The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 4:18-21, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

19 We love, because He first loved us.

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”

The Greek language is arguably the most specific language known to man. To one who truly knows the language, it is virtually impossible to misrepresent or misunderstand another person’s meaning. So specific were the Greeks that they had four separate words that each translate “love” in our English language. Agape is the most familiar word to us. It is love that reaches out to another person whether the person is worthy of it or not; and it expects nothing in return. That’s how God loves us! Philos translates as “love,” but is rather intended as “friendship.” Storge also translates as “love,” but relates to love within a family, such as the love of a parent for a child. Eros is the word for licentious lust. It represents such vile and gross activities that it is understandably not found at all in the New Testament. Every one of the 10 words in our four verses above is agape.

Thus, the LORD’s perfect love (agape) produces no fear; rather, it casts out fear. So, when we are wrapped up in the love of God, we can share Him freely, knowing all the time that there is nothing to fear and there can be no failure. In fact, as love is practiced, it is perfected within us. At that point, His love has grown within us so that we are loving Him abundantly, and His love within us is reaching out in love to others!

John wants us to know that merely saying the words, “I love God,” does not constitute a true believer. If we truly love (agape) God, we will love others as well. Yes, there are those that make it difficult for us to love them. But, before we become judgmental of others, we need to consider that God loved us before we were His children. Parents do put up with a lot that we kids tend to forget.

The bottom line truth is that unbelievers are not all stupid! They can often out maneuver and out-think us as believers. What they cannot do is out-love us. So, if you find yourself getting tangled in a debate with an unbeliever, just keep loving him. That’s one key thing he cannot do without God!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”