The Golden Key

23Nov, 2016

The Agape Principle is a golden key that unlocks harmonious relationships, produces genuine unity, and results in eternal joy. In the midst of the chaos, confusion, hatred, pain, and tears that mark our present age, the Agape Principle is sometimes manifested in isolated acts of care and kindness performed by people of compassion and bravery.
 
There is no act of love (agape) in the past, present, or future that compares with the love (agape) of God revealed in and through our Lord, Jesus Christ. 1 John 4:10 says it all: “In this is agape (love), not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Agape is a love which chooses its object with decision of will so that it becomes self-denying or compassionate devotion to and for the same. It possesses three dominant characteristics:

  • it is volitional (it is an act of the will)
  • it is sacrificial (it often comes with significant personal sacrifice)
  • it is compassionate (even though it is an act of the will, it feels deeply and tenderly cares)

Our Lord, Jesus Christ said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”  (John 15:12)
 
Pastor Rick reminds us that we must all “love like Jesus.”

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