The Holy Spirit guiding Agape

In my last posting to this blog I wrote about connecting Rom. 5:5 with Rom. 12:3-23. Now I’ll take that a step more.

Early in this Letter to the Romans, Paul reported that his hope for the human race came from the spiritual power of the agape of God, that was “poured” into the hearts of faithful people (5:5). Then later he talked about the victory that was won through Christ Jesus bringing his followers agape. And Paul proclaimed that such victory gave us spiritual bonding so strong that nothing can separate us from the agape of God -- “not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.” (8:35-39 Common English Bible)

Then most of chapter 12 is a list of practical actions. He began by urging followers of Christ to let the Holy Spirit transform their minds so they do not conform to the patterns of their present age of history. Then beginning with vs. 9 he focused on the actions that spiritual agape helps us do when we let it open us to its spiritual flow in our life. He wrote about the way agape’s power, when we let it work in our relationships, helps us work for good against evil. For example -- be welcoming and hospitable to strangers, and bless people who harass you.

When describing good, healthful relationships, he gave the illustration of treating others as kind family members would treat each other — with respect, showing honor toward other people. Also he showed how agape helps faithful people not be conceited or proud, but live in harmony and peace with everyone, even to the point of blessing those you disagree with or who would persecute you. When he pointed out the strengthening aspects of agape, he described the way that spiritual energy helps with being patient in affliction (note, he didn’t insinuate that we would in any way escape affliction -- all of the great examples from the New Testament, from Jesus to the Disciples to Paul, had to go through afflictions).

When emphasizing the important power agape had with bringing empathy to people, Paul wrote: “Be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying. Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. … If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. Don’t try to take revenge. … If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:15-23 Common English Bible)

What we can so very clearly see in Romans is that when we keep agape connected with the Holy Spirit, it can transform people to be kind, compassionate, and charitable with everyone. Agape guided by the Holy Spirit can overcome that most dangerous part of human societies -- God’s agape can actually break down that old worldly pattern of taking revenge against enemies that mistakenly tries to overcome evil with evil. Paul knew how truly that was needed because of, partly, what he saw going on in towns and cities from Jerusalem through Turkey and Greece, all the way to Rome.

And so after the last several hundred years of increasing evidence throughout the globe, we can see, as Paul did, that through agape, the Holy Spirit liberates our mind from the old pattern of history in order to take part in the new way of living. Only spiritual energy is powerful enough to bring about such liberation. Thus agape works with the Holy Spirit to open us and liberate us when we tap into its spiritual flowing.