Collinsville-Troy CHURCH OF CHRIST

Unconditional Love

Clifton Angel

In the Greek, it is the word agape, which has nearly be-come an English word in the world of Biblical studies. The best definition from my finite mind for "unconditional love" is: doing or saying something beneficial for another, expecting nothing in return. It is sacrificial. A better definition is seen by its use in the New Testament. Let's consider also a passage from the Old Testament where the word is absent, but its meaning is exemplified.

First, unconditional love is the essence of God. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16). "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8). "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16). Second, it is expressed by true disciples of Jesus. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matt 5:44).

Third, it is expected of Christian husbands. "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them" (Col 3:19). "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph 5:25).

Fourth, unconditional love was exemplified in the days of Daniel. Three Hebrew youths, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (more commonly known by their Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) were put in roles of leadership in Babylon following Daniel's interpretation of the king's dream (Daniel 2-3). King Nebuchadnezzar erected a statue of gold and made a decree for all to worship the statue (Daniel 3). The three Hebrew youths refused to do so, and so Nebuchadnezzar threatened them with death in a fiery furnace if they continued. Listen to their response to the king: "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up" (Daniel 3:17-18). What a tremendous love and faith these three men had for God. They had faith that he could and would save them from the fiery furnace; however, they loved God so much that they would still be faithful to Him, even if He did not save them from the fiery furnace. Do we love God that much?

He loves us that much, and more. So much more that He sent His only Son to save the world, knowing most of the world would reject Him. The sacrifice has been made. Will we love Him? Certainly, "He first loved us" (1 John 4:19)!

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS
-https://bulletingoldextra.blogspot.com/2026/07/unconditional-love.html

The Astonishing Servant of Jehovah

David R. Ferguson

In the final portion of the Book of Isaiah, a dramatic shift occurs. No longer is it the book about condemnation for Judah's and Israel's rebellion, chapters 40 through 66 of Isaiah are all about grace and salvation, and grace and salvation. Now, who's going to bring this grace and salvation to the world? Who's going to be the one to provide this deliverance? The answer is the Servant of the Lord, the Servant of the Lord. I say it twice because that's how Isaiah says it. That's how Jesus is designated here. The Hebrew word used is ebed, and it means slave or servant. It's used many hundreds of times in the Old Testament. So what we have here from Isaiah is a prophetic Messianic reference to Jesus as the Slave of Jehovah, the Servant of Jehovah. He's the One Who will bring salvation. He's the One Who will bring us comfort. He's the One Who will bring us the forgiveness of sins. He's the One Who becomes the theme of this final section of the Book of Isaiah.

Now let's go to chapter 53 for a moment, with just that kind of broad picture. And you will find in verses 13 of 52, "Behold My Servant, Behold My Servant,"" My ebed, My Slave. This is the same designation that has been indicated much earlier in this section of the Book of Isaiah. This is the fourth of specific prophecies regarding this Servant to come. Chapter 42 is one, chapter 49 is another, and chapter 50 verses 4 to 11 is the third. This here is the fourth of what we would call Isaiah's Servant songs, or Servant prophecies.

Now in this presentation of the Servant before us, the Prophet calls on us to look at this Servant and be astonished. This is the most complete, most powerful, and most important revelation of the Messiah in the entire Old Testament, right here in front of us in Isaiah.

In Isaiah 53, we read of the Suffering Servant to come. "All of us like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way. But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He didn't open His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and as for His generation, who consider that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of My people to whom the stroke was due. His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief."

May God bless you in the knowledge that His Servant died for you! May this knowledge grant you further peace in knowing that Jesus is the way of life to life eternally in Heaven!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH
-Article obtained from bulletingold.com