The “will” of man refers to man’s innate (natural) ability to make decisions, to have a choice for self-determination¾ which is the power or ability to make one’s own choices, set personal goals, and act independently without external control. Thus, to have God’s input into our lives as the supreme guidance and director, giving Divine wisdom and discernment in our decision making is entirely by the will of man, meaning one may choose to continue to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil being independent of God, or may willfully eat of the Tree of Life coming into union with God through Jesus Christ.
The will is a gift from God our creator, enabling us to be creative, have purpose in life and to do extraordinary things like build a skyscraper, send a man to the moon, find cures for diseases and paint a scene (Michelangelo) of creation on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, or just decide to take a long walk or stay home and take a nap. However, it is also a gift that needs redemption; it has the power to decide but is corrupted by sin. We must remember our first parent’s, Adam and Eve’s, ill-fated decision to reject God’s involvement in their lives in favor of independence and eating of that Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Thus, sin entered into their, and now our, lives corrupting critical decision making. So now we can understand how the darkness of wars, terrorism, adultery, child abuse, corruption in governments, alcoholism, and the multitude of addictions that plague our lives, kill our children, break up our marriages, and inflect many different forms of physical and mental pain and suffering came upon all the inhabitants of the earth..
Mankind needs divine intervention to truly choose right from wrong, good from evil and to make it a way of life not just an incidental decision; and to fulfill the highest Divine intention for the will, and that is to grow in a relationship with God and to have the qualities of His divine character work into our lives. In other words, natural man lacks the inner ability to determine and make choices that are in harmony with the perfect will of God. Instead, man independently forms his own opinions, makes his own determinations, and decides for himself what is best for his or her life, accepting its consequences, for himself or on others. The need for Divine intervention is great. Along with all the advances in science and technology that has advanced our knowledge, extending our lives, and making life easier, there is a complete moral breakdown in society, corruption in world governments, ramped increase in drug addiction, and marked increase in all kinds of mental and emotional disorders, to name but a few sinful adversities corrupting the world.
Sin lies at the door of the dilemma. Whether mankind wants to admit it or not, or if he even realizes it, his will has been compromised by an inordinate desire to please one’s self, the love of self for power, wealth, esteem, feel good pleasure, pride, and self-control. This focus on oneself, with little regard for the feelings or desires of others, is termed egocentric, meaning being self-centered. While it is true that man is not void of doing good things for others, we must understand the basis for those good things always returns to the self, so that in doing the good, it makes the “self” feel good. The Bible refers to these deeds as dead works, because their origin is not led of the Spirit of God but of the self-nature corrupted by sin.
Perhaps the greatest example of this is the idea or concept of “love.” In a simple statement we can say that mankind loves because it makes him or her feel good while being attracted to another, and as soon as those feelings of attraction change, for whatever the reason, this love diminishes and leaves completely. No one word can define the varied use of this word of love; we will examine only three and examine how they relate to the will of man and to sin. These are, in the Greek New Testament: eros, philia, and agape love.
Eros love. Eros lies the closest to the animal instinct of love. Here, we supposedly “love” another because this love makes one “feel” good, especially physically. It is a romantic kind of love, sensual, even sometimes erotic in nature; tending to arouse sexual desires. This is “love” in its lowest, most animalistic form. Personally, I like to be romantic, to show my affection, expressing myself through heartfelt actions. However, eros can be extremely self-centered and lead to inappropriate and immoral lusts and sin. The word eros is not used in the Bible but its idea is, and is described as an intense, selfish craving that often leads to sin. It is characterized as a “lust of the flesh” or “lust of the eyes” that originate in the heart of fallen man. Jesus stated that even looking at someone with this lustful intent is committing adultery in the heart. (Mt. 5.28) Thus, eros can be a very compulsive and sinful act of the will leading to sin.
In many parts of the world the expression of eros love is no longer reserved for the married couple, rather it has found a complete sinful freedom of expression in society, as couples “hook up” for one-night stands, or simply live together as partners, even more perversely as homosexual men and lesbian women. In the USA it is estimated about 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have experienced attempted or completed rape because people do not control this eros rage inside, both men and women alike. Today, there is estimated more than 42 million children survivors of sexual abuse in America. The extent of pedophilia, sexual abuse of children by priests in the Catholic Church, shocked the world involving many thousands of young boys and girls. It was reported in a 2022 study that international sex trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation was estimated at 27.6 million.
The decision to rape or sodomize or in any way control another for sexual pleasure involves the will of man; that is, he or she intentionally decides to give into their urges to do it. This represents the perverse exercise of man’s free will and self-centeredness involving eros love; clearly exposing the contamination of man’s will by sin.
Philia love. Our focus here is only partially on understanding the concept of love, but is mainly concerned with using love as an example of how innate sin corrupts man’s free will and steals it away from God’s original purpose. Both philia and agape are translated “love” in New Testament translations and no distinction is made between them. Here we will make that distinction.
