Mark 12:30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” The love of God is the first duty of man, and this springs from the just views of his attributes or excellencies of character, which atford the highest delight to the sanctified heart. Vian Esteem and reverence constitute in-Baptist gredients in this affection, and a fear of offending him is its inseparable efunurcn feet. Webster 1828 Love to me is the desire to take care of and protect; to strengthen and prepare someone for the future; to be absolutely truthful about faults and to continue to love even when rejected.
There are dozens of verses in the Bible that talks about love. There are two distinct words for love in the passage we are going to look at.
John 21:1517 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
Peter lovest thou me – Jesus is using agape love. Peter responds with – thou knowest that I love thee – phileo love is equivelent to saying you know I like you.
Agape love is self giving love and God has it for His children and for all the world. “For so loved the world” in John 3:16 is agape love. God cares about His own and desires for them to love Him in return. This self-giving love causes God to do more than just care for someone. He desires to build them up in the Faith; He desires them to fulfill His work on Earth.
Many times people receive Christ and are satisfied just having eternal life. They sit and enjoy the blessings of God without thought to repayment of His love and desire for them.
Paul writes these thoughts of God to Timothy, his son in the faith.
2Timothy 4:1-2 “ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
The term “the quick and the dead” is viewed two ways. The first way to believe it means the alive and the dead. Most people want to view it this way, but, my friend, why preach to the dead? The proper way to read this is the “quick” means those who have received Christ and the “dead” are those who have not for they are dead in their trespasses and sins.
So if we view it this way both the saved and the lost need preaching, reproof, rebuke, amd exhorted. Preach is to teach right doctrine. Reprove is to correct wrong doctrine. Rebuke is to correct wrong behavior and exhort is to encourage right behavior. Christians need reproof and rebuke as much or more than the lost. There are the standard bearer of Christianity. They are the earthly example of our Heavenly God. We are: 2Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christs stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” If someone rebukes you, they are loving you. If someone reproves you, they are loving you. Let me close with a story about Jay Abisch, missionary to Canada. When Jay first came to church he was a beer drinking macho man who love the old frontier style of life. He received Christ as his Savior and it changed him so much that he felt the need to share is faith with those he worked with. It was the employees habit to go to their favorite bar after work on Friday and drink some of their paycheck up. Jay began to talk to his boss about Christ and the change Jay felt inside. His boss asked a simple question. It was a rebuke to what Jay was doing. His boss asked, “Jay, if you are a Christian now, why are you sitting in a bar drinking beer with me?”
That question smote Jay’s heart. He said to his boss, “You are right. I shouldn’t be here.” Then he got up and left the bar never to return, but it did not stop him from witnessing about what God had done for him.
If I love you enough to rebuke or reprove you, will you love me less or hate me for it? God askes this of all of mankind.
Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
Hebrews 12:11 “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
God loves you and you need a preacher that will reprove and rebuke for your benefit. That is what preaching does. The true word shows God’s love even if it is a rebuke for how you are living.
