top of page
Search
Writer's pictureBenjamin Jr. Bacosa

God Looks at the Heart

Updated: Aug 22, 2021

Always wait for the "chat" emoji on the page before browsing and tapping on the text. Tap on the hyperlink text for references.

Jesus asked Peter 3 times concerning his love, to find out how Peter responded, see John 21:15-17 and know what was in his heart.


The New Testament was written in Greek, Why, it is because the language is much richer than the other languages; thus, I believe, chosen by Him to be the Bible’s original text. In proving my point, let's take the word Love for example, did you know that the word Love in English is expressed in several Greek words?


In the original text, check the 7 Greek words for love—and identify which speaks to you most. (Source: Stories from Relationship Tip by Jenna Birch・August 12, 2019)


1. Eros: romantic, passionate love

Eros is passion, lust, pleasure. It’s an appreciation for one’s physical being or beauty and is driven by attraction and sexual longing. It describes desire and obsession and is most similar to what we think of as romantic, passionate love between life partners. At least in the earlier stages of courtship, when everything is crazy-hot and you can’t get enough of each other, that is.

2. Philia: intimate, authentic friendship

Philia is characterized by intimacy, knowing, and soul-to-soul bonds. It’s encouraging, kind, and authentic; the stuff from which great friendship is made, regardless of whether it’s with a platonic best friend or a romantic partner. This love is also based on goodwill, or wanting what’s best for the other person. Philia is a connection akin to that of soul mates; it’s one part destiny, another part choice.

3. Ludus: playful, flirtatious love

Ludus is infatuation, toying, flirtation. It describes the situation of having a crush and acting on it. It’s rooted in having fun, whatever that means specifically to you. Ludus is definitely the love you’d experience with a fling—casual, sexual, exciting, and with zero implications of obligation. Of all the Greek words for love, this one more than others comes without any eros or philia attachment.

4. Storge: unconditional, familial love

Storge is the protective, kinship-based love you likely experience with family members. You might love your sister, even if you don’t like her, for instance, and you might love your dad, despite the mistakes he made in raising you. Storge is driven by familiarity and need and is sometimes thought of as a one-way love. For instance, consider a mother loving her baby before the baby is aware enough to love her back. Storge can also describe a sense of patriotism toward a country or allegiance to the same team.

5. Philautia: self-love

Self-love is hardly a new concept, as evidenced by the ancient Greeks having a word to describe it: philautia. It encompasses two concepts: The first is that healthy, feelin’-myself, care-based love that reinforces self-esteem, like buying yourself a new book as a gift for completing a big work project or putting on a face mask to relax and take care of your skin. The other concept is one of selfishness that can be a pleasure- and fame-seeking and highly concerned with status. (It can even be the foundation of narcissism.)

6. Pragma: committed, companionate love

Pragma is love built on commitment, understanding, and long-term best interests, like building a family. Over time, eros can turn into pragma as a couple grows to honor, respect, and cherish each other, accepting of differences and learning to compromise. It is everlasting love rooted in romantic feelings and companions.

7. Agápe: empathetic, universal love… read the article that follows fully.


Jesus’ Commandment, see John 15:9-12, and I quote:

[9]“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. [10] If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. [11] “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. [12] This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Have you fully considered Jesus’ commandment? (John 13:34-35) There is no commandment, other than the Great Commission ministry, under the New Covenant given to us but this one by the Lord Jesus, (Hebrews 8:13 cf. Hebrews 10:1) for everything else God requires is joint to it, even the [Mosaic] Law (Romans 13:8-10) as characterized in Paul's letter to Corinth. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) Having said that, then for us to be credited with righteousness, based on faith, (Romans 4:16-18), not by works of the Law, (Romans 3:28 cf. Galatians 2:16) would mean that we should have this love in us. (1 John 4:8) It is the only means by which one can remain and not separate in the love that is in Christ Jesus; (John 15:10-12) except for this, nothing does separate us. (Romans 8:35-39) Now, take an especial notice on what Jesus said in John 13:34-35, and I quote:


“… [34] A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. [35] By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

Some taught that election specifies that man has no free will, they say everything happens based on God’s free will, and God does not need man’s cooperation to do His job. But not in the order of Agápe, they failed to consider that the commandment, requires the “Free Will.” For it is no act of love, lest one be heartfully or freely given. Let us consider, 1 John 4:8 with a Greek interlinear dictionary, see as follows:

8 The[ho] person who does not[] love[agapaō] does not[ou] know[ginōskō ·ho] God[theos], because[hoti ·ho] God[theos] is[eimi] love[agapē].

Note: word meanings and applications in the original text

· love • agapaō – Click here

· love • agapē ‒ Click here

· Vines Expository Dictionary - specifies that the words “agapaō” and “agapē” are used in the NT to describe the attitude of God [free will] toward His Son, and to convey His will to His children concerning their attitude [free will] one toward another and toward all men (Love, verb, ppg. 702 to 703)


For further reading, choose Engrafted Branch from the posts on display below. (Tap... "See All")

45 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page