Word of Life – Rom 5:8

What is emphasized?

God’s love. Verse 5 says that God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. In the Greek original God’s love is denoted by the word “agape”, unlike human love which is denoted by the word “philia”. There is a difference between these two kinds of  love. God’s love is a gift and is intrinsically linked with the Holy Spirit! We can say that if we received the Holy Spirit in fullness, this love is in us and we are willing to be “martyres” (witnesses, martyrs). We must not quench the fire of love of the Holy Spirit with indifference or disbelief! God’s love – agape – on our part is connected with a willingness to lose everything for Christ. “Shema, Israel, love God! … Jesus, now I lose my soul for Your sake and the Gospel’s!” This we repeat seven times a day as an act of pure love! Jesus gave His life for me – that is agape! Father gave His Son – Jesus (cf. Jn 3:16) – that is agape! The Holy Spirit gives this “agape” to our hearts. The condition for us to have this love is to accept Jesus and to give Him the first place in our life – above all relations to things, people and ourselves! To love, “agape”, is an everyday process – the way; and it is the content of the First Commandment – to love God with all our heart, with all our soul and all our strength! This is the first and greatest commandment! It is interwoven with love of neighbour. The former without the latter and vice versa is impossible!

Practical application:

Realize personally: God demonstrates His own love toward you, in that while you were still sinner, Christ died for you! At least in one minute during your private prayer accept God’s love – give your sins to Jesus and receive His forgiveness with faith. Repeat the name of God: Jesus, Ye-ho-shu-a, and then show and return Him love by uttering consciously: “Jesus, my God, I love You with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my strength. Now I lose my soul for Your sake and the Gospel’s.” Realize the word “love” and live personally the word “lose” in relation to the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.