James 2:23@seekingchrist.net

Text: James 2:23
Title: “Three Levels of Love”
Subj: The 3 levels of love as expressed in the Greek N.T. language

Intro: James was the first book written in the N.T. We will look at Abraham for a moment as a “friend of God.”

I. WOULDN’T YOU LIKE TO BE CALLED ‘A FRIEND OF GOD?’
            A. Highest Honor
                        1. Higher than a king and his power
                        2. Rich young ruler and his riches

             B. We are Sons of God and Joint Heirs of Christ
                        1. But not necessarily friends of God
                                    a. We are sons by legal or birth right
                                    b. We are friends by relationship

II. ABRAHAM WAS CALLED ‘A FRIEND OF GOD’
A. Both in the O.T. and the N.T.
Isa. 41:8 (turn) and our passage.

            B. Notice, This is not Based on Abraham’s Assessment of Relationship
                        1. Not of friends
                        2. Not of wife
                        3. Stated by God!
                                    a. The Creator
                                    b. All knowing, all powerful, everywhere present
                        4. The God who dwells among us tonight
                                    a. “A Friend of God!”

             C. Friend and Love
                        1. Both terms over-worked today by men.
                                    a. The meaning has changed!
                        2. When God speaks, does He speak as a man?
Gen. 1:31 “God saw everything that He had made and behold it was very good.”
                                    a. NOT: splendid, magnificent, gorgeous, exquisite, breathtaking. Just “good”!
Matt. 3:17 “This is My beloved Son, in whom I Am well pleased.”
                                    b. NOT: tickled, exhilarated, ecstatic, jubilant. “Well pleased”!

Note: So we see that God’s words are not tainted with imagination, nor discolored with boasting nor puffed with pride. God’s words depend on the One speaking and not the words spoken. So when the Bible says “Every good and perfect gift cometh from the Father of lights above,” I am content to rest in that. We can want for no more. Not better or best, but only the perfect gift. God said that Abraham was a friend of God!

III. THE THREE LEVELS OF LOVE
A. Friend in Greek = Philos
1. Root meaning in Phileoo = “to love”

             B. There are three Greek meanings for one English word “love”
                        1. Eroos
                        2. Philia
                        3. Agapee

             C. Eroos (erotic or self-satisfying love)
                        1. Based on physical attractiveness
                                    a. Drawn to another because of their appearance
                        2. Loving another because they are loveable
                        3. Loving another for what they can do for you
Gen. 11:29
                        4. Abram and Sarai
                                    a. Sarai was beautiful (Gen. 12:10-15)
                        5. 3 things about beauty
                                    a. Fades as the flower (Isa. 28:1)
                                    b. Skin deep (Prov. 11:22)
                                    c. Not a sign of a good marriage partner (Prov. 31:30)
                                    d. But it is often how we are first attracted to something/someone
                        6. Satan was beautiful (Ez. 28:13-16)
                                    a. He is the god of this world
                                    b. He has made some attractive
                                    c. That is why we are drawn to it—an erotic world
                        7. Why we are not attracted to Christ when we are lost (Isa. 53:1-3)
                                    a. Our sin nature separates us from God

            D. Philia
                        1. Love found in two person because of a common interest and direction
                                    a. Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 22:1-8)
                                                1) Notice God and Abraham loved out of a common interest and concern
                                                            a) Their only sons (v2; Jn. 1:14)
                                                            b) They loved their sons (v2; Matt. 3:17)
                                                            c) They were willing to sacrifice them (v9-10; Jn. 1:29)
                                                            d) The sons were willing to die (v9; Heb. 12:2)
“How can two walked together less they be agreed?”
                                                2) This is what God wants us to be and do.

             E. Agapee
                        1. Recognition of the need of the other person to be loved
                                    a. Abram to Abraham (Gen. 17:1-8)
                                                1) He sees God in a new, personal light (v3; Phil. 2:10-11)
                                                            a) He was unworthy, but God spoke to him and made an unconditional covenant
                                                2) Given a new name (v5)
                                                3) Given a promised new land (v8)
                                    b. We cannot agape God (look at Peter) (Jn. 21:15-17)
                                                1) God’s love is revealed in Creation
                                                2) Christ’s love is revealed on the cross
                                                3) Holy Spirit’s love is revealed in conviction
                                    c. How should a Christian show love?
                                                1) The Lord (Jn. 15:14)
                                                2) The brethren (Jn. 15:12)
                                                3) The lost (Jn. 15:26-27)