The Lord has sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for your enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for which thy has labored. Comment: I know what the socialists will say! Well Jesus said to love your enemies! Right? Let us look at the Greek word “Agape”. This Greek word is not found in Classical Greek but is only used in revealed religion! Here is the key to this word used for our English word love! This word when used is not doing what the person loved desires but what the one who loves deems as needed by the one loved! This is central to understanding what Jesus meant! Jesus love is not based on what we want but on what we need! If people wanted Salvation then the whole world would be saved and we could close up our churches and go home! Most people are not in love with God but with the world and themselves! Ever try to sell someone what they don’t want? Like selling a comb to a bald man! However I was blind but now I see! So the Jesus standard of love is to give people what they need not what they want! Socialism is all about people getting what they want! Free stuff! Do not have to work for it let someone else do the work! Theft! Why did God invent work? Work is a sacrifice! God’s whole Kingdom is built on a sacrificial system! Work is a sacrifice! Jesus sacrificed himself on a Cross for us! God worked 6 days in creation and rested on the 7th day! Should he expect less from us? God has made provision for those who cannot work! Work is the only vehicle that brings out our gifts God has given us! We love our enemies by sharing Christ with them! It is tough because most do not want him! They trust the world and themselves rather than God! James and Hamsa Sasse, GodWhoisGod.com
Tag: agape
John 3:16 Word Study “Loved”
Loved Strongs #25 Agape (Greek). This love is from the direction of the will finding joy through this choice! Love is a choice! Judgment is also a choice! Our judgment is based upon the rejection of God’s choice to save us! The word ‘Agape” is not a word found in classical Greek. It expresses God’s love towards man! Sometimes the word “charity” is used. This word expresses compassion! Compassion means to suffer with! God’s love is a sacrificial love! There are three other Greek words used for love but they are lower level’s of love! This love is a gift and is not given to us by what we desire but by what is needed for us to save us! It is a love we do not deserve! It is God’s willful choice for man! To love God we must show his love that is expressed to us! Without his love we cannot love him and others! It is the love we do not think we need that is the only love we need! We must chose to receive his love! If you chose to receive God’s love, Jesus Christ on the Cross for you then you have a new ability that is divine to share his love with others! The angel’s also have a choice! They are created beings just like we are! Lucifer decided one day in heaven not to receive and show love! He rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven! Even in heaven you will still have a choice about “Agape”! If you make heaven then as now here on earth you still will have a choice! Love demands a choice! When you do your Bible study remember every time you see the English word “love”, the Greek root word may not be “Agape” but another Greek word in the New Testament! It helps in our understanding if we know which word is being used for love! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Do You Love Me? John 21:15-17
Greek translation: “Peter do you love me unselfishly to the point of sacrificing yourself for me more than these fish? Peter do you understand God’s love towards men even though they are His enemy? Yes Lord, I know I am your friend. Then shepherd, guard and protect my sheep. Then Jesus says a second time to Peter, “Do you love me to the point of sacrificing yourself to me and my work here on earth? Peter replied you know I am your friend. Jesus replied a third time, Peter are you my friend? Peter was grieved for Jesus asked him a third time and Peter replied, “Lord you know all things and you know I am your friend.” Jesus said to him then shepherd, protect and guard my sheep.” Comment: Two very different Greek words are used for the English word love in these passages of scripture! They are agape and phileo! Initially Peter did not understand God’s love Like most of us when we first come to Christ initially He becomes our friend! Peter probably thought since he betrayed Jesus just before the Cross three times Jesus needed to ask him about his commitment three times? Actually in Jewish Hebrew culture when something is said three times it is complete and not necessary to repeat anymore! Peter though because of his past he could be no more than just a friend! Could God forgive me? Peter answered this question later in his life as he was the leader of the Jerusalem church! Then later he was crucified upside down on a cross in Rome! Jesus was more than a friend to those 21 Coptic Christian men who were beheaded by ISIS last year! Peter finally understood God’s love for him! I have been a Christian for 45 years yet still with each new revelation I understand more of his love for me! Will we totally understand His love for us? After our resurrection from the dead we will learn more! During the millennium we will understand more of His love! We understand enough to feed His sheep here on the earth! As he shepherd’s you shepherd others! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com