The Fruit Of The Spirit: Love

“²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

— Galatians 5:22-23 KJV

The very first characteristic listed among the 9 in the fruit of the Spirit is love.

The Greek word used here is Agapē (ἀγάπη). (God's Love)

Agapē (God's Love) Is NOT Just Feelings Or Emotions!

A lot of people think love is just feelings or emotions, that is just so wrong.

Agapē is much more than a feeling or an emotion. It is a deliberate choice to seek the good of another person, even when it requires sacrifice.

This is the kind of love God has shown toward us.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

— Romans 5:8 KJV

Jesus demonstrated Agapē love by willingly laying down His life on the cross for our sins.

As Christians, we are called to love others with that same kind of selfless love.

Four Greek Words For Love

The New Testament uses several Greek words to describe different kinds of love.

Agapē (ἀγάπη) — God's Unconditional, Sacrificial Love

A love that chooses to seek another person's good, regardless of feelings and emotions.

This is the word used in Galatians 5:22.

It is often characterized by:

• Selflessness
• Sacrifice
• Forgiveness
• Grace
• Mercy
• Compassion
• Unconditional commitment
• Seeking the good of others
• Loving even when it costs us something

Philia (φιλία) — Brotherly Love / Friendship Love

Brotherly love or friendship.

The affection and loyalty shared between close friends.

(This is where we get the name Philadelphia — the "City of Brotherly Love.")

It is often characterized by:

• Friendship
• Loyalty
• Trust
• Mutual respect
• Fellowship
• Encouragement
• Companionship
• Shared interests
• Faithfulness to friends

Storgē (στοργή) — Family Love / Fatherly Love

Natural family affection.

The love between parents and children, brothers and sisters, and close family members.

The exact noun storgē does not appear in the New Testament, although related forms such as philostorgos ("kindly affectionate") appear in passages like Romans 12:10.

It is often characterized by:

• Affection
• Care
• Protection
• Nurturing
• Commitment
• Loyalty
• Patience
• Compassion
• The natural bond between parents, children, brothers, and sisters

Erōs (ἔρως) — Erotic / Romantic / Marital Love

Erotic, romantic or marital love.

Interestingly, the Greek word erōs itself does not appear in the New Testament.

However, the Bible clearly celebrates the love between husband and wife in places such as the Song of Solomon and Hebrews 13:4.

It is often characterized by:

• Romantic affection
• Attraction
• Desire
• Intimacy
• Passion
• Exclusivity
• Commitment within marriage
• Physical affection
• The one-flesh relationship between husband and wife

While the Bible teaches about all these kinds of love, the type of love mentioned in the fruit of the Spirit is Agapē: God's love, unconditional, selfless, sacrificial love. This is the kind of love that the Holy Spirit desires to produce in every believer's life.

"The Greatest Of These Is Love"

The Apostle Paul devoted an entire chapter to explaining the importance of love.

He wrote:

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

— 1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV

Later he concludes:

“¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

— 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

Paul is teaching that no matter how gifted, knowledgeable, or successful we become, if we lack Christlike love, we have missed what matters most.

God Is Love

“⁷Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

“¹⁰In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

“¹³By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

“¹⁵Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ¹⁶So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

“¹⁷By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. ¹⁸There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

“¹⁹We love because he first loved us. ²⁰If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. ²¹And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

— 1 John 4:7-21 ESV

“³⁴A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

— John 13:34-35 NIV

Point To Ponder

Agapē (God's Love) Is NOT Just Feelings Or Emotions!

Question To Consider

Have I had a wrong understanding of what God's Love actually is?

Quick Prayer

Father God, thank You for loving me even while I was still a sinner. Thank You for saving me by Your grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to grow in the fruit of the Spirit, especially Agapē love. I cannot do this in my own strength—I need You, Lord Jesus.

Help me to love others as You have loved me, not merely with words, but through my actions and the way I live my life.

Lord help me to surrender myself to You each day, so that You may love others through me. May my life reflect Your love and bring glory to Your Name. In the mighty Name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.