What Is Love?

The following article is Lesson 3 from my book, Superhero University: The Ultimate Superhero Training Manual:

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Superheroes, having the correct understanding of what is good and right, are full of love, and they are compelled to act out from love. This is the only reason we can distinguish the hero from the villain. Spider-Man doesn’t save a falling person from splatting on the ground because he hates the person he saves, right? The superhero saves someone from danger/death because he/she has love for the person he/she is saving. In stark contrast, the villain performs acts of evil, not love. Again, evil is merely a privation of what is good; hatred is a privation or lack of love. It is written in James 2:8 that we are doing right by living a life of love toward others. But what is love? 

Love is not something we can have or hold like materialists would like us to believe. Not everything in life can be boiled down to materialism. Think about it: Can you describe the physical features of love or even the thought about love? How much does love weigh? Of what is the love molecule comprised? There is no infinity stone of love we can possess that can be contained in a gauntlet. In fact, of all the infinity stones Thanos (from the Avengers) had been able to collect that provided him with seemingly unlimited power and ability, it is evident that he lacked love, and that is why he had no qualms about murdering half of the created creatures in the universe—including his own daughter! In fact, Thanos had to sacrifice love in order to be able to obtain one of the infinity stones. Ultimately, Thanos traded love for power because he could not possess both. 

But what is love? And why do humans possess the capability to love? If love is not a material that can be weighed, or measured, how are humans able to possess love? How do we even know that love exists? Does love exist? We know that love exists—not because humans have defined the term—but because the Creator provided the definition of love and humans live by that defined divine design. 

Think about this: Oxygen—the air we breathe—exists whether humanity believes in it or not. In fact, oxygen exists even if humans call it something else. Humanity never created or invented oxygen; we merely discovered it. Likewise, love exists whether humanity believes love exists or not. Love exists even if humans call it something else. In fact, the definition of love is so confused by many humans because they believe it to be something it is not. Many people misuse the word love when they are actually referring to something else that love is not. And this is why it is important that the word love be clearly defined. 

(1 John 4:7–8, NLT)
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

(1 John 4:19, ESV)
“We love because he first loved us.”

Scripture makes sense. If GOD is love, then we would love because GOD first loved us because GOD created us. We are able to love because GOD is love and we are from GOD. If love is GOD, then we must know who GOD is so we can better understand what love is. So who is GOD? We will examine that in detail in Lesson 32, but for now suffice it to say that GOD is love and the absolute moral standard and therefore provides the definition of love (which we will soon examine and define). But we can also better understand love by examining what love is not. 

Love Is Not An Emotion 

Many people in the world claim that love is an emotion, but that simply isn’t true. Love affects our emotions and even causes us to produce emotions within us, but love is not an emotion in and of itself. You may claim that you can feel as if someone loves you, but love is not a feeling. 

Love Is Not Sexual Intercourse 

It is unwise to confuse sex for love and love for sex. Sex needs love to be relevant and meaningful; however, love does not need sex to be relevant and meaningful. A person can have sex with another person simply for the pleasure all while possessing no love for that individual. Examples of this, of course, is prostitution or rape. Such acts of sexual intercourse are meaningless because there is no love in the act of sex. That kind of sex serves a selfish purpose, but has no ultimate meaning. And of course, sex isn’t necessary for love to exist, to be relevant and be meaningful (I will expound upon this later when I define love). Now sex may be found in one of the definitions of love (Eros—I’ll get to this soon), but Eros is within the definition of love; love is ultimately selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. A distorted desire is often misconstrued, mistaken as love. It is unwise to confuse lust for love. 

Even if love is not an emotion, a feeling, or even the act of sexual intercourse, does it matter if love can be clearly defined? If so, why does it matter? Consider what is written: 

(1 Corin. 13:1–3, NLT)
“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”

The definition of love matters because GOD is love and GOD created us in His image (Gen. 1:27). For without GOD, love would not matter because life would ultimately be meaningless and purposeless. And if we are to be loving beings, it is important that we understand the definition of love. 

What Is Love? 

(1 Corin. 13:4–8, NLT)
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!”

Love Is an Action 

Though it is not specifically and solely the act of sexual intercourse, love is definitely an action; it is something we do. Read verses 4–7 again and take notice of the fourteen different active descriptions the Holy Spirit (via Paul) uses to define love (patience, kindness, etc.). It’s important to note that this is not Paul’s definition of love, but the definition of love written by Paul while he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

Love Is a Choice 

The fourteen active descriptions are actions that we choose to do or not to do. There’s a nonsensical saying that states, “You can’t help who you love.” But yes—you can! We get to decide if we love and who we will love if we decide to love. And this is because we have free will (discussed in Lesson 41). 

