Page 430 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

NEW EVANGELICAL

We are to separate from those who teach false doctrine. Biblical love is associated with rebuking sin and
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause error. The Lord Jesus, who is Love Incarnate, “looked
divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye round about on them with anger, being grieved for the
have learned; and avoid them” (Ro. 16:17). hardness of their hearts” (Mk. 3:5). He rebuked the
We must be careful of every wind of false doctrine. Pharisees sharply, even fiercely (Mt. 23). He called Peter
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and a devil (Mt. 16:23) and upbraided the disciples “with
fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the their unbelief and hardness of heart” (Mk. 16:14). The
sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in apostle Paul called false teachers “dogs” and “evil
wait to deceive” (Ep. 4:14). workers” (Ph. 3:2), “evil men and seducers” (2 Ti.
No false doctrine is to be allowed. “As I besought thee 3:13), “men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the
to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, faith” (2 Ti. 3:8). Of those who pervert the gospel he
that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other said, “Let them be accursed” (Ga. 1:8, 9). None of this is
doctrine” (1 Ti. 1:3). contrary to Christian love.
The preacher is to take heed to the doctrine. “Take heed Ecumenists are also confused about the direction of
unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for love.
in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that The first direction of love must be toward God. “Jesus
hear them” (1 Ti. 4:16). said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
The Bible is given for doctrine (2 Ti. 3:16) and is to be thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
preached with doctrine (2 Ti. 4:2). This is the first and great commandment” (Mt. 22:37-38).
The preacher must be able to use doctrine to edify and I must love God enough to take a stand for His Word, to
love and fear God more than I love and fear man. We
protect the church. “Holding fast the faithful word as he agree with Charles Haddon Spurgeon when he said:
hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine
both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” (Titus “On all hands we hear cries for unity in this, and unity
1:9). in that; but to our mind the main need of this age is
not compromise, but conscientiousness. ‘First pure,
We abide in Christ by sound doctrine. “But the then peaceable.’ It is easy to cry ‘a confederacy,’ but
anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, that union which is not based upon the truth of God is
and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same rather a conspiracy than a communion. Charity by all
anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is means; but honesty also. Love, of course, but love to
no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in God as well as love to men, and love of truth as well as
him” (1 Jn. 2:27). love of union. It is exceedingly difficult in these times
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT CHRISTIAN LOVE to preserve one’s fidelity before God and one’s
fraternity among men. Should not the former be
Though the ecumenist talks much about love, he is preferred to the latter if both cannot be maintained?
confused about both the definition and the direction of We think so” (Spurgeon, “The Down Grade - Second
true Christian love. Article,” The Sword and the Trowel, April 1887, Notes,
Ecumenists are confused about the definition of love. p. 16).
Biblical love is obedience to God and His Word, not The second direction of love must be toward those
gushy emotion, not broadmindedness, not toleration of who are in spiritual danger. The Lord Jesus instructed
error. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Peter to “feed my sheep” John 21:16-17. I need to love
me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, the Lord’s sheep more than I love the wolves.
and we will come unto him, and make our abode with In conclusion of our study on love, we quote from
him” (Jn. 14:23). “For this is the love of God, that we the words of James Henley Thornwell, a staunch Old
keep his commandments: and his commandments are School Presbyterian preacher who fought against
not grievous” (1 John 5:3). theological modernism in the 19th century. He was the
Biblical love is associated with knowledge and sixth president of South Carolina College (today the
judgment. “And this I pray, that your love may abound University of South Carolina). He was weary with the
yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; “In Betweenites” of his day who said they loved the
that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye truth but were soft in their stance and refused to boldly
may be sincere and without offence till the day of withstand heresy. Note his powerful words and his
Christ” (Ph. 1:9-10). Biblical love is never divorced from understanding of true biblical love:
strict application of God’s Word, from keen spiritual “To employ soft words and honeyed phrases in
judgment based on God’s Word. Biblical love is not non- discussing questions of everlasting importance; to deal
judgmentalism. with errors that strike at the foundations of all human
hope as if they were harmless and venial mistakes; to

430 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity