Freewill and Love

Freewill and love are essential concepts in the Bible - both are Gifts from a loving God on which the foundation of life and faith are built.
God's Gifts of freewill and love (John 3:14-21) to humanity are "Divine Guidance" toward unique, personal directions and callings.
Freewill is the ability to make choices from a variety of possibilities to live a meaningful life of value and develop a wholesome character built on moral responsibility and accountability.
Choices are important because they shape life.
*Know what you want.
*Know your values.
Choices dictate the future and define the consequences.
*Find a purpose suited to your interests.
*Spiritual fulfilment enriches the soul.
The right choices will ultimately bless you.
Love
Pure love is unconditional, selfless and free from any expectations radiating a deep emotional connection, mutual respect and trust that nurtures lasting relationships.
Its a love that exists simply for who an individual is regardless of other superficial factors.
Unconditional love will always remain strong through both, good and bad times.

Three Greek Words of Love

Freewill and Love
The Ancient Greeks distinguished three primary words for "love" that intertwine with each other yet, each word means something different in Scripture.
1. Agape (Greek: ἀγάπη): (unconditional, selfless love), is Christ-centered and the purest form of love and charity.
Love for God through reverence and devotion.
Love Thy neighbor as you would like to be treated.
In the New Testament, “agape,” was defined by Jesus Christ Himself as unconditional, selfless, and sacrificial love by a person willing to do anything for another without expecting anything in return.
Divine love refers to the love God has for humanity which is perfect, infinite and universal.
2. Eros (Greek:ἔρως): Based on feelings - romantic, intimate love.
Eros, the Greek god of love, lust, desire and fertility is depicted as a winged youth with a bow and arrow who is known for his ability to make both mortals and gods fall in love.
In Roman mythology, he is known as Cupid.
Eros is the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty.
Eros fell in love with a mortal, Psyche (Greek: Ψυχή meaning Soul) - the tale concerns the overcoming of obstacles to the love between the mortal, Psyche and the god, Eros.
3. Philia (φιλία): a love in that doesn't have a romantic element.
Based on shared interest describing affectionate or brotherly love, often found between family and friends.
The bonds forged between ancient Greek soldiers who fought side-by-side on the battlefield encompassed deep friendship, loyalty and camaraderie are a prime example of philia.
Aristotle uses the Greek word "philia" to refer to friendship between individuals who share the same religious beliefs or belong to the same tribe, highlighting the importance of mutual goodwill.
Philanthropy
"Philanthropy" originates from the Greek word, "φιλανθρωπία" (philanthrōpía), which translates to "love of humanity".
It is composed of the Greek words "philo" ("love") and "anthropos" ("human being" or "humankind").
Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others through charitable acts and good works.

Love in Biblical History

Freewill and Love
David and Jonathan
David, (tribe of Judah) and Jonathan, (tribe of Benjamin) the son of King Saul, was in line to inherit the throne of the Kingdom of Israel.
Both had a very close friendship characterized by loyalty, sacrifice and a covenant of mutual protection since king Saul's jealousy and attempts to kill David who was
anointed as the future king of Israel, in place of his son, Jonathan by the prophet Samuel.
Despite this, Jonathan remained a true friend and risked his own safety to help David.
Their covenant ensured David would care for Jonathan's family should he replace Saul as king.
Jonathan died in battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa around 1009 BC which included the death of Saul and his brother.
David and Jonathan's covenantal love is rooted both with God and within the bonds of their friendship.
Ruth and Naomi
Ruth and Naomi is a powerful example of enduring love, devotion and loyalty that transcends family ties and cultural differences.
Ruth, a Moabite woman, chose to stay with Naomi, her Israelite mother-in-law who has lost her family (her husband Mahlon, her father-in-law Elimelech, and her brother-in-law Chilion) to death as well as her home.
Ruth's deep love and commitment to Naomi, who is facing the prospect of having no one to provide for her or her two daughters-in-law (Orpah and Ruth who was a foreigner) impel her to loyally stay by Naomi in her time of need by working in the fields and collecting leftover crops to help feed the three of them.
Naomi, in turn, shows love and appreciation for Ruth's dedication by offering her guidance and encouragement for her well-being in the face of adversity.
Their story offers a message of hope in the midst of loss and suffering that God's Grace blesses those who are faithful to one another.
God's Love for Humanity
The Bible portrays God as a loving, compassionate and merciful as seen in the relationship within the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
God provides guidance through the Holy Spirit, helping individuals to live a life that is healthy, positive, and morally responsible.
God's love is the foundation of Creation manifested in the beauty and order of the natural world, the connection between all beings and the provision for humanity's needs.
God's Omnipresence and Sovereignty is evidenced through the Divine shaping of both the physical world and the everlasting Spiritual Realm where Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Blessed Virgin Mary, the Saints, the Prophets and Angels abide.
God's willingness to sacrifice His Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross, the Atoning Savior ("Sacrificial Lamb"), for the sins of the world so humanity can gain the Gift of Salvation demonstrates His ultimate act of love that is unconditional, boundless, and everlasting.
Humanity is called to respond to God's love through faith in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, Who leads His flock to greener pastures.
Love is superior to all other spiritual gifts making it the Greatest Commandment in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind".
The second and equally important commandment is: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself".

