1 John 3. There’s an old song that begins, “Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called the children of God…” (1 John 3:1)

The word for love in 1 John 3 is agape (verb form agapaō). To agapaō something means to totally give oneself over to that something; to be totally consumed with it; totally committed to it. What we agapaō is what we put first in our lives. All our intentions and abilities are focused and consumed with this one thing. John uses the verb agapaō to emphasize the action of loving.

Interestingly, the verb agapaō is a neutral term. A little research into the use of this verb in the New Testament reveals that agapaō can be used in a negative or positive light.

In a negative sense, we see that agapaō is not good when:
   – We love the darkness rather than the light (John 3:19);
   – We love the praise of men more than of God (John 12:43);
   – We love the best seats in the synagogue (Luke 11:43);
   – We are like Demas who loved this present world more than God (2 Timothy 4:10); and
   – We love the world and the things of the world (1 John 2:15).

In a positive sense, we see that agapaō is good when:
   – We obey the command to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39);
   – We obey the command to love your enemies (Luke 6:27);
   – God demonstrates this type of love when He so loved the world (John 3:16); and
   – God demonstrates this love God for us when He called us children (1 John 3:1).

God’s agapaō for us is a deliberate, active, and self-sacrificial love. This is a love demonstrated by action, not just feeling. God’s agape love for us is an incredible gift. He has loved us in a self-sacrificial manner, and thus we begin to understand that we are called to love others in the same way.

“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love (agapaō) one another.” (1 John 3:11) This self-sacrificing and committed love (agapaō) is marked by action, not just talk or feelings. “Let us not love (agapaō) in word or talk, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18). This type of love is active – doing something to demonstrate an investment in someone else.

Agapaō love for others is THE central command of Christianity, one of the key obedience markers of a Christian. We know that we are the children of God “because we love (agapaō) the brothers” (1 John 3:13). John is very black and white about things: “This is the commandment, believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love (agapaō) one another.” (1 John 3:23)

Imagine an outside observer was grading your life. What grade and remarks would be made about the things you love, the things you are invested in? What grade would you receive for how you have loved other people?