Sermon ByThulane: The Nature of Divine Love
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, tonight I stand before you to explore a profound concept—Agape, the Greek word for God’s unconditional love, in contrast to Phileo, the Greek word for brotherly or fraternal love. To gain a deeper understanding of God’s love, let us turn our hearts and minds to the book of Genesis, specifically Genesis 1:26b, where it is written, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’”
This scripture reveals to us the remarkable truth of our creation in God’s own image. Because we are made in His likeness, God’s love for us is supernatural, incomparable, and boundless. Without this divine love, it is impossible for us to express meaningful love—Phileo—to one another. Today, my intention is to focus on the God of love, so that we may achieve the ultimate purpose of this teaching.
Have you ever asked yourself why God chose to deliver the children of Israel from Pharaoh after 430 long years of oppression? It is because of the unconditional love He has for them, as they are made in His image and are His chosen nation. God is committed to His people, and His love is the foundation of that commitment.
Consider this: God created the entire value chain of the Levitical priesthood with the singular purpose of saving humanity from sin. This was an act of unconditional love for His creation, a love rooted in the very fact that we are created in His own image. Outside of God’s love, it becomes impossible to express genuine love to one another.
Let us further reflect on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Beloved, God gave us His only Son for the remission of our sins. In turn, His Son bestowed upon us the Helper—the Holy Spirit, or Paraklete—who produces divine love within us as one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Indeed, God has great expectations for us to love Him, for we are reminded, “We love because He first loved us.” Jesus assures us in John 14:21, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” So, beloved, what are the commandments that He calls us to follow? They include forgiveness, giving, prayer, fasting, and loving one another.
Finally, let us reflect on the encounter between Peter and Jesus as recorded in John 21:15-17. After they had finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” To which Peter answered, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Then Jesus commanded him, “Feed my lambs.” This exchange repeated twice more, and with each question, Peter affirmed his love. Yet when Jesus asked him the third time, Peter was grieved. He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus then said, “Feed my sheep.”
This scripture beautifully illustrates the distinction between Agape and Phileo. Peter expressed Phileo—brotherly love—to Jesus initially, but when asked a third time, he responded with a supernatural awareness that transcended mere friendship. “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Beloved, God expects us not only to express brotherly love but also to embody divine love—Agape—in our lives. Remember, outside of God’s love, it is impossible to express true love to one another.
May we seek to understand and live out this divine love in our daily lives, allowing it to guide our interactions with one another and with God. Amen.
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