West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-07-17
AGApEE----lOVE.
''rae end OF the commandment, is love.
Lin. IiS

e"~'sS'et likeness OF himself represented
u this word agapcc--love; Tor "God /.
love tseapecI and he that dweilc,t In low,
| Iagapcel dwcileth In God aud God In him
John 4;io
God so loved tho world that he gave
his only begottcn Son." John s,io. Thi.
love which promoted mans redemption
was not philco or duty love. Tor God had
not wronged his creatures in the sentence
OF death. nor had man even done anything
Tor his Creator which could put him under
obligation or duty.iovc in return. Gods
love prompting TO our redemption was tho
highest torm"agapec.. perfect. dislntcr.
ested character. This Is the degree or
kind which lie sets before us as the
highest standard or mark towards which
We must run II we would gain the prize
a mark impossible to. our fallen aesh. bu,
which is attainablo by our renewed minds,
wills. hearts.
IL Is this word agapee that IL mistrans.
lated charity In 4 Cor. s,--Knowicdgc
pufcth up. but agapce buildc,h up-.
toward the God imagc--lt Is missrcndercd
In the Apostles great discourse on love
IN Cor. i3;ras4i3 aud i4ii. Here he
styled agapce love the principle thing OF
Christian character, the crown OF all
Christian graoes without which all sacri
fees are OF no value In Gods esteem.
while with II rs the inspiring motive our
fcebIcst efforts are acceptable through
Christ.
IL Is our duty TO love pileo life. to
appreciate II. and To be unwilling TO dis.
troy or waste Il foolishy but he who has
pledged to walk In Chrisrs footsteps even
unto death has surrendered his life as a
man. exchanging Il for the hope OF life as
New Creation. He Is no longer to be
controlled by philco or duty.love toward
earthly life. but moved b., agapcc love. he
is willingly to lay down his life In the
service OF God and all the present earthly
ties oil phileo love are not equal our philco
love toward God and our appreciation of
His great plan for his creation. "Hc that
having so pledged loveth. phIlco. his life
shall lose II, John Ia;as. "ae that loyetb
phileo. father or mother more than me is
not worthy OF me. aud he that loveth son
or daughter more than me is not worthy
OF me. Matt ro,3z.
Our duty love towards all things OF
ends here forever. were It not for the
ransom Tor all--christ cruci6cd, and that
only IN Him is the life OF the race 10 film
we owe our phileo love.
III arf n an love pIilco not the Lord
Jesus Christ let him be Anthony. MARINA.
tha. Cor. io;aa. When all are brourb,
10 knowledge OF the salvation which
God has provided In him. To be testified
TO all In due tIme.' Tim. 7ia. gall will
be expected "a appreciate the work OF
Christ and whoever refuses 20 respond In
pbileo'duiy love.wil be cut of from life
early In the Millcnnial rcgin. but those
who exercise the phlco or duty love will
bc expected TO press forward TO attain the
marx OF agapec Ioyc-~a true disintcrcstcd
Character. having the w--agapee--written
IN their hearts, In their natures. the
original God Image
That God that this present life does not
close the door Of opportunity to any that
have never known philco or dnty.iovc. nor
to many who have known this. but have
not get attained agapee
Peter contrasts The two loves In one
expression "seeIng yc have purified your
souls Ia obcying the truth through the
spirit unto the extent Of unfeigned love
pbiieo OF the brethren, See that We 90 on
to love agspee one another with pure
heart. fcrvently." Pet I.2a.
Love agapec worketh no III 10 his
neighoor; therefore love sgapec is the
fulfilling OF the law Rom 1910.
our common'version does not represent
the difference between thete two words
Pbileo--a love which has a cause, de.
mand upon IL. btothcrIy Kindness. or as
exercised on the selfish basis "Ihe world
loves rs own" and agapce disintcrestcd
love. Afier our Lords resurrection, and
before The disciples received their new
Commission. having had time TO reach the
extremity Of their reasoning on their past
experiences. and be prepared TO receive
definitely and pro6tabIy the Instructions
he had to give respecting their future
course. He appeared 10 seven OF them
who bad returned to their old occupation.
and after breakfast With them Of his own
preparing John n: he addressed Peter.
not by his new name as had been his
custom: but. as intimating that he had not
manifested the rock like qualities implied
IN his new name Simon lowest Agapec
thou me. more than theseS" Is your heart
in this business in preference to meS Are
you with me ~ the service Of the Kingdom.
or IN the fish bnsiaes ? Peters answer
was prompt-"Thou knowest that love
phiieo. thec"--"Fecd my lambs my little
ones. instead OF longer OF following tie
fishing business feed. nonrish. cause 10
grow my little ones
IN the third instance our Lord uses the
word phiIeo. indicating duty love, are YOU
sure that you have even the duty love.
Peter was grieyed. because Of the implied
possibility OF mistakes in this degree Of
love and replied Thou knowest All
things. thou knowest that love phlleo.
thee. declaring his personal attachment
and devotion 10 the Lord. bot in view OF
recent experiences he refraincd from
Claiming TO have the perfect lovc--agapce
for which our Lord Inquired. Peter had
learned the eedcd lesson and ceased 10
boast, The Lords response. using the
word feed" as in the case Of the lambs.
Feed my sheer" implies three classes in
the Lords flock the little ones. the
advanced and strong and the weak and
delicate that need special assistance.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves
and to all the flock over which the Holy
Spirit hath made you.oversecr to feed the
Church Of God" Acts no zs.
The same maik will be set before the
world in the Milicnnial age. bat not The
same prize. All will be required 10 love
philco. the Lord and 90 on to the perfect
character. agapee. God likeness But
everything will then be favorable. the con
ditions will be almost the reverse of those
IN the past. Instead Of a narrow was" as
N a highway shall be there lisa. 2s.s.fo3
public road: The Kings Highway. and