Introduction Paul defines agape love 1 Cor 13

Introduction �Paul defines agape love: 1 Cor. 13: 1 -8 a �Greeks had six words for love: R Eros: sexual passion R Philia: deep friendship R Ludus: playful love R Pragma: longstanding, mature love R Philautia: self-love, self-respect R Agape: love of the highest, most radical form; extended regardless of how unlovable 2

Introduction �Agape love “thinks no evil, ” “rejoices in the truth, ” and “believes all things”: 1 Cor. 13: 5 -7 �Hate does the very opposite: 1 Jn. 3: 14 -15 �Agape love refuses to hold and/or express evil suspicions toward others. �Paul further describes this sin as “evil surmisings” in 1 Tim. 6: 3 -5 �It’s a sin so egregious the Holy Spirit tells Christians to “withdraw yourself” from such a person! 3

Evil Surmisings 1 Timothy 6: 3 -5

Draw conclusions based on conjecture and speculation �True agape love doesn’t “jump to conclusions” before getting the facts. �“Evil surmisings” deal with suppositions and the imagination to draw conclusions; produces distrust, creates disputes: Prov. 16: 18 -19 �What a dreadful sin! �We need to give people the “benefit of the doubt”: Matt. 7: 12; Jn. 7: 24 Evil Surmisings 5

Spread contention and destroys unity �Christians are to “seek peace and pursue it”: Pet. 3: 11; Rom. 14: 19 1 �“Evil surmisings” create an atmosphere of mistrust and doubt which destroys unity: Eph. 4: 1 -3 �We must practice the “Golden Rule”: 7: 12 Matt. �We need to have the attitude Paul describes in Phil. 2: 1 -4 Evil Surmisings 6

Stifle encouragement �Christians are to “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works”; “evil surmisings” stifle encouragement: Heb. 10: 24 �“Evil surmisings” prevent communication instead of enhancing it: Acts 4: 36; 9: 2627 �Let’s follow the example of Barnabas! Evil Surmisings 7

Wound and ruin, don’t soothe and heal �“Evil surmisers” are not peacemakers: Matt. 5: 9 �Strife and turmoil are the fruit of “evil surmisings”: Prov. 16: 28; 17: 19; 28: 25 �Recall Paul’s words: 1 Tim. 6: 3 -5 �“Evil surmisings” are characteristic of “A perverse man” who “separates the best of friends” ! Evil Surmisings 8

Put away evil surmisings � Cultivate love by always acting in the best interests of others: Phil. 2: 1 -4; Rom. 5: 8; 1 Jn. 4: 10 -11 � Judge “righteous judgments”: 17 Jn. 7: 24; Prov. 18: 13, � Make judgments based on facts, not rumor, suspicions, innuendo or speculation: Jn. 7: 24 � Put interests of others before yourself; practice the “Golden Rule”: Phil. 2: 1 -8; 1 Tim. 5: 19 -20 � Don’t be part of the “gossip grapevine” or the “rumor mill”! Evil Surmisings 9

Conclusion �Is your life characterized by agape love? 1 Cor. 13: 4 -8 a �Do you practice the “Golden Rule” when forming judgements about others? Matt. 7: 12; Jn. 7: 24 �Are you “conformed to the image of His Son” ? Rom. 8: 29 10