“LOVE, THE FIRST FRUIT” (GAL. 5:22)

INTRODUCTION:

1. A young son thought he had been pretty good during summer vacation.

2. This young man also thought that his Mom and Dad should pay him for being good.

3. One day while Mom was at work, Johnny made up a bill.

4. He had run some errands; he thought these were worth $2.00.

5. Johnny’s general goodness, he thought, was worth $20.

6. He had taken some classes his Mom had wanted him to take; another $20.

7. Then for the “extra things” Johnny had done, he tagged on $15.

8. He wrote all of this down and came up with a $57 bill.

9. At breakfast the next day Mom found this bill by her plate.

10. She examined what her son had written but didn’t say anything.

11. The next day at breakfast there was a note by Johnny’s plate.

12. Mom had written: Johnny owes me for:

A. Nursing him through scarlet fever: nothing.

B. For being good to him: nothing.

C. For clothes, shoes, and playthings: nothing.

D. For his room and board: nothing.

E. Total: nothing

I. A MOTHER’S LOVE CAUSED A SON TO RECEIVE MANY THINGS FOR FREE. IN THE BIBLE A NUMBER OF STATEMENTS ARE MADE ABOUT LOVE.

A. One of the places where this information is found is Gal. 5.

B. When Paul spoke about the fruit of the spirit, he started off with the word “love”.

C. This is how a Christian should expect the list to begin.

D. In 1 Cor. 13, Paul said that love never fails.

(1) Faith is not forever.

(2) Hope is not forever.

(3) Earthly life is not forever.

(4) Love is forever.

E. Paul added if we do not have love, we are nothing.

F. Without love we have nothing.

G. Without love life has no true meaning.

H. In America we use the word love very loosely.

I. In the Bible the word love is specific.

(1) The word used in Gal. 5 and 1 Cor. 13 is agape.

(2) Agape love is a special kind of love.

J. Examining passages with this word in it is the best way I know to show what this love is.

K. Let’s start with Matthew 5:44.

(1) The Jews in Jesus’ day were accustomed to hearing “love your friends and hate your

enemies”.

(2) Jesus preached a different message. READ.

(3) We all know who an enemy is:

(a) It’s the bully at school;

(b) It’s the crank and thorn in the flesh at work;

(d) Maybe it’s a relative;

(e) We know someone who is very unlikable.

(4) Jesus said to love these people.

(5) Agape does not mean that we make our enemy our best friend.

(6) It does mean that we are kind to our enemies.

(7) Agape often expresses the idea of demonstrating our love for someone.

(a) This is what the mother did for her son.

(b) Time and again she demonstrated her love.

(8) Let’s say that our neighbor, who is an enemy, leaves for a two-week vacation.

(9) This neighbor is often forgetful – he leaves his garage door open.

(10) The average man in the world might possibly think, “Great! I hope this guy is robbed

blind.” or, “I can’t go and shut his door; that would be trespassing.”

(11) Agape love says, “Go and shut that door ASAP.”

(12) If there is concern about trespassing, make an all out effort to contact the neighbor, one of

his relatives, or even the police.

(13) Love also says, pray for that man while he is away.

L. Agape love means we want the best for people no matter who they are.

M. That’s hard. That is not how many of us were taught to think.

N. This is what Paul was describing when he wrote the word love in Gal. 5.

O. A little later in Matt. 22:37 agape occurs again.

P. The essence of Matt. 22:37 is “love God” – love Him with all of our heart, soul and mind.

(1) One dimension of agape love is demonstrating (showing) it.

(2) This love is not to be bottled up inside of us.

(3) Jno. 3:16 says that God “loved the world”. (Agape in the Greek text.)

(4) God demonstrated His love. How? He sent His Son.

(5) We are told to love God in Matt. 22:37.

(6) This command is fulfilled in part by our demonstrating it.

(7) If we are Christians we need to ask ourselves, “Do I demonstrate by love for God?”

(8) We are not talking about a show like the Pharisees produced.

(9) We are talking about demonstrations that are right.

(a) Love for God can be shown by good works;

(b) It can be shown in how we use our money and time;

(d) Attendance at services is one possible demonstration.

(e) John shows the importance of demonstrating agape in 1 Jno. 3:18. READ.

(f) Both 1 Jno. 3:18 and Gal. 5:22 give us the same message – our love for God needs to be demonstrated.

Q. If we continue to look through the NT, agape appears again and again.

R. There are about 320 places where this word is found.

S. One of these places is Jno. 15:12.

(1) John like to talk about agape love.

(2) Several times John used the word but mainly in Jno. 14-17.

(3) Here is how Jno. 15:12 reads. READ.

T. We are to “love” our brethren.

(1) In the letter to the Romans, Paul said, “Weep with those who weep; rejoice with those who

rejoice.”

