What is the definition of “love”? In Greek, there are various words that are translated as love, and each is used for a specific type of love. The one most commonly associated with God is agape. It’s the caring type of love that all Christians should display for the world to see, especially to each other. That word appears 116 times in Scripture, but the first place it’s used is in a negative sense.

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24 12).

Jesus used agape in describing the way life will be as we draw nearer to the Tribulation. There will be false prophets who deceive people, and persecution will be great. There will be very little agape evidenced around us. Do we see any of the “iniquity” today? The Greek word “anomia” is translated as iniquity, and it means a condition without law either because of ignorance or because of violating it. It’s also translated as “unrighteousness” and “transgression.” We are moving quickly into a very wicked time. As the final seven years of life on earth draw near, agape is growing cold.

Brothers and sisters, we need to stop allowing the wickedness of the world to negatively affect how we serve Jesus. Christians are very, very blessed in that our sins are forgiven, and we have hope in Jesus. We are the ones who need to share God’s perfect love with the people who live in this wicked and evil world that’s under the control of Satan.

“Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:7-8).

Because Christians have accepted Christ for salvation, our sins are forgiven. Even King David understood this blessing. In a psalm of praise for God’s mercy, he wrote, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). David wasn’t a Christian, but he truly understood repentance and turning from sin. It’s a blessing that God agapes us so much, and we should humbly show our gratitude to God by living to please Him.

King David was an excellent king. He loved the Lord, and his desire was to honor God with his life. Was he perfect? Hardly, but when confronted with his sin, he was broken over it. He never committed that sin again but told God how sorry he was.

I see many so-called Christians giving lip service to Jesus but not truly repenting of their sin. They continue to hold tightly to the sin from which they claim to have repented. When we accept Christ, our sins are forgiven, but in accepting Christ’s forgiveness, we need to repent. That means to change your mind about the sin you embrace and turn from that sin. If you continue to lust after fleshly desires and give into that lust, then you haven’t truly repented.

As long as we live on this side of Heaven, we will always struggle against sin in order to honor God, or even give into the sin and lust found in the world.

Jesus forgave a woman who had been having a sexual encounter with a man she wasn’t married to. He forgave her, but He told her to stop sinning. We can’t accept His forgiveness and then mock Him by continuing to sin. The Apostle John assures us of God’s forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:9-10).

Everyone sins. Gossiping is a sin, disrespecting parents is a sin, sexual activity outside of a one-man/one-woman marriage is a sin, and there are more. The closer you draw to God, the more broken you will be over sin. Today it’s common to hear someone try to justify their own sin by saying that Jesus would have been a part of the sin. That’s so wrong. I’ve even heard people say that Jesus would be leading gay pride parades. First, pride is a sin, and second, those parades glorify sin, and Jesus would not participate. He would absolutely love the sinner, and if they repented of their sin, He would forgive, but He wouldn’t celebrate the sin.

As Christians, we need to stand firm upon God’s word. Nations may “legalize” sin, but that doesn’t make sin right in God’s eyes. How do we, as Christians, show God’s agape to a world that embraces sin and promotes ungodliness? It isn’t agape to allow another person to die in their sins because they love that sin so much. It isn’t agape to allow Jesus to be slandered and mocked by people who say He would accept sin and even promote it. We can’t expect people blinded by sin to know who Jesus was and what He did for us. On the other hand, we need to show agape to those who are lost in sin.

Paul was a very wicked man who thought he was serving God by arresting and murdering those who embraced Christ for salvation. While he was on a mission to punish Christians in Damascus, he met Jesus. Paul repented of his way of life and became a true follower of Christ. It is Paul’s example of missionary work that we should follow. It was Paul who wrote letters to Christians to encourage them and keep them grounded in the faith. Paul was bold in his witness for Christ and didn’t fear prison or being beaten, but he loved people enough to spread the Gospel. His letters are inspired by the Holy Spirit and stand today as Christian doctrine. Each letter should be used for information about Christian life.

Our first and foremost example is Christ, but Paul’s writings are full of instruction for us. His letters to the believers in Corinth give us some important information. The attitude of the Corinthians was what today would be called a “seeker-friendly” congregation who were proud of the sin they accepted. A man was in a sexual relationship with his father’s wife. Paul told them to expel him from the congregation until he repented. He eventually did, and they accepted him back. Today we see many pastors who claim to be homosexual, and congregations hosting drag queens to preach from the pulpit. Should we, who honor God, get angry? We shouldn’t accept any of this.

Paul had a lot to say about “charity,” which is also translated from the Greek word agape, often translated as love. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). We can talk and scold and make ourselves very annoying, but if our words aren’t spoken with agape, we are just making noise. We might be the most “perfect” person in our walk with Christ, displaying spiritual gifts, but without agape, we aren’t serving Him.

“And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2-3).

Our simple human minds like to think that doing things (works) is enough. Works are good, but works don’t save anybody. If the Gospel isn’t shared with lost souls, you aren’t showing love.

Jesus is our example. He loved people, but that love didn’t mean accepting their sin. Jesus shared the Gospel, but although He was a carpenter by trade, He never built a house or planted crops for anybody He met. He healed many people, but He didn’t just throw money at them. It was up to those that were healed to then earn their living and not accept welfare. When they were unable to work, it was acceptable to beg, but once healed, welfare wasn’t acceptable.

The Apostle Paul goes on to give a picture of agape love. “Charity suffereth long, and is kind, charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

A respected Bible teacher once said to read through these verses but place your own name in place of “charity.” That is very humbling. The word “charity” is translated from agape. If you show God’s perfect agape love, then you serve Him well. Don’t boast or brag about all the wonderful things you’ve done, but give God the glory. Don’t do good works for what you will profit from them, but for what the Kingdom of God will gain.