Also, there’s a saying that states, “I fell in love.” It sounds so romantic, but this is also nonsense. Love is not a hole or trapdoor we can fall in. You don’t fall in love any more than you fall out of love. Love is a choice. You choose to love. You choose not to love. People do not fall in love; people decide to love. People do, however, fall into the trapdoor of lust. When people talk about love at first sight, what they really mean is lust at first sight. Now is it possible to possess love for someone at first sight? General love? Yes. Complete love? No. Love in the sense that you want the best for someone? Yes. Love in the sense that you desire the best for someone despite all his/her flaws and mistakes? No. It’s not possible to love someone so deeply at first sight because you wouldn’t know the flaws and mistakes associated with the person. And how is it possible to truly love someone unless you love despite the flaws and mistakes? 

Love, in a nutshell, is the good you will show toward someone and/or others. It’s treating someone else with the qualities described in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. Take the Supreme Superhero (Jesus) as an example (after all, the Savior is the definition of love and the ultimate example of love): 

(John 15:12–13, NLT)
“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

However, the Supreme Superhero goes even further by commanding us to love our enemies (Matt. 5:43–48). And then the Savior did exactly that—Jesus went out and laid down His life for us by dying on the cross as our atoning sacrifice while being mocked, spat on, beaten, lacerated, and murdered by those who hated Him for no good reason. Love is caring more for others than for self because love is selfless. Love is sacrificial. Love is unconditional. 

Love Defined 

Unlike the English language, which uses the one word of love ambiguously, the ancient Greek language used different words to define the one word of love so that people wouldn’t be confused as to which definition of love should be inferred. Examine the four following words and their associated definitions: 

• Storge/stergo—This is a familial love such as the love of a parent toward offspring and vice versa. Devotion can be a key word associated with this type of love.

• Phileo—This love is companionable and relational. It means brotherly/sisterly love or friendship. It carries the idea of two or more people who feel compatible with each other.

• Eros—This is the word for sexual or romantic love. In fact, this is where we get the word erotic. This word implies a sexual demand. And because it is unwise to confuse lust for love, it is imperative that we not confuse lust for Eros. The passion and intimacy of Eros is to be confined within the covenant bond between husband and wife, as was designed by the Designer. Lust is only about the pelvic thrust, to seek pleasure and fulfill a selfish desire. Lust is committed only to fulfilling a distorted desire whereas love (eros) is committed to fulfilling the needs of the partner within the covenant union. Therefore, be wise: pursue love and reject thoughts produced from the lustful lair of the Liar—they are lies created in the cave of the contemptible con artist and Counterfeiter, the Salesman that is Satan. Don’t buy the lies. Even a lustful look is adultery in the heart (Matt. 5:28). Money can’t buy you love. And no—that’s actually not from the Beatles—it’s from the Song of Solomon 8:7.

• Agape—This is the highest and deepest level of love. This is the ultimate love and is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. This is the love of GOD. This is the type of love all superheroes should possess. 

(1 Pet. 4:8, NLT)
“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

Love covers a multitude of sins? Is that true? Yes! In fact, that is exactly what Jesus did for us:

(Rom. 5:6–8, NLT)
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

For love, compassion is the key and empathy is everything: 

(Luke 23:34, NLT)
“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

Jesus is able to see us as His precious people, not a pervasive problem such as a plague. The Savior sees us as eternal beings, not mortal enemies. The Supreme Superhero sees us as family who belong in His heavenly home, not failures to be flung in the fiery furnace. Hell is where evil belongs and will ultimately be quarantined, but GOD doesn’t desire for us to go to that awful place. In fact, the Lord desires for everyone to be saved and doesn’t take any delight in the destruction of the wicked (Ezek. 18:21–23; 33:11; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). 

Jesus is our awesome, ardent advocate who absorbed for us the penalty of sin. Apostle Paul assists us by providing an important reminder that helps us put people into proper perspective: 

(Eph. 6:12, NLT)
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

It is of the utmost importance that all superheroes remember this: we are to hate evil/sin, but we are to love people. 

Conclusion 

1. Love never fails. 

(Song of Sol. 8:7, NLT)
“Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.”