Philia love is a natural love resulting from an emotional attraction to another; a strong fondness. Where eros was more a physical or fleshly love, philia is of the soul and its emotions. Philia lovefeels emotionally good to be in the company of another. The Pennsylvania city, Philadelphia, derives its name from this kind of love, “The city of Brotherly Love.” Long lasting friendships with others develop this way, soul mates, even marriages. Because this love rides on emotions and feelings, it may or may not be lasting. People “fall into” this love and equally “fall out” of this love. One may be attracted by some good qualities of character in another and is drawn closer to them, only to find later some unacceptable behavior patterns that lead to broken relationships and even divorce¾ sometimes even ending in hatred for one another.
Statistics show that the divorce rate in the USA hovers around 31% to 50% but may be “only” 25% less among church goers. Divorce and adultery in the world is understandable, but within the church, and among clergy, it is unacceptable. Personally, I stand by the principle that two born-again children of God will lead to a healthy and enduring relationship¾ but the emphasis here is on both being “born again” of the Spirit of Christ. Sin will have a most difficult time putting a wedge in this relationship. Philia love can be strengthened over time and friendships and marriages grow stronger and more stable. Personally, I have been blessed over-abundantly by my wife of over 63 years. I have no boast, but only thanks for the grace of God.
A true believer learns to control their emotions and not become overly obsessive leading to jealousy, or being overly possessive leading to control and manipulation. We must remember that philia love is still selfish in that the fundamental attraction to another makes one feel good, and that any disruption in that feeling can lead to arguments and disagreements. A gentle personality “can” easily be manipulated by another for a more harmonious relationship, whereas a dominant personality cannot be manipulated and often leads to conflicts. Marriage counseling, whether done by a professional psychologist or church pastor, is a form of soulish therapy, dealing with emotions, attitudes, personalities; it helps partners identify, understand, and resolve these conflicts and to improve the quality of the relationship. However, there is a better and higher way, and that is possessing agape love, which is not fleshly love, nor love of the soul, but emanates from the inner spirit of the heart.
Agape Love. Agape love is not a natural love, meaning that one does not possess this potential at birth, nor can it be taught and learned. Rather, it is born of the spirit, a spirit in relationship with God. Agape love is sacrificial, unconditional, and volitional (of the will)¾ it is often referred to as a “love of choice,” because it is a result of the act of the will; one deliberately chooses to make selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial decisions for the highest good of another, regardless of feelings of attraction or of repulsion, or needing any response or merit from another. This truly represents the unconditional love of God which stands in stark contrast to romantic (eros) or affectionate (philia) love.
Before Christ, before the cross, before redemption and reconciliation to God, mankind could not function in an unconditional love relationship, even with God. Conditional covenants were made, such as the Old Covenant (O.T.), to ensure the relationship. Read carefully the words of the covenant and note the “if” and “then” conditions:
Ex. 19.5-6 “5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Israel was to show their love to God by their complete obedience to the Law, a system of 610 commandments and statutes. The covenant was conditional, “If” the people obeyed the Law, “then” they would become His people and live under His blessings. “If” however they became disobedient to the Law, “then” they would not only lose their blessings but actually come under Divine curses. Before redemption, this was the highest form of love man could understand and receive. However, Hebrews 8 writes,
Heb. 8.7-8,10 “7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
Do you see here the higher form of a love relationship God desired from the beginning. Not of the flesh, not even of the soul, but something deeper with the core of man’s heart, his spirit. He said, “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Agape love is that law in our mind and written on our hearts. It comes not by feelings, emotions, or obedience to commandments, but it comes as a life principle, that is, we live and experience it.
Jesus said in Jn. 13.34,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love (agape) one another; as I have loved (agape) you, that you also love (agape) one another.”
A new commandment. This new commandment is connected to the fact that Jesus introduced the word “agape” for love, representing a new and higher kind of an unconditional covenant, founded upon the highest standard of God: agape love; it is without motive, void of emotions, only selflessly giving over to the welfare of another. This love can only come from the spiritual presence of Jesus Christ “in” one’s life; it is outside the power of man to live in agape love because natural man needs a reason to love, and this agape love does not require a reason; it is what it is, a simple love of the will, to choose to love unconditionally from the heart.
And so, the second idea to making this commandment new is reflected in the word “as” or sometimes written “even as I have loved (agape) you.” Jesus brackets this statement, “even as I have loved (agape) you,” both before and after with, “that you also love (agape) one another,” therefore double reinforcing the commandment that we should love one another in like manner to how He loves them (and us.) This is a most strongly engaging commandment, to choose to agape love one another just as Christ freely loves us, regardless of our unworthiness and ungratefulness. It is to love one another though there may be many things in them that are disagreeable; it is to love regardless of personality, making no distinctions, whether poor or rich, weak or strong, lesser or greater, bold or meek, to choose to agape love one another not in word only, but in deed and in truth, in sincere caring love to serve one another believer.