Remember, water is wet because that’s what it is. Honey is sweet because that’s what it is. God is agape because that’s what He is. God is love. If we love Him, then we need to follow Him and live to please Him.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

The Rapture is drawing nearer with each passing day. Every Christian should be eagerly watching the signs and yearning to hear that call from our Lord. When will it happen? That’s impossible to predict, but Jesus gave us a summary of the signs to watch for that would lead to the Tribulation; those final seven years will follow the Rapture. As we see the signs all falling into place, we can see just how close we are to going Home.

There are also signs disclosed in Ezekiel, Daniel, Revelation, and more. Most Christians don’t study Scripture, so they’re blind to what’s swiftly coming. The nightly news will report things from a secular view, but if you filter their reports through the lens of Scripture, you might find some interesting facts. None of us know when we will be standing before Jesus, but either by death or by the Rapture, it is certain we will be there one day. The question is, when your time comes, what will you be doing?

As we go through this life, it can become easy to think like the secular people around us. Gossiping with co-workers or losing patience with people who don’t come up to our idea of perfection. Friends may tempt you to participate in activities that Scripture tells us are sins, or we might just selfishly decide not to help someone in need. We all make choices as to how we approach life.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthians to take thoughts captive.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds:) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

Will you be acting or thinking in disobedience to God when you’re called Home? Or will you be standing firmly upon God’s word? It’s easy to try to please friends and family, but those people cannot bring salvation to you. Only Christ’s blood brings salvation, and He deserves our obedience. Jesus told us very clearly that sin begins with our thoughts.

“But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).

This also applies to women lusting after men. James had very good insight about temptation. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin, when it is finished, bringeth for death” (James 1:13-15).

When you leave this world, will you be lusting after a sinful desire? Will you yield to the temptation of evil? Take your thoughts captive, and don’t give Satan a chance to ruin your life.

We all have to grow up and mature. Children react to situations in ways that are very immature. If another child takes Billy’s toy, Billy reacts by violence or yelling. Billy, and all of us, must learn to share and find a better way to resolve the situation than anger and violence.

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11).

Good parents will guide children into maturity in everyday life and maturity in their Christian walk. A Christian father should be the example to his son as to how to be a man and an example to his daughter as to what to look for in a husband. The same with a mother. God, our Father, gives us guidance in living, and as His children, we need to be obedient. There are many temptations, but if God’s word is written on our hearts, we will make choices that honor Him. In that way, whatever we are doing or thinking at the time we are called Home, we won’t be ashamed. Parents, be sure you have given your child the firm foundation of Christ. Lead by example so you and your children won’t have any shame when meeting Jesus.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12).

We are born with a sin nature, but by accepting Christ’s sacrifice, our sins are forgiven. We must repent and turn from sin.

Where did that sin nature come from? Eve chose to converse with Satan and was deceived into sin, but Adam chose to sin. “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (1 Timothy 2:13-14).

This stumbles many people. Paul isn’t saying that women aren’t important to God’s work or lesser people than men, but he is saying that men are to be the leaders.

In writing these commentaries, I’m very cautious. My husband began this ministry, and God is allowing me to continue writing commentaries. I only study the men whom Ron trusted, and thereby I stay under his authority and in tune with God’s will. What will I be doing when I’m called Home? Prayerfully, I will be serving my Lord. Will I be harboring any sinful thoughts? Probably, but my desire is to take those thoughts captive and bring “… into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5b).

None of us can stand before God on our own merit. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” (Romans 3:23-25).

We are all sinners, but Christians are saved by grace. If you say, “I’m a Christian,” shouldn’t your actions speak louder than your words? Works won’t save us, but they are important in serving Christ.

Jesus said, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:24-27).

We all have a foundation in life. Either a secular foundation built upon sand that will fall when storms hit, or the wiser foundation built upon the Rock. The Apostle Paul carries this truth into his first letter to the Corinthians.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:11-13).

If you think you can accept Christ and then live a worldly, self-serving life, you need to think again. What you do with Christ’s free gift of salvation will affect your eternity. You won’t lose salvation, but you will lose rewards.

“If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:14-15).

What will you be doing when you’re called Home? Will you be building upon a foundation that is firmly set upon the Rock, Jesus Christ? Or will you be building on a foundation of sand with wood, hay, and stubble? The rewards you earn for things done for God’s glory will bring eternal joy.

Brothers and sisters, we cannot know when we will find ourselves standing before our Lord. Will you have a heart attack? Maybe a car wreck will send you Home or some other unexpected event. I’ve known many people who have died unexpectedly. Some of those people leave no doubt in my mind that they are with the Lord eternally because they lived their faith so everyone could see. What if you don’t die? What if the Rapture happens?

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

You won’t have time to go make apologies to someone you’ve caused trouble. You won’t have time to go do that good deed you chose not to do because it interfered with your fun. You will be doing something. I hope you’ll be serving the Lord.

I know what I’d like to be doing when He calls me Home. I’d love to be sharing the Gospel. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be sharing God’s truth with the person who is the last to accept Christ during the Church age?

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles come in” (Romans 11:25).

There will be one last Gentile to come to faith. Time is getting short, and if your grandmother, uncle, cousin, or friend hasn’t accepted Christ for salvation, they won’t “go to a better place” after death. Share the Gospel with everybody you can, and be a source of Christian encouragement to those who have given their life to Christ.

What will you be doing when God calls you Home? Make sure what you’re doing is something that glorifies Christ.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com

www.prophecyupdate.com

www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.