February is considered the month of love. Children exchange cute notes and have parties at school. Many propose marriage or are married. Many couples plan dates from the very simple to the extravagant. Why? Because they want to express their love and friendship.
So, how do we express our love and friendship? Let’s start by looking at love. There are four different types of love and each are expressed differently.
The first we will discuss is Storge. This is the love of family: dad, mom, children, brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles. This expression of love is met with how we treat each other, helping around the house, teaching, and discipline. The Bible speaks about this type of love in Eph. 6:1-4, and 1 Tim. 5:8.
The second we will discuss is Philia. This the love of friendship. Friendship is very important as children and as adults. We need to choose the right friends as we grow up. Our true friends will not ask us to choose between being obedient to our God or parents or doing something we shouldn’t. If we have friends asking us to choose to do wrong then maybe they are not our friends. Just remember, if we choose to do wrong it is our choice, they didn’t force us. The Bible speaks of friendship in Prov. 17:17. Also, look at the book of Job and his friends. They were good for a while, but then they opened their mouths.
The third type of love we will discuss is Eros. This is romantic love we have for husband and wife. This is a special love between two people. This is the love that brings two people together and keeps them as one. The book of Song of Solomon speaks of this type of love.
The last type of love is Agape. This is our love for God. God, the Father sent His only Son to die on the cross for me and you, for sins we have committed. Jesus did not sin but He took our sins and suffered that cruel, agonizing death on the cross so we could live with Him in Heaven for eternity. The love we have for God is the ultimate love. This love for Him will cause us to study His Word—the Bible and to want to obey His Word. His Word tells us simply, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” John 14:15 and John 15:10, :If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” His commandments are found in His Word and we will express our love for Him by following those commands.
The first thing we need to do is to believe that the Bible is God’s Word and has all authority 2 Tim. 3:16. Then we need to hear the word of God Rom. 10:17. That Jesus left Heaven and came to this earth and lived and died on the cross for our sins and was buried and rose on the third day and went back to Heaven to live. Then we need to believe that Jesus is the Son of God John 6:69. Then we must repent, which means to have a change of heart and turn toward God 2 Pet. 3:9. Then we are to confess that Jesus is the Son of God matt. 10:32. Then we are to be baptized. Baptism is full immersion into water for the remission of sins. Baptism is burying our sins in the water (full immersion) and coming up a new, clean body I Pet. 3:21. We do not become a Christian, a true follower of God until we are baptized (fully immersed in water) for the remission of sins. Then we live according to God’s word in faithful, active, loving service to God.
Neely
P.S. if you are interested in a personal Bible study please let me know.
