This is the second of a series of presentations about the development of Christian character, based on a study of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. The presentation was prepared by Dr Kevin Smith, Vice-Principal of the South African Theological Seminary.

1. Love Explained
The Fruit of the Spirit 2
By Kevin G. Smith

2. Lesson Outline
1. Love defined
2. Love described
3. Love demonstrated
Love Explained

3. Point 1
LOVE DEFINED
Love Explained

4. Love Defined
But what is love?
The word is in such common use to
describe such a diverse range of actions
and emotions that it is essential to define
exactly what love is.
Love Explained

5. Love Defined
Greek had three common words for love: eros, philia,
and agapē. These words were used somewhat
interchangeably, but in some contexts they have
different emphases. Eros often referred to physical
love; philia was the common word for love, and has a
range of meaning similar to the English “love”; agapē is
the word the New Testament prefers when speaking
about the love of God (though it can be used for lesser
forms of love too).
Love Explained

6. Love Defined
Three Kinds of Love • Eros is physical love that
results from sexual
1. Eros desire and is
appropriate only
between a husband and
wife.
• Eros is based on need—
what the other person
can do for me.
Love Explained

7. Love Defined
Three Kinds of Love • Philia is human love,
the natural fondness
1. Eros and kindness between
2. Philia friends is the dominant
characteristic of philia.
• Philia is based on
mutuality—what we
can do for each other.
Love Explained

8. Love Defined
Three Kinds of Love • Agapē is divine love,
that which is based on
1. Eros the nature of God
himself.
2. Philia
• Agapē is more than a
3. Agapē wave of emotion, it is a
decision of the will to
always act in another
person’s best interest.
Love Explained

9. Love Defined
Eros Philia Agape
Sexual love Natural love Divine love
Between loves Between friends From God to man
Based on needs Based on likes Based on values
What can you do for What can we do for What can I do for
me? each other? you?
I love me and use I love you; you love I love you and serve
you. me. you.
Love Explained

10. Love Defined
Agapē, or divine love, is the spirit which says, ‘No
matter what any man does to me, I will never seek
to harm him; I will never seek revenge; I will always
seek nothing but his highest good.’ Agapē is
unconquerable benevolence, invincible good will. It
is a principle by which we deliberately live. In other
words, it is a deliberate principle of the mind and a
deliberate conquest of the will. It is not simply a
wave of emotion (Rozell 1988:38).
Love Explained

11. Point 2
LOVE DESCRIBED
Love Explained

12. Love Described
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all
your mind.” This is the first and greatest
commandment. And the second is like it: “Love
your neighbour as yourself.” All the Law and the
Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Love Explained

13. Love Described
• Matthew 22:37-40 • Jesus commands us to
implies that there are express love upward
three dimensions or (for God) and outward
directions in which we (for others). He
must express love: for assumes that we
God, for others, and for automatically express
self. love inward (for
ourselves).
Love Explained

14. Love Described
1. Upward: Love for God
2. Outward: Love for others
3. Inward: Love for self
Love Explained

15. Love Described
Love Explained

16. Point 3
LOVE DEMONSTRATED
Love Explained

17. Love Demonstrated
The basis of our love John 3:16
We are able to love For God so loved the
because we experience world that he gave his one
the love of God. We are and only Son, that
able to love to the extent whoever believes in him
that we know the love of shall not perish but have
God. eternal life.
Love Explained

18. Love Demonstrated
The basis of our love Romans 5:8
We are able to love But God demonstrates his
because we experience own love for us in this:
the love of God. We are While we were still
able to love to the extent sinners, Christ died for us.
that we know the love of
God.
Love Explained

19. Love Demonstrated
The basis of our love 1 John 3:1
We are able to love How great is the love the
because we experience Father has lavished on us,
the love of God. We are that we should be called
able to love to the extent children of God!
that we know the love of
God.
Love Explained

20. Love Demonstrated
• The love of God empowers us to demonstrate love
towards God, others, and ourselves.
• In the next few slides we shall explore how God
expects us to demonstrate love.
Love Explained

21. Love Demonstrated
How are we to show love? John 14:15, 23-24
‘If you love me, you will obey what
1. Love for God
I command …’ Jesus replied, ‘If
anyone loves me, he will obey my
teaching. My Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make
our home with him. He who does
not love me will not obey my
teaching. These words you hear are
not my own; they belong to the
Father who sent me.’
Love Explained

22. Love Demonstrated
How are we to show love? Galatians 5:22-23
1. Love for God • patience
• kindness
2. Love for others • goodness
• Faithfulness
We shall focus on these in
detail in a later lesson.
Love Explained

23. Love Demonstrated
How are we to show love? Biblical self-love
• Do what God says is best for
1. Love for God
you.
2. Love for others • Submit to Jesus Christ as
your Lord and Saviour.
3. Love for self
• Nurture your relationship
with the Lord.
• Say no to harmful lusts and
sins that appeal to your
flesh.
Love Explained

24. Love Demonstrated
Selfishness Stewardship
Haughty Humble
Felt needs Real needs
Obey passions Apply principles
Self-satisfaction Self-discipline
Ruled by greed Ruled by God
Love Explained

25. CONCLUSION
Love Explained

26. Conclusion
1. Defined: There are various kinds of love. Divine love is based
on values and seeks to serve others selflessly, always doing
what is best for them.
2. Described: We are called to show divine love in three
dimensions or directions, namely, towards God, others, and
ourselves.
3. Demonstrated: We love God by obeying his commands, and
we love ourselves by being good stewards of the life and
responsibilities God has given us.
Love Explained