Epaggelia

Walk in Love, as Christ Loved Us… Ephesians 5:2

The “walk” in Eph. 5:2 refers to our behavior and how we act. When we behave like Jesus, we are walking in love. Just as children like to imitate their parents, we are to mimic God in the same way Jesus copied His Father’s behavior. The Greek word translated as “love” in Ephesians 5:2 is agape. Agape is sacrificial, unselfish, unconditional love that proves itself through actions. It perfectly describes God’s love for us, Jn. 3:16 and Christ’s love for us, 1st Jn. 3:16. When the Bible says, “God is love” in 1st Jn. 4:8-9, the word “love” is a translation of agape. God’s nature, His essence, is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. Peter included affection in this sacrificial type of love, see 1st Peter 1:22-23 & 2nd Peter 1:5-8. 

There really should be an affection known or experienced when we listen for Christ’s voice, (John 10:27) There is a sense in which all Christians should hear his voice, see Revelation 3:20. This experience is what moved C. Austin Miles to write his song, “I Come To The Garden Alone” after having a dream about the Garden experience of Mary hearing Christ’s voice, as she called him “Rabboni” (John 20:16).

The apostle John stressed that, since God loves us sacrificially and unconditionally, we ought to love others in the same way: “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another”, 1st Jn. 4:11. Jesus taught the same principle when He said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”, Jn. 15:13.

The apostle Paul gives a detailed description of how to walk in love, 1st Cor. 13:4-7. The greatest virtue we can nurture in our Christian walk is agape love , 1st Cor. 13:13.

In Eph. 5:2, Paul said that Jesus “gave himself up for us.” Giving ourselves up means offering our lives to God in sacrifice. When we behave like this, our lives become “a fragrant offering” that is pleasing to God and everyone who encounters the scent, Leviticus 1:17 & 3:16. Paul urged believers to offer themselves “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” Romans 12:1.

As God’s children and members of His family, we are called to deny our own selfish desires and interests for the sake of God and others. Peter said, “You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart”, 1st Peter 1:22. This wholehearted, sacrificial demonstration of God’s divine agape is what it means to walk in love.