Become the truth about love

Can the Church really be the Truth about Love. Love may be the most often discussed topic for Christians and for that fact non-Christians. But do we really convey the message of love accurately. Are we coming up short?

1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 NKJV

11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

A. Our love stems from God

During the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell, sentenced a soldier to be shot for his crimes. The execution was to take place at the ringing of the evening curfew bell. However, the bell did not sound. The soldier’s fiancé had climbed into the belfry and clung to the great clapper of the bell to prevent it from striking. When she was summoned by Cromwell to account for her actions, she wept as she showed him her bruised and bleeding hands. Cromwell’s heart was touched and he said, "Your lover shall live because of your sacrifice. Curfew shall not ring tonight!" As Christians, portrayed in the bible as brides of Christ, who is the Bridegroom, we too have a lover who gives us life because of his sacrifice.

1. Whether spoken of by God’s word or God’s Son it is Love

The verb direct is the key (Other versions Clear the Way)

It would appear that this word is just calling for God to open up a path. Clear the obstacles

But it carries the stronger idea of guiding in the going (Heavenly GPS)

God makes it possible for us to Love you.

We must examine everything that The Father, Son and HS ask for through the filter of love.

2. God is the Author of our Love (May the Lord make you increase)

That speaks to God and His role within love but what about yours?

B. We are to Abound in Love

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 3:12

“Genuine Christian love … is the one thing in the Christian life which cannot be carried to excess”

1. Where there is no maturity there is no increase.

Abraham is a good illustration of this principle. God called him to the land of Canaan, and when he arrived, he discovered a famine. God permitted that famine so that Abraham’s faith might be tested. Unfortunately, Abraham failed the test and went down to Egypt for help.

Each step of the way, God brought circumstances to bear on Abraham that forced him to trust God and grow in his faith. Faith is like a muscle: it gets stronger with use. Abraham had problems with his worldly nephew, Lot. He also had problems with his wife and her handmaid, Hagar. The ultimate test of faith came when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac.[1]

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Take a Stand! (1 Thessalonians 3:1–13)

Abraham is a good illustration of this principle. God called him to the land of Canaan, and when he arrived, he discovered a famine. God permitted that famine so that Abraham’s faith might be tested. Unfortunately, Abraham failed the test and went down to Egypt for help.

Each step of the way, God brought circumstances to bear on Abraham that forced him to trust God and grow in his faith. Faith is like a muscle: it gets stronger with use. Abraham had problems with his worldly nephew, Lot. He also had problems with his wife and her handmaid, Hagar. The ultimate test of faith came when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac.

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 173). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books

1 Thessalonians 3:10 NKJV

10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

2. Where there is Maturity… Increase is the natural consequence.

The Greek work here carries the idea of being full of Love.

If you garden as I do you come to a point with a plant that it begins to become fruitful, that day when the little tomatoes start to form and then as they grow and give a harvest that is enough for the day.

Romans 8:37 NKJV

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

John 10:10 NKJV

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

3. Where there is Increase… only then is there a possibility of Abounding.

Psalm 23:1–5 NKJV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

C. Our display of love has a motive.

1 Thess 3:

1 Thessalonians 3:13 NKJV

13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

This is conditional!

For a right relationship with God.

1. We must be established in Christ.

The word establish carries with it the idea of FIXING

It needs FIXING due to the 1.attack upon the believer 2. Our own failures

2. So we may be blameless.

Not for Salvation! Salvation has to do with being declared righteous

That happens when by Faith we trust in Jesus

This is totally about how we live after salvation

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament μέμφομαι, μεμψίμοιρος ἄμεμπτος, μομφή

To be ἄμεμπτοι ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ θεοῦ is the task of Christians. It is possible because as those who are justified by faith they have received the gift of the Holy Spirit whose fruit and operation is pleasing to God

Our blameless living is a direct reflection upon the one who saved us.