2. Love perfects us. 

(1 John 4:12–18, NLT)
“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”

3. Love is supreme. 

(1 Corin. 13:13, NLT)
“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

Reflection 

If you want to be a superhero, you must possess love and choose to love others. A superhero can only be a superhero if the hero first and foremost possesses love for others. Do you possess love for others? If not, you resemble a villain. But wait—is that a fair statement? Consider the words of the Supreme Superhero:

(Matt. 12:30, ESV)
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

The late and great Martin Luther King Jr. once posed a powerful question to the clergymen of Alabama in his renowned letter, “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” He asked, “So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love?” 

And that’s not a fallacy of false dilemma—if we’re not loving others, then…we’re not loving people. Therefore, I implore everyone to examine the motives and intentions of each and every choice/decision you make. Are you able to recognize good from bad? Right from wrong? Are you living a life of love or hate? For if you’re not living a life of love, what are you doing and what is your life? I choose to live an extreme life of love (not lust), and I urge you to do the same. Don’t scatter. Be a gatherer. Ironically, the best way to be a gatherer of people is to scatter seeds of love. How many seeds of love can you sow today? 

So ask yourself, do you love others? From where did you get this desire to love? Do you feel compelled to act out from love? If so, why do you think that is? All superheroes possess love for people. If you love people, then you possess one of the qualities of a superhero and you just might be one someday! 

Superhero University: The Ultimate Superhero Training Manual

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Superhero: Identity

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If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below…

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This is Part 14 of my Superhero series. In the introduction of this series, I provided the argument that heroes are real and then I distinguished between heroes and superheroes. I also provided a list of what defines a superhero. In Part 1, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute standard of Good and realize that evil is a mere privation of what is good. In Part 2, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute moral standard and realize that what is wrong can only be known by the standard of what is right. In Part 3, I defined and expounded upon love because all superheroes are full of love and are compelled to act out from love. In Part 4, I explained that superheroes desire to save people from all forms of danger and/or death and this desire comes from love. In Part 5, we learned that superheroes are solution seekers. In Part 6, we saw that solution seekers are willing to sacrifice if necessary. In Part 7, we saw that sacrificial love steps forward and offers service. In Part 8, we saw that superheroes go above and beyond the call of duty. In Part 9, we saw that superheroes never give up! In Part 10, we saw that superheroes don’t need recognition – they are motivated only by love! In Part 11, we saw that relationships matter and teamwork works! In Part 12, we saw that the struggle is real; however, Jesus is the real solution to our real problems. In Part 13, we saw that despite problems, superheroes are more than conquerors!

In this message (Part 14), we will see that true superheroes do not have identity crises – they know who they are even if others don’t!

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If some random citizen told Clark Kent, “Superman is an evil villain who needs to be stopped because he thinks he is an invincible god who deserves to be worshipped,” would that make the citizen’s statement true? If some random citizen told Bruce Wayne, “Batman needs to be thrown in jail because he is a superhero-‘wannabe’-vigilante-thug who encourages others to become vigilantes and that only makes it harder for the police to do their jobs”, would that make the citizen’s statement true? If a random citizen told Diana Prince, “Wonder Woman is just an extreme feminist who is only trying to emasculate men,” would that make the citizen’s statement true? Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman know who they are – even if others fail to recognize them for who they truly are.

What if a random person told others that you are a slut because you have slept around with multiple guys? Would that be true if you were actually a virgin? What if an atheist tells you that you are not a superhero because Saviors don’t exist? Would that make the atheist’s statement true? Is your identity determined by what others think about you?

What if you don’t intentionally give a false or misleading account of another person’s character, but you do it without realizing it? What if others don’t intentionally misrepresent you, but they do it without realizing it? Who or what determines identity?

First Impressions

What do you do when you first meet someone? Well, depending on whether you are a teenager or an adult, you will typically act in one of two ways:

(1)  Teen Friendship only:  

• Get his/her name?
• Ask what he/she likes to do?
• Find out where he/she usually hangs out?
• Do you know any of the same people?
• Find out what you have in common.
• Discern who the person is and if you want that person to be in your life. 

(2)  Teen Romantic interest:  

• Robot mode. Judge by appearance. Scan the subject.
• Facial recognition: approved. Does not need a bag over the head.
• Body: mid-section: approved.
• Body: lower-section: there’s some junk in the trunk but that’s okay because I like big butts and I cannot lie—
• We don’t even think about who they are! They could be the most attractive serial killer you’ve ever met, but it doesn’t matter so long as you get to have sexual intercourse with that person.

