How serious is it to be lacking in love?
(Luke 19:41-44; Hebrews 11:32-38 Revelation 2:1-6) Blog Apr. 07-13, 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Before the creation of this earth, heaven’s highest angel thought to reform God’s government. Lucifer convinced one third of the angels to join him in rebellion against God’s rule and God cast them down to this earth. When God created Adam and Eve, he warned them of this rebellion while placing a prohibited tree in the middle of their Eden garden. Despite God’s warning they chose to eat the forbidden fruit, bringing the sentence of death upon them. Then God stepped in between them and death, offering a Savior. That hope inspired them (and us) to live in harmony with God’s governing laws.
View https://youtu.be/P4lJCK3nni8 for our study titled “Earth’s Harvest.”
Hearing from God
1. After face-to-face communion between God and man was broken when Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden of Eden, how did God communicate with humanity? God used human prophets to communicate with humanity after the fall. He also spoke from Mount Sinai and at times sent holy angels to speak to people (Ex. 19:19; 20:19; Amos 3:7; Heb. 1:1).
2. Why did God continue to communicate with humanity after the fall? It is God’s nature & his Law to love. He had promised a Savior for humanity & he desired to bless them & rescue as many of them as possible, for only those that choose to return to loyalty to his government will have eternal life (2 Kings 17;13; 1 Chron. 20:20; 2 Chron. 24:19; 2 Pet. 3:9).
3. By nature what is our attitude toward God? By nature we hate God & side with Satan’s enmity against God’s Law for we don’t wish to be subject to God’s Law (Rom. 8:7; Eph. 2:3; Jam. 4:4).
4. If we are naturally at enmity with God, how can God fulfill his promise to give us enmity against Satan? It is only by faith in God & repentance that we receive enmity against Satan & love for God & his Law. God desires to give this gift to all (Gen. 3:15; Rom. 8:1-11; Eph. 2:1-9).
Two Classes
5. How do those at enmity with God act? Those at enmity with God follow their own selfish desires (Isa. 1:4; Eph. 2:1-3; 1 John 2:15-16).
6. How do those who love God act? Those who love God love others & work for the good of others (John 14:15; 1 John 3:14; 4:20).
7. How do these two groups reflect what happened in heaven before the creation of this earth? In heaven God continually worked for the good of his creatures but Lucifer devised a system of working only for his own good & exaltation. Thus, are demonstrated the opposing attitudes of love & selfishness (Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28: 17; John 17:24; 1 Pet. 1:18-20).
8. What will be the end of those who refuse to accept God’s love demonstrated in the gift of his Son? They will be judged unworthy of eternal life & therefore remain under the condemnation brought by Adam’s free choice. They shall surely die together with the devil & his angels (John 3:36; 5:27-29, 40; Rom. 5:12; 2 Thes. 1:7-9).
9. What will be the end of those who accept God’s love demonstrated in the gift of his Son? They will be judged worthy of eternal life & live forever with Jesus who God gave as the payment for our sins (John 3:36; 5:29; Rom. 5:18; 1 Thes. 4:17; 1 John 2:2).
10. What is God’s desire for every human being? God is not willing that any should perish but rather that all should find eternal life in his Son (2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 5:11-12).
Jesus’ Attitude
11. When he was on earth what was Jesus’ attitude toward those who refused to believe in him? Jesus’ longing desire was to gather everyone to himself for salvation & he wept over those who refused for he would unselfishly give his life for them also (Matt. 23:27; Luke 19:41-42; 1 John 2:2).
12. How did Jesus prepare his people for the destruction of Jerusalem? Jesus told the eleven leaders of the early church that Jerusalem would be destroyed & gave them a sign as to when to depart & how to pray (Matt. 24:1-4, 14-22).
13. How did the early church thrive under the administration of the twelve apostles? The twelve apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke in a variety of languages, & mightily proclaimed the wonderful works of God. This brought in thousands of new members who had daily fellowship & continued in the faith (Acts 2:1-4, 11, 41-47).
14. How did Jesus describe the early church in Revelation? Jesus praised the early church for patiently working hard & for keeping herself pure by eliminating unbelievers & false teachers, but he also told her that she had lost her first love for him (Rev. 2:1-6).
15. How serious is it for God’s people to be lacking in love? Jesus told the early church that if she did not repent & return to her first love he would come in judgment & remove her from being his people. John reminds her that “to love” is a command from Jesus (John 13:35; 1 John 4:21; Rev. 2:4-5).
16. What does Paul in Hebrews tell believers that they can expect to experience? Paul tells believers that they can expect to experience what believers in the past experienced: subduing kingdoms, obtaining promises, great victories, but also torture, mockings, & bonds (Heb. 11:32-38).
17. What persecution of the early church is recorded in the Bible? James was beheaded, Peter & John were imprisoned & scourged, Stephen was stoned, & the church in Jerusalem was persecuted by Saul (who later was beaten & stoned & finally beheaded) & others who spread it around the empire (Acts 4:1-3; 5:17-18, 40; 7:58; 12:2; 14:19).18. What persecution of the second phase of the Christian church is foretold in Revelation? Jesus warned the church of Smyrna that they would suffer persecution & imprisonment especially for a period of ten prophetic days (probably pointing to the ten Diocletian persecuted the church around the turn of the second century (Rev. 2:10).