Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.
Synopsis
The Bible word for God's love describes a love that gives without being drawn by worth in its object. Because God is love, His justice, wrath, and law are not rivals to His mercy but expressions of the same character. This unit defines agape and shows why the whole science of salvation rests on it.
Key points
- Agape is unconditional, self-giving, and uncaused by merit in its object.
- God's justice and love are one character, never two competing sides.
- God's wrath is His giving men up to the results of their chosen separation.
Key texts
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
- Romans 1:18, 24
- Jeremiah 31:3
- Luke 6:35
- Comprehension
1. Define agape in your own words and distinguish it from affection or attraction.
- Scripture
2. Read Luke 6:35. What does God's kindness to the unthankful reveal about His love?
- Doctrinal Clarity
3. Are justice and love two sides of God, or one? Defend your answer.
- Contrast
4. Contrast the human 'love because' with the divine 'love in spite of'.
- Scripture
5. Read Romans 1:18-24. How is God's wrath described there in practice?
- Doctrinal Clarity
6. Why does an arbitrary God make obedience impossible from the heart?
- Application
7. Where have you loved conditionally this month? What would agape have looked like?
- Scripture
8. How does understanding agape change the way you read the severe passages of the Old Testament?