THE PERFECT LOVE
We know from the Holy Scriptures that God is love and that we can continue in that love. In this lesson we will be seeking a greater understanding about God’s love as described in 1 John 4:18 as “perfect love”.
The Glorious gospel, intertwined with the purpose of the commandments as it says in verse 5, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from [b]sincere faith,” Therefore, we know that sincere faith comes from a good and honest heart that accepts the word of God.
So, as we think about love we know that it is described in a few ways that we would like to explore in this lesson…
CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH – A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Paul’s referring to Christ in this passage, He is the image of the invisible God. It pleased God to send His Son into the world that He might redeem His people. It pleased Him to bruise His own Son, put Him to death, as Isaiah said, and not for His own sake but for ours.
How much more personal can that be, and that is the relationship that God through Christ wants with you…
MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES: “16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you[a] shall surely die.”” Genesis 2:16-17
Since the beginning people have been blessed with free will to make decisions, good or bad, and since that time we all are accountable for our decisions, good or bad. As was the case with Adam and Eve in the garden who were commanded by God not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and chose to eat, thus the first sin against God. That has continued throughout every generation since that time. We cannot blame God, nor can we blame Adam, nor our grandparents, and neither our parents for our sin and the consequence of sin. We all are solely responsible for the choices we make, good or bad. We are all deserving of praise from God, or punishment based on the choices we make in life. Therefore, I would think that making choices for how we live, work, play, and yes serve are paramount.
Joshua made it clear, “14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of [a]the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of [b]the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15).
Will you answer like the people who answered, “16 So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods;”? (Joshua 24:16)
GO FISH!
“19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20).
We all must understand the command in verse 19 was given to the Lord’s eleven disciples, and they did exactly that. But, the reason many saints in the kingdom have, and continue to fall short, is because they focus on verse 19, and slip passed verse 20 which is just as commanding. The command to teach “them to observe all things that I have commanded you”. Them is you!
In this lesson we will focus on the idea of all God’s children fishing for lost souls and bringing glory to God in the process.
What is and Is not in Hell
It may be quite a surprise to many to learn that He is not only filled with evil, bad and wicked people. This is a question we want to consider. Listen in and here were will discuss what the scripture has to say about the matter.
On July 21 1969 Neil Armstrong and Buz Aldren became the first men to step foot on the Moon.
Apollo 11 brought a message of peace to the Moon — but Neil and Buzz almost forgot to leave it behind.
One of those items was a plaque with the words, “Here men from the planet earth first set foot upon the moon.
We came in peace for all mankind.
Since that time – there has never been real peace on earth…
Fact is one cannot have peace outside of God and Christ. “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.” – Isaiah 48:22. The wicked are those who refuse God. But for those who accept Him there is this: “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7, and “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.
All available to those who peruse Things Which Make for Peace – 2 Tim. 2:22; Rom. 12:1-2, 17-19; Rom. 14:16-19, those who let the peace of God Rule – Col. 3:15; Matt. 7:21ff, and those who walk as “Salt and Light” – Mark 9:33, 49-50; 1 Cor. 1:10ff
CHRIST & HIS CHURCH – FROM THE BEGINNING
Did you know that Jesus Christ the one Who created all things? Including you, and that all things were created for God, for His glory, and that includes you and the church which Christ built which you are a member of if you have obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, having been baptized into His body the church (Col. 1:18, 24). We are the elect, members of one another. We have a purpose to benefit one another and those who do not know Christ. Paul wrote, “15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or [a]principalities or [b]powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Col. 1:16-18).
In Christ all things consist, He is the Head of the body, the church, and God must have preeminence in all believers hearts, who are living springs of the body of Christ.
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “home”? I remember living in many homes. The longest time spent in Kenmore Ohio, a big yard, old wooden stairs up to the second and third floors. A shed made from an old yellow delivery truck. Now think of the word “Heaven.” What images come to your mind? What emotions are stirred within you? One emotion which should be there is a longing for Heaven.
WHAT IS THAT IN YOUR HAND?
God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and told him to go back to Egypt and lead Israel to the promised land. “Then Moses answered and said, ‘But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, “the Lord has not appeared to you.”‘ So the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ And he said, ‘A rod.’” Moses was taught a lesson that day that when the rod was put into God’s service, it will accomplish what God wanted to be done. It was one of the signs to prove that God had appeared to Moses.
Let’s search the Bible and find what others had in-their hand that God was able to use for his glory.
“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”” (1 Cor. 15:54)
I can’t tell you how many times I asked someone, how is it going? Only to hear, “I’m Living the Dream!”
I understand the meaning of this proclamation defined by “Gramarist.com” as, “typically use to describe a situation where someone’s experiencing the ideal lifestyle or enjoying some well-deserved success. It can include anything from financial success to creative success.” I began to think about that and came to understand something. If the center focus of “your dream” is success in this world, this life, then I feel sad for you because of this simple truth: “…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). Yes, we must all face the face that we all will die one day and then what will become of all your success, all your possessions?
Another fact concerning death as Solomon wrote, “6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is [b]loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. 7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. 8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.” (Eccl. 12:6-8). Yes, this life is just a temporary thing, but after one’s body dies, the soul lives on in eternity, the soul never dies.