God's Gifts

Freewill and Love
God's Gifts of Life to humanity encompass a vast array of blessings that are both tangible and intangible.
They include the Holy Spirit, love and free will along with spiritual gifts like wisdom, understanding, faith, truth, justice and beauty that are inherently connected to provide humanity with a life of purpose.
Jesus Christ the Savior, salvation and eternal life are gifts that have an everlasting value that transcend the limitations of time and earthly life.
Repentance and forgiveness signifies reconciliation with God and the hope of eternal life.
The prodigal acknowledges his sins by turning to Jesus Christ and asking for forgiveness and deliverance.
God's Gift of Love
God sent His only Son into the world to fulfill “the Law and the Prophets” which form the basis for Jewish and Christian religious thought.
Love is the foundation of God's relationship with humanity that is unconditional and redemptive.
Moral Compass
The moral compass always points in an ethical direction to guide through values and ideals that lead to wholesome life.
The Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer (taught by Jesus) and The Lord is my Shepherd (Psalm 23) for example, were Divinely Designed for the well-being of every individual.
Unconditional Love
Unconditional love is Divinely intended to unite two people.
It offers security and stability with someone you can trust and are comfortable.
In the spiritual sense, love is motivated by a strong desire to serve our fellow human being without expecting anything in return.

Freewill and Love

Freewill aligned with God's Will reflects love, justice and righteousness.
Abraham
Abraham made the Covenant with God to journey to Canaan, the promised land so he and his descendants would inherit the land and become a great nation.
Moses
Moses' call to discipleship, found in Exodus 3-4, is a pivotal event where God chooses him to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage.
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments are ethical directives inscribed by the Finger of God, on two stone tablets, were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, who then delivered them to the Israelites emphasizing the importance of righteous life.
Free Will and Evil
Free will also enables the potential for evil encompassing actions, thoughts, and behaviors that are in opposition to God and His Commandments.
Ultimately, evil leads to dysfunction, suffering and destruction.
Humanity can choose to disobey God's will, leading to consequences.
Freewill and Love
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan which lead to the fall of humanity and the introduction of suffering into the world.
Cain and Abel
The story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4, illustrates what the consequences of envy and greed within human nature can do.
Cain murdered his brother, Abel, making him the first murderer in the Biblical history.
Samson and Delilah
In Hebrew history, the cunning Delilah betrayed Samson to discover the secret of his strength which was his long hair.
The moral of the story is to be careful to whom you share your secrets.
Jezebel
Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, the king of Northern Israel in the Old Testament, is known as an archetype of the wicked woman who by manipulation and seduction, misled the Saints of God into sins of idolatry and sexual immorality.
She is responsible for the killing of many prophets and tried to have the prophet Elijah killed as well
King Herod
Driven by a prophecy about a new king during the Birth of Jesus Christ, Herod ordered the slaughter of all male infants under two years old in Bethlehem to eliminate a perceived threat to his throne.
He was a cruel tyrant who would execute anyone he deemed a threat to his reign, including his first wife and three of his sons.
Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
The Bible highlights the presence of evil through the actions of the Jewish Pharisees, the Roman authorities and the disciple, Judas Iscariot.
The Pharisees viewed Jesus as a threat to their established order and collaborated with the Roman authorities to have him arrested, accusing Him of sedition and blasphemy.
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus Christ's Twelve Disciples, betrayed Him to the religious authorities for 30 pieces of silver leading to His arrest and trial before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.
Pontius Pilate ultimately sentenced Jesus Christ to Crucifixion after yielding to the demands of the crowd and the Jewish authorities.

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