(3)  Adult friendship only:  (Adults are typically worse than teens.)

• What’s your name? (I don’t care; I won’t remember)
• What do you do for a living? (Do I have a better career than you? Do I make more money than you? Am I better than you? Can I benefit from knowing you?)

(4)  Adult romantic interest:  (Adults do the same thing as teenagers.)

(5)  Friendships vs. romantic relationships:

• Is it any wonder why so many friendships tend to last a long time — even a lifetime?
•  Is it any wonder why so many romantic relationships end in heartache, pain, and divorce?
• When seeking friendships, we typically seek to discover the person’s identity and character (teenagers more so than adults).
• When seeking romantic relationships, however, we typically seek to find what is physically attractive and then try to force that person to become the best friend we’re hoping to find.

Identity: Known or Unknown?

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ ‘Well,’ they replied, ‘some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.’ Then he asked them, ‘But who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.’ ”
(Matthew 16:13-17) -NLT

Gameshow:  Guess Who

Let’s play a fun game with a serious message. Get out a piece of paper and a writing utensil. Write the numbers one through eight on the paper, listing the numbers vertically, with each new number below the previous number. I am going to describe to you eight different people, one at a time. As I am describing each person to you, I want you to try to imagine what each person looks like. First, imagine whether the person is male or female. Write it down — male or female. After you assume the gender of the person, I want you to imagine the age, height, and even the weight of the person. I want you to also imagine if the person has a lot of facial hair or if the person is clean shaven. Imagine the person’s skin tone, hair color and even the eye color. Does the person have freckles? Does the person have scars? What clothing would the person be wearing? Be as specific as possible in your guess as to who this person is. If you know who the person is, simply write the name down. 

IDENTITY #1

Description:  

This person had a sister and a brother who both died at an early age. Not too much longer after the death of both siblings, this person’s mother also died. This person eventually became a part-owner of a store, but the business failed. This person studied law. This person eventually fell in love; however, this person’s love interest also eventually died. With only two saddlebags to hold all of this person’s possessions, this person moved to a new city to live in at the age of 28. This person eventually got into politics. This person ran for president year after year and got rejected year after year; however, this person finally got elected as the president of the United States at the age of 52.

Identity Revealed:  

It was only after years of rejection and ‘failure’ that this man succeeded. That man was Abraham Lincoln.

IDENTITY #2

Description:  

This person was born in 1929. This person lived in a confined space with many other people and felt as if the atmosphere was suffocating at times. At the age of only 15, this person got arrested. At the young age of 16, this person died from typhoid fever; in addition, all family members, with the exception of the father, ended up dying. But the father found this person’s diary and this diary became famous.

Identity Revealed:  

The young girl named Anne Frank eventually went on to inspire millions of people despite the fact that she wasn’t even alive here on Earth. Her father (the only remaining family member) found Anne’s diary, was amazed by her maturity and character and then got it published. Anne provided wonderful insight into a dark moment of history inundated with Nazis and also showed the world that maturity can be found in youth and a hero can look like a female. She was 16 years of age! You are not too young to make a difference!

IDENTITY #3

Description:  

This person was born in Australia. As a child, this person struggled mentally, emotionally, and even physically. At one point, this person considered suicide. At the age of 21, this person graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and with a double major in accountancy and financial planning. This person is now a Christian evangelist and motivational speaker.

Identity Revealed:  

This person is Nick Vujicic; he was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs. Nick has encouraged, motivated and inspired millions of people simply because he overcame and never quit. Though he lives a life without limbs, his heart propels him in the right direction and helps him live a victorious life for GOD.

IDENTITY #4

Description:  

This person was one of eight siblings and was also the runt of the litter. Being the smallest, this person was sent to watch over sheep rather than being in war or hunting. On one occasion, a special visitor came to the father and desired to choose one of the siblings for a special task and rare position. But on this occasion, this person was excluded from the other siblings and wasn’t even presented as a choice to the special visitor. Neither the father nor the siblings thought very much of this person.

Identity Revealed:  

This person is the great David of the Bible. Even Samuel admitted he wanted to choose David’s brother over David. But GOD’s response in 1Samuel 16:6-7 informs us that GOD does not look at appearance, but looks at the heart.

