What results from presenting the truth without love?
(Matt. 15:21-28; John 4:1-42; Rom. 15:7; Eph. 4:32; 2 Thes. 1:1-4; 1 Pet. 3:15) Blog 23-29 Aug. 2020
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Believers in Jesus are his witnesses. They tell others about God’s saving love. This brings joy to them, to those who believe their testimony, to God, and to the angels in heaven. Every human being is a purchase of Jesus and someone who God desires to save. Through intercessory prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit we are enabled to win others to Jesus. If we follow the example of New Testament believers, the Bible will be the basis of our testimony and Jesus’ methods will be ours.
Recognizing Receptive Hearts (Eccl. 11:1-6; Luke 8:4-15; John 4:7-10; Acts 8:5-8)
1. What is a receptive heart? One that is open to receive the Gospel.
2. How do people manifest that they are receptive to the Gospel? By listening & not turning away from God’s voice whether it be in nature, in providence, in words from an acquaintance, or in words from the Holy Spirit or the Bible.
3. How can we discern a receptive heart when we see one? By noting their response to our testimony: do they listen attentively? do they ask questions? do they show a desire for more?
4. How wide an audience should we include in our outreach to others? We are to sow the Gospel seed beside all waters & at all times.
5. Although we are to sow the Gospel seed beside all waters how do we know where to invest additional effort? By discerning who has a receptive heart.
6. What is the seed that we sow? The Word of God.
7. When a receptive heart hears the Word of God what will be the result? Faith will sprout in their heart, God will accept them as his child, &tell others the good news (like the woman at the well).
Accepting Others (Hab. 1:13; Matt. 15:21-28; Mark 14:3-9; Rom. 15:7; Eph. 4:31-32)
8. On what basis does God receive sinners? On the basis of perfect obedience for he is of purer eyes than to behold evil & cannot look on iniquity (faith is the means, not the basis).
9. According to Romans 15:7 how are we to receive others? In the same way Christ received us – on the basis of perfect obedience.
10. If perfect obedience is to be the basis of our acceptance of others then who can we accept? All for whom Christ has died, for by his perfect life he gave to God all that God requires & by his atoning death he reconciled humanity to God. This is how we were received & how we are to receive others.
11. How did the disciples react to the Canaanite woman who loudly begged Jesus to heal her daughter? They asked Jesus to send her away for she was a bother to them.
12. Why did Jesus grant the request of the Canaanite woman? Because she had a little faith, had a receptive heart, & confessed with her mouth.
13. How did some present react to the woman that anointed Jesus with expensive spikenard? They were indignant for they considered that she had wasted money that could have been given to the poor.
14. Why did Jesus commend the act of the woman who anointed him with spikenard? Because it was an act of love towards him from a receptive heart.
Presenting the Truth in Love (2 Tim. 1:6-8, 12, 16; 4:2; 1 Pet. 3:15)
15. In verse 6 of Second Timothy 1 of what necessary duty for witnessing does Paul remind Timothy? Of his need to exercise the spiritual gift that God has given him.
16. In verses 7, 8, 12, and 16 of Second Timothy 1 of what essential quality for witnessing does Paul encourage Timothy to exercise? That of boldness because God has given us infinite power, compassionate love, and sound minds, for without boldness one would seldom witness, being ashamed of the Gospel, or of its exponents, or of its negative results?
17. What must a person have already done in order to preach the Word? They must have already become well acquainted with the Word.
18. What must a person have already done in order to be ready to give an answer for their faith? They must have already sanctified (set apart) the Lord in their hearts.
19. What attitude should characterize our answering questioners about our faith? Meekness, longsuffering, & respect for their views.
20. What results from presenting the truth without love? You repel the person you are trying to attract.
21. What results from showing so-called love without truth? Religion becomes a wishy-washy sentimentalism with no stability nor direction.