(2) Sharing and caring are part of agape love.

(3) If we love our brethren, we will give lodging to those who are in need of it; we will share our food, our time, our money; our wisdom (if we have any); and whatever else a Christian needs.

(4) Some of you may have seen a recent new story about a mother and daughter spent 20 hours in the water because the boat they were on overturned. The coastguard was asked to go out and search for these two people.

(5) Suppose the coastguard had responded, “We would rather not do that right now; we are

too busy.”

(6) What would we think if the searchers had said, “No, this is our week off. Get someone

else.”

U. There would have been national outrage. This would have been wrong.

(1) These men helped because it was their job.

(2) Christians are to help each other because of agape love.

(3) When a call for volunteers is made, we are to respond.

(4) If people ask for help, we are to show up. How come? Agape love.

(5) We may not want to do the job; we could spend the time doing something else.

(6) Agape love means that when people need help we come.

V. We not only come, agape love includes doing favors for people.

(1) In Philemon 8-10 Paul made a request.

(2) Paul wanted Philemon (a slave owner) to take back an escaped slave.

(3) The text tells us that this would have been a favor to Paul.

(4) Paul based this favor (if you read these verses) on love.

(5) Paul said he could have based this request on other things.

(6) Agape love forms such a close knit bond that it allows children of God to ask for legitimate favors and it obligates other Christians to help.

(7) There are times when there are exceptions to this. For example:

(a) Paul wanted Apollos to go to Corinth. (1 Cor. 16:12)

(b) Apollos refused to go.

(8) As a general rule, this is what agape love requires.

W. Where else do we find agape in the NT?

X. We find this word in Jno. 15:13.

(1) Jesus said if we love someone, we will die for them.

(2) Imagine that after tonight’s service some men come into the building

(3) These men say, “We have a member of the church of Christ with us. This man is as loyal a member as anyone on the earth. We will spare this man’s life if someone will step forward and exchange your life for his. Will someone here come forward and give your life for his?”

(4) Do you think we would have any volunteers?

(5) If this scenario were true in every respect, would we give our life for a faithful Christian?

(6) Jesus said those with agape love would.

(7) This is about the highest form of agape love man can have.

(8) The only thing higher I can find is giving a life for one’s enemy.

(9) This is what Jesus did.

Y. If we have agape love, every other Christian trait is possible.

(1) We can forgive. Some say, “I can’t forgive him.” (Grudges) Why?

(2) We can overcome anger.

(3) We can have joy and peace. We can be longsuffering.

(4) We can be kind and good. We can achieve self-control.

(5) We sing the song, “Love is the golden chain that binds.”

(6) Agape love is like a rope that ties everything together.

(7) Love is the one word that sums up the entire Bible.

(8) It is a fruit that each Christian desperately needs in abundance.

II. WE HAVE BUILT A PRETTY GOOD FOUNDATION FOR AGAPE LOVE. I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME SPECIFICS ABOUT AGAPE LOVE.

A. The first thing we can say is that agape love is sincere.

B. This is what Paul wrote in Roman 12:9.

C. Sincerity means this love does not have an ulterior motive.

D. We do things for people but expect nothing in return.

E. We are good for the sole purpose of being good.

F. This is a new concept to many in our world. This is what the Bible teaches.

G. Agape love means we are generous according to 2 Cor. 8:24.

(1) God was generous when it came to salvation.

(2) A man who gives his life for a friend is generous.

(3) Doing good to an enemy is an act of generosity.

(4) Forgiving ugly slights and acts is generous.

(5) When people have this love generosity will be automatic.

H. Agape love is forbearing.

(1) Things are said and happen which can lead to hate.

(2) Fury and anger seem to consume some minds.

(3) Nearly every month we read about someone who got angry and shot somebody.

(4) Eph. 4:2 says love causes people to forbear.

(5) Agape love is a defense against hate.

(6) This love moves people to be patient with others.

(7) When we feel like we have been pushed right to the edge, agape love says, “Wait a little longer.”

(8) Agape love is the answer to a society in which people kill each other.

I. Agape love insures the truth is told.

(1) Eph. 4:15 uses the words “truth and love” in the same breath.

(2) Many lie and deceive. Deception is common.

(3) Half-truths and so-called white lies are part of our world.

(4) Agape love says that we speak the truth.

(5) Love and truth go hand in hand according to Paul.

CONCLUSION:

1. One of the most difficult virtues to harness is agape love.

2. There are so many works of the flesh that lure us away from agape love.

3. If we want to be a Christian God enjoys watching;

4. If we want to be an asset to the kingdom of Christ;

5. If we want to develop the fruit of the spirit;

6. Agape love is the starting point.

7. This is a quality each one of us must cultivate.