Love of God

Dear Brethren,

World conditions are rapidly taking shape as we countdown to the return of Jesus Christ.  We are about to come to the worst time that this world has ever seen.  True, the coming plagues and curses will be immensely painful, but the worst will come when mankind is promised an ungodly restoration plan by a powerful world leader.  It will be only those who have the love of God that will be able to see through the subterfuge.  "Whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."  (1John 2:5)  The only way God’s people will be able to survive at that time is to be faithful to God and to love Him.  "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous."  (1John 5:3)

"No man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."  (Revelation 13:17)  Most of those remaining alive will sell their souls to be a part of the recovery - but beware!  The end-time beast power and false prophet will be selling the world a pig in a poke.  It will be a plan of recovery from worldwide catastrophe, which will incorporate totally ungodly policies.  Most will foolishly accept the mark of the beast without considering their ultimate fate.  Those who worship the image of the beast will share the same fate as the beast and the false prophet – that of being cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. (Revelation 19:20, 20:10)

Hopefully, many who read these words will be safely awaiting the return of Jesus Christ in great power.  But, God gives us ample warnings not to let down, as so many are doing today.  It is only the love of God that will deliver us.  Jesus says to us today, "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou have, that no man take thy crown."  (Revelation 3:11)  He is saying that those brethren of the Philadelphia Church era are the very ones who are in jeopardy of losing their place to be kings and priests in the coming Kingdom of God.  Other people, perhaps in far away places, will rise up and take our crowns, if we do not heed Christ’s words.

Why does Jesus warn this Church era – above all the other Church eras?  What does Jesus expect of us?  “Philadelphia,” means brotherly love – and Jesus warns us to hold fast [the Greek means to ‘strenuously retain’] what we have.  It is Jesus who chose the name “Philadelphia” as a characteristic that He admires in His people.  Here is the question that we must be asking ourselves:  How can we, in these perilous last days, hold fast to brotherly love?  "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord  hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord , and that thought upon His name."  (Malachi 3:16)

God will base His decision on these things:  Do we have the love of God?  Are we actively looking out for, caring for and encouraging our brothers and sisters in God's Church?  There are brethren who hardly ever think about others in the Church of God, let alone make a conscious effort to maintain the Christian bond.  How can we be there for a brother in need if we don't stay in touch with them.  Brotherly love dictates that we be there for them in times of need - especially, in times of spiritual need. The Holy Scriptures are clear that we are our brother's keeper.  Do we respond to those who have shown that they are willing to reach out to us?  Do we make ourselves unavailable to other brethren?  Jesus Christ has only one Church.  He does not recognize men's corporate church organizations.  Are we willing to cross artificial organization boundaries to pray for and uplift God's people?

Jesus condensed our spiritual responsibility when He gave us the Two Great Commandments:  "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."  (Matthew 22:37-39)

Jude, a half-brother of Jesus, put both points succinctly in his concise book:  "Keep yourselves [completely and entirely] in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  And of some have compassion, [show mercy to those who are weak and doubting] making a difference:  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted [defiled] by the flesh."  (Jude :21-23)  Jude leaves no margin for neglecting our brother and sister in the faith.
James, also a half-brother of Jesus, makes the same point about not neglecting the Church people:  "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."  (James 5:19-20)

This is how Jesus expects us to actively be Christian neighbors to the brethren:  "A certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."  (Luke 10:33-37)  This is not a mere sentiment - but a command to Christians today.

The beloved apostle John also gives us an example:  "Whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him... A new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.  He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes... (1John 2:5, 8-11)

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? [It does not!]  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."  (1John 3:14-18)  "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."  (1John 2:15)

Brethren, are we doing any better than the unconverted Pharisees of Christ's day?  They, too, kept the Sabbath, tithed, and kept the Feasts of the Lord.  But, look at what Jesus told them, "Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."  (Luke 11:42)  The Pharisees passed over the love of God – they totally missed out – that is a warning to us.  Our righteousness and love of God must exceed theirs!

Paul has an encouraging note for those who actively practice the Two Great Commandments: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ...  Not height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 8:35, 39)

Sermon:  "Love of God"