UNIT 4:

LIVING LIKE JESUS

Focus:
• Creative Goodwill
• Fairness and Appreciation of Diversity
 LESSON 1:
LOVE SURPASSES
ALL
 Love in its highest form, is embodied in God.
GOD’S LOVE WAS UNVEILED TO HUMANITY
THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.

 Jesus wants to use us to love others. That would

never be possible through limited human love.
But as the HOLY SPIRIT develops God’s
character in us, we can learn TO LOVE AS HE
LOVED.
 There is a song entitled “WHO AM I?” which
clearly depicts one’s amazement over the special
care that the author receives from God.
The word “love” is mentioned only once in the
lyrics.

In your paper, discuss HOW LOVE IS REFLECTED IN

THE LYRICS OF THE SONG? (minimum 200 words)

NOTE: Kindly COPY the lyrics of WHO AM I by

CASTING CROWNS and LISTEN to the song as well.
At the end of this lesson, I will…
• learn that GOD IS LOVE.
• accept that JESUS WANTS ME TO LOVE
OTHERS AS HE LOVES ME.
• SHOW God’s love to others.
 TRUE LOVE is TOO DEEP
to fully understand.
In fact, the Bible uses
SEVERAL WORDS FOR LOVE:
 1. AGAPE LOVE
AGAPE is a Greek word meaning “SELFLESS
LOVE; A DEEP and CONSTANT LOVE,” like God’s
love for mankind.
This perfect and unequaled love encompasses
our mind, emotions, our feelings, our thoughts- all
our being.
 2. PHILIA (brotherly)
LOVE
A second kind of love is called BROTHERLY LOVE or
BROTHERLY KINDNESS.

This is friendship, a human love, which is limited. We love

if we are loved. Brotherly kindness or friendship is essential
human relationship, but it inferior to agape love because on
a MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP. That is, we are FRIENDLY and
LOVING to those who are friendly and loving to us.
 3. EROS (physical)
LOVE
Another aspect of human love not mentioned in the
Bible, but STRONGLY IMPLIED is eros.

This is PHYSICAL LOVE, which flows from the NATURAL

SENSES, INSTINCTS, and PASSION. It is one important aspect
of the love between a husband and wife. But because it is
based on what one SEES and FEELS, eros can be SELFISH,
TEMPORARY, and SUPERFICIAL. In its negative aspects it
becomes LUST.
 The greatest these three
kinds of love is AGAPE LOVE-
the DIVINE LOVE OF GOD
fully expressed in the
LIFE OF JESUS.
 AGAPE LOVE HAS
THREE DIMENSIONS:
 1. Vertical Dimension-
LOVE TOWARD GOD
TO LOVE GOD IS OUR GREATEST DUTY AND PRIVILEGE.
How are we to love God?
With all our heart, soul, strength, and mind.
The word Heart, as used in the Bible, does not refer to
the physical organ that pumps blood through our body. It
refers to our inner being that involves our SPIRIT and SOUL.
WE ARE TO LOVE GOD TO THE FULL EXTENT OF OUR
MIND, INTELLECT, WILL, STRENGTH, and EMOTIONS.

OBEDIENCE IS THE TEST OF AGAPE LOVE.

 2. Horizontal Dimension-
LOVE TOWARD OUR
FELLOWMEN
We cannot love our neighbor with agape love
unless we can love others and fulfill the second
greatest commandment to
“LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
 3. Inward Dimension-
LOVE TOWARD MYSELF
Love means loving ourselves as Christ loves us. This is
not self-seeking, but a SELF-GIVING LOVE, which
recognizes that the GREATEST PERSONAL HAPPINES AND
FULFILLMENT IS FOUND IN LOVE AND OBEDIENCE TO
GOD.

A person who loves himself with an Agape love will not

will only take care of his personal needs for physical
health, education, career, and friends, but will also
DEVELOP his relationship with God.
 Some people find it hard to love
themselves because of their past
mistakes. They have feelings of guilt
self-condemnation.
But Agape Love, which flows from
God, provide complete forgiveness for
every sin that we have committed.
 PINOY KASI!
“PAGSASAKRIPISYO”
is very common to us, Filipino. Because we
often think of others first, especially to our
family and loved ones, we can set aside our
personal comfort to attend to their needs.
 REFLECTION:
What sacrifice can you
make for those whom you
love?
 REFLECTION:
What sacrifice can you
make for those whom you
love?
 Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great
love for us by sending Christ
to die for us while we ere
still sinners.”
 Even we are not deserving, God chooses to love us so
much and to care for us. Always remember that His love
is the greatest love of all and His name is the most
powerful name above all.

Indeed HIS LOVE SURPASSES ALL even the problems and

crisis we are facing right now.