IDENTITY #5

Description:  

This person dressed with clothing that proclaims importance and that is because this person possesses an important title or position. This person was one of the few who comprised the ruling class in the area. This person was a successful person by human standards. However, this person eventually caused an innocent and much loved man to receive a death sentence and was later despised because of it. 

Identity Revealed:  

This person is one of the many Pharisees whom Jesus opposed and often rebuked. These are the people who seemed like they had it all together and were doing everything right! Though the Pharisees had the appearance of importance and right character, they lacked heart. Examine the words of Jesus regarding the Pharisees:

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others…. Woe to you, blind guides…. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness…. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?”
(Matthew 23:1-5, 16, 27-28, 33) -ESV 

IDENTITY #6

Description:  

You see this person often yet you do not know this person.

Identity Revealed:  

This person is ________.

This person is a part of your normal routine existence. Perhaps it’s the cashier at the grocery store, the student in your class, a co-worker, or even a homeless person you pass by on your way to work or school. If you don’t know this person, I challenge you to get to know him/her! Remember: relationships matter.

IDENTITY #7

Description: 

At the age of 15, this person was noticed by an acting agent in Hollywood, California and became an actor. This person graduated high school early at the age of 16. At the age of 17, this person wrote out a suicide letter, but the suicide was prevented. At the age of 21, this person’s love interest died from a terminal illness. Also, at the age of 21, this person encountered Jesus and became a Christian. At the age of 28, this person came to a crossroad of either compromise or Christ and this person left a successful acting career in order to stay in alignment with GOD’s will. At the age of 35, this person graduated Bible College and Seminary.

Identity Revealed: 

This person is… me (Trenton Gill). To know my entire testimony, see my other article, “My Testimony: from Agnosticism, to Atheism, to Christianity“

IDENTITY #8

Description:  

As a baby, this person was born in a dirty place where animals typically go to eat. There never seemed to be anything remarkable about this person; in fact, this person worked an ordinary job as a typical carpenter. When this person was around 30 years of age, this person went above and beyond to love people. And yet despite this person’s great love, this person was condemned to a death sentence on false accusations and died a horrible death. People mocked this person as this person died.

Identity Revealed:  

This person is Christ Jesus. Jesus — fully GOD — became fully human in order to save us from ourselves. By His great sacrificial love, our bloodstained sinful selves have been whitewashed and cleansed and we will be able to live in His presence for all eternity.

SUMMARY

When I described each person, did the physical appearance or age of the person ever make a difference as to who they ended up becoming?

(1)  Think:  

• Did age or gender ever define his/her character?
• Did all of their ‘current’ jobs, tasks, labels or titles ever define who they would end up becoming?
• Did their history determine their future?

(2)  The heart is the start and most important part:  

• From examples in this game and everyone we read about in the Bible, it is evident that what matters most is the heart. Truly, motive matters.

Game’s Over; Now What? Real Life Begins

(1)  Examine yourself:  

• If I were to write a description about you and share it with someone else, would that person accurately picture your physical features?
• Is the current description of you the person you want to be in the future?
• What do you care about most in life?
• What are your short-term and long-term goals?
• What are your dreams?
• Who do you want to become?
• You need to know your identity. Otherwise, people will tell you who you are and you just might believe them. 

(2)  Examine others:  

• Are you judging someone by their appearance instead of looking at their heart?
• Do you even know enough about someone to write a description about that person’s heart?
• If you don’t know a person well enough to write a description about that person’s heart, then you don’t truly know who they are.

REAL LIFE APPLICATION

Pastor Steve Fender from Livingway Church of San Antonio, Texas shared with me one of the most amazing testimonies I’ve ever heard. After an alter call at one of Steve’s services, a man by the name of Ernest had asked Steve to talk to him and pray with him. Eventually, Ernest confessed to being a Mexican mafia hitman and that he had killed a lot of people. Ernest asked if GOD would still accept him because of all the murders he had committed and Steve told Ernest that no one is too far gone to be saved so long as they repent and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Pastor Steve asked Ernest to lift up his hands in surrender to GOD; Ernest told Steve that he would, but only if Steve would hold his shirt down so that no one would see his gun while his arms were up. Ernest — a hitman with a loaded gun in church service — gave his life to Christ that day and eventually led many other people to Christ. One day, Ernest was shot while walking the streets. When pastor Steve arrived at the scene, Ernest was face down on the ground, already dead. In Ernest’s hand appeared to be a gun; however, it was a copy of the New Testament. The world labeled Ernest as a murderer; Ernest even proclaimed himself to be a murderer at one point; however, Ernest was made new in Christ (2Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22-24) and was called to be a preacher. Ernest’s title of ‘hitman’ was not his true identity. And once Ernest realized his real identity as a child of GOD, he received his true calling and his true title. Repentance and faith bring salvation. Despite his past, Ernest was a preacher and that is how we should remember him.

