whole training and education of children which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose, now commands and admonitions and reproof. It also includes the training and care of the body. Whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, especially correcting mistakes and curbing passions. Knowing and experiencing the love of God is a must for our success and spiritual intimate walk with Him, Jesus and Holy Spirit. 7 Study 2018- Written & Reviewed by David & Melda Bartholdi
Lesson 15 Understanding the Love of God Review 1. Is reading about and hearing about Gods love the same as experiencing the love of God in your life? 2. Another vehicle used by satan to diminish Gods love toward us is 3. Matthew 15:9 states what? 4. What does Hosea 4:6 state? 5. How does 1 John 4:8 describe God? 6. What are the four types of love discussed in this lesson. 7. What is the highest degree of love? 8. What makes Agape love so special? 9. In John 21:15-17 what is the two types of love used in these passages? 10. Did Peter understand the love of God in this discussion? 11. What does Romans 5:8 state? 12. When was this Love decision made for the human race? 13. Who made this decision? 14. Gods and Gods is synonymous. 15. Galatians 5:22 states love is a of the Spirit. 16. God s love is and it cannot be swayed by what we or not as it relates to the of God s word. 17. What does Galatians 4:6 say our hearts can cry? 18. Many people will try to compare our Heavenly Father to our 8 Study 2018- Written & Reviewed by David & Melda Bartholdi
19. What is the words chasten, chastisement, chastening definition? a. Instruct b. Correct c. Whip d. Beat 20. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes a supporting statement to the meaning of chastisement. 21. True Love will always,, and exhort people we love and have compassion for; just like Jesus 22. Knowing and experiencing the love of God is a must for our and intimate walk with Him, Jesus & Holy Spirit. 9 Study 2018- Written & Reviewed by David & Melda Bartholdi