It is impossible to fully grasp God’s love because it is infinite! The best we can do is humbly recognize our limitations in this way and give ourselves over to the overwhelming love that God extends to us.
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Love Is…
• Greg Boyd
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It is impossible to fully grasp God’s love because it is infinite! The best we can do is humbly recognize our limitations in this way and give ourselves over to the overwhelming love that God extends to us. The English language doesn’t have the same level of precision that Greek does when it comes to describing “love”. For this reason Greg reviewed the four Greek words that are often translated as love in English to help us sort out what “love” means. Storge has to do with affection—things we like and appreciate. We may “storge” chocolate more than vanilla. Philos has to do with friendship—those who’s interests we share. We may have friends we work with or who enjoy the same leisure activities we do. Eros has to do with romance/sexuality/passion—we get the word “erotic” from eros. A good marriage should have storge, philos and eros (in addition to agape.) Agape is distinct from the other three in that it is the only one based specifically on a conscious choice rather than feelings/affections/attraction. When the bible calls us to radical (self-sacrificial) forms of love like loving our neighbors, loving God, loving our enemies and so forth, it is agape that is meant here. Only agape can be chosen in this way! In fact, we don’t need to have any of the other forms of love for someone in order to be able to love them the way God calls us to. We simply obey God’s command to love by choosing to agree with God that they are worth loving! Greg spent some time helping us see that God’s love for us isn’t based on the first three types, but rather the self-sacrificial agape love that is evident in 1 John 3:16. Since God IS love (1 John 4:8), God always feels this self-sacrificial love toward us.
Hide Extended SummarySermon Series: Scandalous Love
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Focus Scripture:
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1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
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"I am a podrishioner that just wanted to say thanks for sharing Woodland Hills through podcasts and videos. This is my place to get a spiritual refill, and it’s where I get most of my teaching from. Since I've starting following you four years ago, my view on God, myself and other people has radically been changed. Thanks so much, and keep sharing the Kingdom!"
– Knut-Inge, from Norway
Wow! after 49 years of following Jesus Christ with all my heart possible in response to His love this is the first time someone has spoken on God’s Love in a way that reflects what i’ve always hoped as well as revealing so much more. Am hanging out to watch the next in the series! 😀
Thank you for the truly divinely inspired message. I woke up at 4AM not knowing why, but felt God wanted me up this cold morning in Cincinnati. My cousin, Julie Small told me she was attending this church and I checked out the website and have heard up to today just a couple of messages. So this site was fresh in my Mac so I popped up the sermon list and chose this message as I walked on my treadmill listening and feeling the love of God Greg spoke of “not really knowing”. How true it is, we are so small in our own knowledge and wisdom. God truly has anointed Greg with the power and talent of discernment. Keep the faith, I’ll be praying for His word to be delivered truthfully each week. I’m sure I’ll be able to quote some this in attempting to witness and disciple others this week.
God bless you all.