Identity Known

In Acts 19:13-16, a group of Jews tried to cast out evil spirits “by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims,” but were unsuccessful. These Jews traveled from town to town making a living by claiming to heal people and drive out demons. Often they would recite a whole list of names in their incantation to be sure of including the right deity. Here they were trying to use Jesus’ name in an effort to match Paul’s effectiveness by the power of Jesus. But the men didn’t know Jesus and they only knew of Paul. The power to change people comes only from the Holy Spirit.

“But the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?’ ”
(Acts 19:15) -ESV

Unlike the Jews who were unsuccessful in casting out the evil spirits, we possess the power and can respond rightly: “Of course you know Jesus! And you may not recognize me right now as you recognize Paul, but you most certainly will! You only ask who I am because you’re hoping I don’t know my identity! But I know who I am! Who am I? I’ll tell you who I am – I’m a child of GOD! He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world (1John 4:4)! The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me (Romans 8:11)! I am an ambassador of the Holy One, a representative of the Righteous League! I know who I am and I know who you are! In the name of Jesus, I cast demons out! I act on the authority of the King of kings! You know who I am! I am saved by the Savior and now I’m a superhero for the Savior! I am more than a conqueror in Christ (Romans 8:37)! I am a child of GOD! I speak in the name of Jesus! Now obey GOD’s will – depart, demon! And may the Lord be lifted on high! Praise the Lord! I defy you demon! Now depart (James 4:7)!”

Our true identity can only be known in Jesus. Jesus is GOD; GOD is the Creator; GOD created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). Who are you? You are a child of GOD. Every child of GOD should be a superhero who accurately reflects the love of Christ.

When a person believes and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, that person is sealed by the Holy Spirit, who guarantees our salvation. Revelation 6:17 asks an important question: Who is able to stand at the End of Days? Of course, everyone will stand — they will stand in front of the great white throne of judgment (Revelation 20:12-14). But GOD marks His children to be saved (Revelation 7:3; 9:4). This seal of GOD is confirmation that we have been examined and inspected. Once inspected, we are approved and then sealed for security purposes, protected from tampering, and authorized by the King (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 2Corinthians 1:21-22). A seal can represent a finished transaction (Jeremiah 32:9-10; John 17:4; 19:30); it can represent ownership (Jeremiah 32:11-12; 2Timothy 2:19); it showcases security (Esther 8:8; Daniel 6:17). The Lord knows who is sealed for protection; the Lord knows His children (Exodus 12:1-13; Ezekiel 9:4). 

Our true identity is only known in our Creator because the Creator identified us as His own:

Romans 3:24	We are justified (declared “righteous”).
Romans 8:1	No condemnation awaits us.
Romans 8:2	We are set free from the power of sin that leads to death.
1Corinthians 1:2	We are sanctified (made holy) in Christ Jesus.
1Corinthians 15:22	We will be given new life at the resurrection.
2Corinthians 5:17	We are new persons.
2Corinthians 5:21	We are made right with GOD.
Galatians 3:28	We are one in Christ with all other believers.
Ephesians 1:3	We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:4	We are holy and without fault.
Ephesians 1:5-6	We are adopted as GOD’s children.
Ephesians 1:7	Our sins are taken away, and we are forgiven.
Ephesians 1:10-11	We will be brought under Christ’s authority.
Ephesians 1:13	We are identified as belonging to GOD by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:6	We have been raised up to sit with Christ in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 2:10	We are GOD’s masterpiece.
Ephesians 2:13	We have been brought near to GOD.
Ephesians 3:6	We share in the promise of blessings through Christ.
Ephesians 3:12	We can come boldly and confidently into GOD’s presence.
Ephesians 5:29-30	We are members of Christ’s body, the church.
Colossians 2:10	We are made complete in Christ.
Colossians 2:11	We are set free from our sinful nature.
2Timothy 2:10	We will have eternal glory.

