Previous post, I shared a conversation with an individual who questioned if Jesus really loves him. This week I challenge you to consider if you’re loving others according to Jesus’ standard. All scriptural references are from the Berean Standard Bible available online at biblehub.
The Challenge: To Love Others in the end times
Why is it more difficult to truly engage and love others in our modern era? Could it be that the darkness of deception is growing in our society and communities? Jesus warns us that in the end times that “the love of most will grow cold.” Regardless of our circumstances in history, God’s command remains to encourage and guide us in walking in His Way! His way is to love others. Consider the following passage:
Matthew 24:4-14 The End Times
4Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, 11and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
12Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. 13But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
The lack of love comes from evil deception. The surest signs of the end of time is the mass falling away from God’s truth, betrayal, hatred, and false prophets leading others astray. This leads to bitter and cold hearts. Jesus warns us that false prophets and “messiahs” will come to deceive. False prophets present falsehood(s) and fruits of darkness. Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:15-20 “By their fruits you will know them.” How people behave and treat others gives us insight into their inner nature/character.
The Good News is that the Gospel will be proclaimed and true believers will persevere! Historically, from the first century A.D., believers have eagerly awaited Christ’s return. The apostles and Paul expected that Christ would return at any moment!
Context and Proper Interpretation of Matthew 24:13
While reading this passage, I desired additional insights on verse 13. The following article explains the context and application:
https://www.gotquestions.org/endures-to-the-end-saved.html
Quotes from above article: Emphasis mine
“Jesus’ statement that he who endures to the end will be saved cannot be taken to mean that our salvation is somehow dependent on our personal ability to remain saved. Rather, it is a promise of perseverance. Those who have the grace to endure to the end are the ones who are genuinely saved by grace. The various trials Jesus mentions will reveal our true colors. “Most will grow cold” and fall away from Christ, showing that they are professors only and not truly born again (Matthew 24:12). But those who endure and stand firm in the faith, despite incitements to do otherwise, are showing that they are genuine children of God “who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5, ESV, emphasis added).”
John 13:34-35
34A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.
The term new here is kainos meaning “fresh, novel, as in not used before.” This word is used in the Gospels in Jesus’ parables as well as He teaches about wine skins, garment patches, and New Covenant in Luke. Paul uses this word in 2 Corinthians to explain how we’re new creatures in Christ! For more on this word and its scriptural use:
https://biblehub.com/greek/2537.htm
The one sure sign that we’re Jesus’ disciple is how we love one another. Jesus uses the word agapate this is the second person plural “you should” love agape (noun form) of verb form agapao. Jesus presents love in action and recall that this form of love is God’s love (not romantic, family, or friend type love).
There’s more here! Jesus makes it clear that His disciples are to love each other as He has loved them. Recall that Jesus has just completed washing the disciples feet. Feet washing was the duty of a slave or servant, not a rabbi! Jesus is demonstrating His take on leadership and servant. By doing a common task that would be culturally considered “below him” Jesus is setting an example (John 13:15)!
Jesus uses gnōsontai to convey the idea of understanding/knowledge. This particular “know, knowledge” relates to experience, perception, and learning. This word form is used three times in scriptures. It is the future indicative middle voice, third person plural form of ginóskó. What does this voice mean? Recall that the subject in this verse is “all men.”
“The subject is part or all of the action. In other words, the subject is both the cause and the focus, the agent and experiencer, of a verbal action.”
The Middle Voice: Part I
Our love acts to make people aware that we’re disciples of Christ. Others “learn and perceive” that we are Christ’s disciples by our agape love.
https://biblehub.com/greek/1097.htm
Where does this love come from?
Love Comes From God and His Presence in our Lives: 1 John 4:7-14
7Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
9This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 10And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
John teaches us that love is from God and that “love” indicates birth in God. To know God is to know His love! God’s love is active and redemptive. Notice how God the Father, God the Son Jesus, and God Holy Spirit are present here. 1 John emphasizes love through out all chapters. John teaches us that we can confidence and assurance in our relationship with God! We know we are His when we love others as He does.
Thankfully, the source of love isn’t me! It’s God’s love flowing through me! When I am not loving others, it’s a warning sign that something is hindering God’s presence in my life. For a reminder on how God loves us:
God’s Love: How He Loves Us!
Conclusion
In summary,
- Christ’s followers actively love others! In this present dark age, God’s love shines forth trough His disciples!
- Others recognize Christ by our actions of love.
- Love involves serving others, meeting needs. Love is active!
- Love flows from our relationship with God through our lives into the lives of others!
Words of Grace & Hope 