John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

In this verse, the Greek word agape is the closest the Greek language can come to the Hebrew word racham רהם .

Agape speaks of a love that flows just from one person or source and may or may not be returned to complete a circle that brings incredible joy. It speaks of a deep love, compassion, and tender mercy toward or for another. The Lord had tender mercy upon Jerusalem in Zechariah 1:12 and on the house of Judah and the house of David in Zechariah 10:6. Then in Exodus 33:19b, the Lord says, “[I]. . . will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show MERCY on whom I will show MERCY.”

God extends a love that is poured out from His very essence. A love that is cherishing, soothing, and gentle, as in keeping someone close in a warm and tender embrace in the emotion of the mind. 

Proverbs 28:13 says, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy (racham). This incredible love fully restores them by His tender-mercies. In other words, God will love them up! (Compare with 1 John 1:9.)

Unlike agape, however, racham speaks of a completed love for it is a love returned, completing the circle and bringing cause for a great celebration.

One can love with chav, which in Hebrew is a love that is not returned. But, with racham the circle is complete and brings great joy! When a husband unites with his bride, they equally share in a rachem kind of love, a love that is dedicated and committed before the eyes of the world. 

When God expresses this chav (agape) love to the world, many do not return it. So, they live in this life in an incomplete, broken circle. When someone returns His love to Him, the circle is complete, and all of heaven breaks out in a celebration that is so intense that tears flow as when we see two people becoming one at a wedding.

Even now, we as Christ’s Church are engaged to our Groom, Jesus! Our wedding day is coming, but right now we can already enjoy a celebration because of the present experiential circle of love.

(Part 2 coming soon.)