Bible Matters 451: Gospel of Love

The God of Love, sent Jesus with a message of love.   Love for God and love for one another.  Eleven times in the bible God tells you how to understand the truth in his word. (See Deuteronomy 17:6, Deuteronomy 19:15, 1 Kings 21:10, 1 Kings 21:13, Matthew 18:16, John 8:17-18, 2 Corinthians 13:1, Hebrews 6:18, Hebrews 10:28, 1 Timothy 5:19 and Revelations 11:3).  Paul’s epistles and John’s gospel are the witnesses most often quoted using one witness verses to create false doctrine which results in division amongst the Christian denomination.  That is exactly why Paul quoted four times and John quoted two times that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses you shall know the truth.  If God tells you something eleven times, then you listen and obey.

1 Timothy 5:19 – Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

In addition, Paul tells you to judge the truth from the testimony of two or three prophets. 

1 Corinthians 14:29 – Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

Jesus was not the only prophet that brought a message of love.  Muhammed was sent to the Middle East by God to bring a gospel of love.  Commanded all to repent of their sins, surrender to God, love God and to love your neighbor.  Your neighbor may even be strangers.  (See Bible Matters 432: Islam Love)

“Serve God, and join not any partners with Him; and do good – to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess.” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Nisaa 4:36]

The prophet Noah and the descendants of Shem understood the message of love that was taught to Shem by his father Noah.  The love of God and the love towards others is the key teaching in the Hindu religion as, “Love alone is the eternal law.”  It is the gospel of love given to us by God.  Love in Hinduism is not limited to romantic or personal relationships. It extends to all aspects of life and includes love for family, friends, community, and even enemies. Hinduism teaches that love should be unconditional and free from expectations or selfish motives. It emphasizes the concept of “love for love’s sake” rather than seeking personal gain. (See Bible Matters 433: Hindu Love)

The truth in God’s word requiring you to live the gospel of Love was sent by God with the same message of Love.  Three prophets with the same message.   Jesus gave a parable that love of your neighbor includes strangers!

Luke 10:31,33,35-36 – And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.   But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on 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 neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

Do not be fooled by man’s acts of religion to provide righteousness in the eyes of God.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that you are saved by grace and God doesn’t want your service.  Works in this verse is acts of religion.  Animal and blood sacrifice, water baptism and works of the law.  God is looking for you to do the will of God unto good works out of love for your neighbor. 

Ephesians 2:9,10 – Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Galatians 2:16 – Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

When you love God, you succumb to good works.  You will be judged by your works.  Not the works of religion, but works of love.

Revelation 3:15-17 – I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

James 2:18-26 – Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Matthew 5:12,16 – Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 16:27 – For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

2 Timothy 3:17 – That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Revelation 18:6 – Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

Revelation 20:12-13 – And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Do not deny God.  When you follow Jesus, you work as he worked. 

Titus 1:16 – They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

John 9:4-5 – I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

God is looking for your change of heart.  Do all you can do from this point forward to please God and live his gospel of Love.   The truth starts with the understanding God’s word from the New Testament and the testimony of the eight witnesses.

•                 Believe in one God

•                 Repent of your sins and surrender to God.

•                 Judge no one

•                 Love God

•                 Love your Neighbor

•                 Keep yourself in the love of God, unto eternal life.

Jude 1:21 – Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Believe that God has a plan for you.  Have faith, worship only God and go live his gospel of Love.  God rewards those that diligently seek him

Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.