Love one another. An important final note is to be made on this verse, Jn. 13.34; and that is to reinforce the idea of “one another,” translated elsewhere as each other, or themselves. Jesus is not speaking of the world here, but of this unique band of believers, today called the Church, in which there is a true melting pot of the diversity of peoples; of strange and distinct cultures, languages, races, lifestyles, personalities, and characters; of rich and poor, of educated and illiterate, of male and female, of old and young, of wise and foolish, of strong and weak, of handsome and uncomely. The world separates these differences into political boundaries, into classes of people, and into hierarchy of status, often with animosities between them. Throughout history there have been conflicts and struggles, even hatred between nations, and between tribes, between sexes, and races and ideologies. In the world people choose to hate, to exclude, to enslave, to belittle, and to look down upon others who are different for whatever the reason.
The term “melting pot” has been used to describe the great American experiment in which immigrants have adopted the American culture and blended into this new society, But now spiritually, the Church has become a truer melting pot, not a mixture mind you, not a gathering of diverse peoples, but one “new man.” Perhaps the greatest distinction of mankind in the earth is between the Jew and the Gentile. Here lies a great gulf in culture, language, and ideology. Surrounding the Jewish nation of Israel today are many nations that truly hate the Jewish people and live to see their annihilation. And now Christianity is thrown into the mix. Note now Eph. 2.14-18,
“14For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
One new man. All believers are under the spiritual obligation to acknowledge, not only his kindred ties to every other Christian, but to the oneness and love they share in Christ and with Christ. This bond that holds us all together, as one, is the same bond that holds each in relation to Christ, so that this bond ought to influence our attitude and agape love for one another. Col. 1.17 “And He (Christ) is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” The sad condition of the Church today is the tragic sign of the lack of this love as seen among the brethren, which needs to be exposed and talked about. Why is it so difficult, what is the reason, for this commandment to “(agape) love one another as I have (agape) loved you” to become so difficult to choose to obey, to become real and active in our lives? It is a grievous error within the Church causing it to be more religious in nature rather than the living “body of Christ.” What is the missing element?
The first step to this realization is to embrace the truth that Jesus Christ so loved each and every believer just as He has loved you and me, and that His agony and crucifixion on the cross was equally for all believers. His death was no more for any race or group of people or less for any soul. The second step is to consider the weakness of our grasp of the most fundamental, yet elusive, aspect of salvation, and that is, “to the measure in which we are filled with the Spirit of Christ, it is in that measure will come forth the expression of His Spirit and His life, and His will, and His love of the brethren; it will become real “in” us and “through” us. One may enter the Body of Christ a sinner, but transformation of that nature must begin immediately.
Any object on the earth, a granite rock or pond of water, can only emit warmth to the degree it has absorbed its energy from the sun¾ little absorption, little emission. A granite rock contains no energy in itself; it is 100% reliant on the sun. Believers have no capacity within themselves to emit, or express the love of Christ, agape love, but can only show forth this love to the measure of the indwelling Christ.
Just how much do you really believe revealed truths like:
Col. 1.27 “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” And,
Gal. 2.20 “ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” And,
Eph. 4.11-13 “11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; “
To be able to memorize those scriptures, to be able to recite them word for word, and to reference them is good and complimentary, but that is not faith, it is mere rote memorization. And therein is the problem. Faith is required to activate the Word of God and to have it effectively work in our lives. We must read and re-read it, meditate upon it, reflect upon it, pray, and above all to “receive” it into our hearts. This is very, very important. It also involves the will to believe, accept, and receive, or consciously, welcome it into our heart. It is by grace that “all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” 2 Cor. 1.20 And all those promises of eternal life, the resurrection, inheritances, and so on are there for whosoever would believe (have faith) and receive them. One may say, ”I am saved by grace because it says so in Eph. 2.8. But just memorizing it and saying it does not make it so. It only makes it religious but does not impart life. If something is offered to you, it is not yours until you receive it, until you willfully reach out and lay hold of it with a grateful heart. Then, the Word of God becomes active and powerful, and effectively works in you who believe. (See 1 Thes. 2.13) Conclusion. And so, are the inner workings of the will of man, sin, and the highest expression of our faith, agape love now made clear? Oh the Divine gift of our wills is such a blessing and for which we are eternally grateful. But sin is ever present as long as we are alive on the earth, sin, like gravity, is everywhere, and is a force acting to distort and nullify the truth of the Word of God, making it ineffective in our lives. It is by faith the believer overcomes evil, lies, distortions, and religion itself, so that the highest and greatest gift of God, His own love, becomes active in our lives to the measure of the stature of Christ in us. Amen.
