Love-the Fabric of Life
1. How all-important is love in the life of the follower of Christ? Matt. 22:37–39, 1Cor. 13:1–3, 1 John 3:14.
ANSWER:
Matt. 22:37-39 – Only through love we can truly keep God’s commandments.
1 Cor. 13:1-3 – Without love we are nothing.
1 John 3:14 – Only through love we can have everlasting life.
OBSERVATION:
Mark 12:30, 31 – These verses say that we must love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves. Heart means thoughts and feelings. Soul means breath and life. Mind means deep thought and imagination. Strength means ability, might, and power. Love our neighbor is dealing with our social aspect. I can clearly see that we must love God emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and physically, and socially as we show the love of God to others.
The Old and New Testament God- a God of Love
1. What is the first description of love in 1 Cor. 13:4?
1Cor. 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up
ANSWER:
Suffer long
2. Does the Old Testament describe God as a longsuffering God?
Ex. 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth
Psa. 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
ANSWER: Yes
3. Does the New Testament describe God as a longsuffering God?
Rom. 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
2Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pet. 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation
ANSWER: Yes
OBSERVATION:
Our salvation is based upon the longsuffering of God according to 2 Pet. 3:15
4. What is the second description of love in 1 Cor. 13:4?
1Cor. 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up
ANSWER:
Kind
5. Does the Old and New Testament describe God as a kind God?
Jonah 4:2 …for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared
ANSWER:
Yes
6. Compare 1 Cor. 13:4 and Deut. 4:24. Why God can be a jealous God?
Deut. 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Ex. 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God
Ex. 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God
Deut. 6:15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
OBSERVATION: Notice how Jealousy is connected “pity” and “love” and “godly”
Joel 2:18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
Song 8:6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
2Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy
ANSWER:
God’s jealousy is based upon pure love for us.
A Response of Love
1. Longsuffering and God’s people
Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith
Eph. 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Eph. 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Col. 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Col. 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Col. 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light
Col. 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Col. 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
2Tim. 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears
OBSERVATIONS:
Gal. 5:22 – Longsuffering is a part of the Spirit of God therefore those who walk in the Spirit should have longsuffering love.
Eph. 4:2-3 – Longsuffering is needed for the unity of the church.
Col. 1:10-12 – Longsuffering is one of the characteristics of the saints in the light.
Col. 3:12-13 – Longsuffering is connected to the elect and having a forgiving spirit.
2 Tim. 4:2 –Longsuffering is needed when preaching the word of God to unwilling people.
Many people think love is something that feels good and happy all the time. Yes, love does feel good but the Bible gives the reality of love, the longsuffering love. The longsuffering love does not feel good but it does produce much good.
Love Personified
1. What do the following verses say about the unselfish love of Jesus? Luke 17:12-19, John 13:1-17, and John 19:25-27
ANSWER:
Luke 17:12-19 – Jesus healed ten lepers even though He knew only one would thank Him.
John 13:1-17 – Jesus washed the feet of the betrayer.
John 19:25-27 – Jesus thought about the need of His mother when He was on the cross.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
How long are you willing to suffer for those who are unruly?
Do you go out of your ways to show kindness to those who backstab you?
When you are in suffering, could you think about the needs of others?
No comments:
Post a Comment