 

Our Lives Before and After Christ:

BEFORE	AFTER
Dead because of sin	Made alive with Christ
Under GOD’s wrath	Shown GOD’s mercy and grace through salvation
Followed the ways of the world	Stand for Christ and Truth
GOD’s enemies	GOD’s children
Enslaved to the devil	Free in Christ to love, service, and sit with Him
Followed our evil thoughts and desires	Raised up with Christ to glory

CALL TO ACTION:

1. Perhaps you genuinely desire to have a relationship with GOD, but you are guilty of judging people by their appearance. If that’s you, repent and ask GOD to help you see people in the loving way He sees them.
2. Perhaps you don’t judge people by their appearance and assume the worst of them, but you do distance yourself from people who seem questionable. If that’s you, ask GOD to cast out fear and to fill you with the love and courage necessary to go introduce yourself to those people. You just might introduce yourself to someone who needs love the most.
3. Perhaps you view yourself as the person who has only been judged by his/her appearance. Is it possible that you’ve closed yourself off and have prevented people from establishing relationships with you because you’re afraid of getting hurt? If that’s you, I challenge you to open yourself up again and allow people to get to know who you truly are. If possible, link up with someone else and then together go introduce yourselves to someone else.
4. Perhaps you just found yourself here but you’re not a committed follower of Christ. If that’s you, perhaps it’s time to get to know the One who died for you. Perhaps it’s time to get to know the GOD who desires to have a relationship with the person He created. GOD created you for a purpose. If you want to discover that purpose and know more, let that request be known to GOD; seek GOD in prayer.

Conclusion

We are all given different abilities and are called to different tasks at different times; however, every Christian is called to be a superhero. If you’re a Christian, you should also be a superhero. It’s time to step out of our comfort zones and step into the battlefield to fulfill our calling.

Superhero (series) – Introduction

Why am I writing a book about superheroes? After all, I’m a Christian pastor. Can I justify writing a book on such an unbiblical concept such as superhumans with superpowers? I admit that at first glance, this book appears to be unbiblical, but that’s merely the surface. Remember: don’t judge a book by its cover. To discover Truth, we must dig into the depths beyond the surface. The real question we need to ask ourselves is, “What biblical truths can we learn by studying superheroes?” For all superheroes only exist because of the One true Superhero: Jesus. The purpose of this book is to define the qualities of a superhero and reveal how all of those qualities come from GOD. 

Ever since I was a little boy, I had been fascinated by superheroes. And like many others kids, I wore Superman and/or Batman pajamas with an attached cape. I played with my action figures and used my imagination to create different scenarios for which the superheroes would be needed in order to save the day. I had even created my own mask out of a paper plate and made up my own superhero name. Eventually, however, life redirected my attention to other matters such as sports, girls, jobs, bills, etc. But in recent years, Marvel has released many superhero movies. And as an adult, those movies spoke to my inner child and inspired me to once again think about superheroes. While watching the 2012 movie, The Avengers, I thought, “It would be so awesome to be a real superhero!”

Almost as soon as I finished that thought, I had another: “Because it would be awesome to be a real superhero, I bet there are people who have attempted to fight crime while wearing ridiculous outfits.”

I then went home and researched news articles that might have mentioned such people and sure enough, there have been grown adults who attempted to fight crime in ridiculous costumes! One such example was in Seattle, Washington – a man by the name of Phoenix Jones. In fact, he was the leader of the “Rain City Superheroes” – a group of 10 crime-fighters at that time. While I admired Jones’ passion to patrol the city and keep it safe, I also recognized that real superheroes possess more than enthusiasm. But it made me think: “What if superheroes were real? What would they actually look like? Would they even bother wearing a costume? Are superheroes actually possible? Do superheroes exist?”

And – yes! They are not only possible, but they are real! Their appearance doesn’t usually match our expectations, but superheroes do exist. 

GOD uses ordinary people to achieve extraordinary accomplishments. Heroes are not specific species born into existence, nor are they genetically modified or engineered beings; rather, they are average humans who become above-average people due to the decisions they make out from their free will. How a person freely responds to the challenges and difficulties of life will determine if he/she is a hero. An example of a hero would be a man who risks getting injured by pulling a woman out of a burning vehicle in order to save her life. That would be a heroic act; therefore, we can recognize that man as a hero. But how will that man choose to live the remaining time of his life after the initial heroic moment? Will that incident puff up his pride and cause him to glorify himself? Will he continue to respond in a consistent heroic manner in the future? Will he be a one-hit-wonder? Will he later decide that taking risks for other people is too dangerous and that he’s not willing to sacrifice anymore? It’s worth thinking about it. Anyone can become a hero by simply doing one noteworthy act. Just one noteworthy act can bump someone up from average status to above-average status. But should we set our standards so low? 

