"This is My commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved  you." John 15:12

Last week we looked into love, not as the world expresses it, but as God commands. This love is so vast it 'surpasses knowledge'. However, let us continue to see what Scripture tells us of this love.

It is agape, God's love, it describes the attitude of God toward His Son:
Jesus speaking in His High Priestly prayer, "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." John 17:26

Agape describes God's attitude toward the human race generally:
Jesus speaking in John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
And,
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

 Agape describes God's love for those who believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ: Jesus speaking in John 14:21,
"...And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

Agape expresses God's essential nature:
"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." 1 John 4:8

Agape conveys God's will to Believers concerning their attitude toward one another:
Jesus speaking in John 13:34,
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you that you also love one another."
And,
Not only to the brethren, but to ALL men:
"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you." 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Jesus speaking in Luke 6:27,
"But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." (Also, see Luke 6:35)

"Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words" tells us, "Agape can only be known from the actions is prompts." As seen in God's love for us, 1 John 4:9 "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

I continue to quote from "Vine's"
"But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out of by any excellence in its objects, (" But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.") It was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself." End quote.

Christ has given us a new commandment (John 15:12 above) so then Christian love is not an impulse from the feelings, but is to be active toward all.  It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in the Christian, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." Galatians 5:22-23 Therefore, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Vs. 25

Lord Your love is beyond measure, we can only know a portion of it here on earth. Thank you for each revelation as we trust and obey and as You lead and guide. We love and adore You. Amen