In this episode of the Real Saints Podcast, we take an honest and sobering look at what it really means when Scripture says that people “loved the darkness rather than the light.”
Using John 3:16 and John 3:19, Carl unpacks the Greek word agapao (agape)—the same word used to describe God’s self-sacrificial, unconditional love—and reveals a hard truth many believers overlook: We don’t just struggle with sin.
We love it.
Jesus teaches that humanity is capable of agape love, but apart from Christ, we often aim that deepest loyalty, prioritization, and devotion toward darkness instead of God.
This episode explores why certain sins feel impossible to shake, why we defend and cling to them, and how Scripture exposes the true condition of the human heart.
This is not an episode meant to condemn—but to clarify, convict, and ultimately point us back to the only solution: the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Whether you’re a new believer, a seasoned Christian, or someone still considering faith, this episode invites you to examine what you truly treasure—and to redirect your agape toward Christ.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
• What agapao really means in the original Greek
• Why Jesus uses the same word for God’s love and humanity’s love of darkness
• How sin is more than weakness—it’s misplaced devotion
• Why willpower alone cannot defeat deeply rooted sin • How the Holy Spirit changes what we love
• What it looks like to redirect agape toward God, family, and neighbor
Key Scripture References
• John 3:16 • John 3:19
• John 14:15
Closing Encouragement
Only the Holy Spirit can make someone hate what they once loved—and love what they once ignored.
Let us agape Christ.
Let us agape our families and neighbors.
Let us not agape our sin.
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Next Episode Preview
Next week, we’ll explore what Jesus really means when He says: “Get up, take your mat, and walk.”