A superhero is not a Superman who comes to Earth from outer space wielding supernatural powers; rather, a superhero is merely a hero with supreme status due to his/her decision to go above and beyond the call of duty through sacrificial love on a consistent basis. An example of a superhero would be Mother Teresa — she went above and beyond by sacrificing nearly everything in order to dedicate her life to loving the unloved. She proved that a woman can be a superHERo.

Sadly, superheroes should be common, but they are not. In this sinful and fallen world, people are often selfish. And because of this sad truth, you would think that superheroes shine and stand out against the backdrop of the darkness in this world. Unfortunately, superheroes often go unnoticed unless the spotlight of fame happens to highlight them. Mother Teresa was one of the superheroes who ended up in the spotlight. But there are many superheroes who work in the background, blend in, and go unnoticed. People are usually distracted with entertainment, celebrities, and their own problems, and so the background superheroes go unrecognized. But there’s another reason why superheroes often go unnoticed: they don’t need the recognition. Superheroes are not superheroes because they get recognized as such; rather, they are superheroes whether anyone recognizes them or not simply because of what they do and who they are. Superheroes do not live for the praise of humanity; they’re not in it for the audience applause, they’re merely doing it for the cause. They don’t seek to please people; rather, they desire to pursue people with a loving purpose. 

In reality, superheroes don’t typically wear ridiculous costumes. So, how can we recognize these superheroes working in the background who go unnoticed? In order to find these superheroes, you need only to seek to find the character qualities of these superheroes. So, what are these qualities? I have dedicated one chapter per character quality so that we can expound upon each quality and discover the depth beyond the surface of superheroes. Superheroes:

1. recognize evil because they realize there is an absolute standard of goodness by which all evil can be known (GOD is the standard for all that is good)
2. recognize what is right and wrong because they realize there is an absolute moral standard by which all wrong can be known (GOD is the standard of all that is right)
3. are full of love and are compelled to act out from love (GOD is love and love comes from GOD)
4. desire to save people from danger and/or death (this desire comes from love)
5. see beyond problems, through the potential and to the possibilities (if they are to save people, they need to be solution seekers)
6. do not “what if” themselves into failure (because they are solution seekers)
7. are willing to sacrifice for the betterment of others (if the solution means sacrifice, then so be it)
8. make themselves available to be used (sacrificial love steps forward and offers service)
9. are not blue cord bums (they walk the walk and don’t just talk the talk)
10. go above and beyond the call of duty (if you’re going to make yourself available, don’t just put your foot in the water — dive in)
11. are courageous, committed, consistent, and unwilling to quit (going all in is to never back out; because they are willing to do what is necessary, they will not back down, give in, or give up)
12. know why they do what they do
13. do it for the cause, not for an audience applause — they don’t need recognition (they are only motivated by love)
14. understand that meaningful REALationships require love; they desire to be loved
15. understand that teamwork works — Batman linked with Robin; Ironman was smart, but still linked with Avengers; even Superman linked with Justice League)
16. understand pain and suffering
17. have real problems because they’re real people (in an intimate connection with close personal relationships, they can receive as much as they give by simply admitting they don’t want to deal with their problems alone)
18. make conscious decisions to overcome darkness with Light
19. are more than conquerors (our problems don’t define us; exterior circumstances should never alter our inner dispositions)
20. are woven together by faith (we are defined by our identity and our identity is found in origin)
21. understand their calling
22. are always ready for battle because they wear the Belt of Truth
23. understand Truth
24. are always ready for battle because they wear the Breastplate of Righteousness
25. are always ready for battle because they wear the Shoes of Readiness
26. are always ready for battle because they hold the Shield of Faith
27. are always ready for battle because they wear the Helmet of Salvation
28. are always ready for battle because they carry the Sword of the Spirit
29. live, eat, and breathe Truth
30. are always ready for battle because they pray at all times and on every occasion (Powerful Prayer – Part 1)
31. understand who they are praying to (nature of GOD)
32. understand who they are praying to (Jesus)
33. understand who they are praying to (Trinity)
34. know how and when to pray (Powerful Prayer – Part 2)
35. Superheroes have superpowers!
36. are focused and completely committed
37. understand what it means to be a Superhero
38. choose to be superheroes rather than evil villains