Wednesday 08/06/14
Topic: The love you had at first
Series –
Loving Abba, Loving God I Pt. A.mp3
Loving Abba, Loving God I Pt. B.mp3
Click here to watch the video.
Key Texts
Rev. 2:1-7
Rev. 2:1-7 (Isa. 58:2)
We do not know for sure what beliefs the Nicolatians held to, but there are a few generally held guesses.
- The doctrine of the Nicolatians appears to have been a form of antinomianism, which makes the fatal mistake that man can freely partake in sin because the Law of God is no longer binding. It held the truth on the gratuitous reckoning of righteousness; but supposed that a mere intellectual “belief” in this truth had a saving power.
Nicolaitans of the 2nd century seem to have continued and extended the views of the 1st century adherents, holding to the freedom of the flesh and sin, and teaching that the deeds of the flesh had no effect upon the health of the soul and consequently no relation to salvation
- Victorinus of Pettau states that they ate things offered to idols.
- Bede states that Nicolas allowed other men to marry his wife.
- Thomas Aquinas believed that Nicholas supported either polygamy or the holding of wives in common.
In any case it was an error in belief of which Jesus took particular note. The common thread, ironically is not much different than the sin of this church – an abandonment of true love in one form or another, and perhaps that is why Christ brought it up.
This word Christ used for love here is Agape.
Deut. 6:5 is an example of that word in Hebrew,
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
You shall love the Lord your God with all you are, from the deepest parts of your being from that which is most truly and genuinely you, … all of your will, … all of your emotions and thoughts and with all the loyalty and intensity that passionate devoted love conjures.
The Hebrew has several words for love, the most common of which we will look at tonight and it is so general a word that it can be used as a replacement for Agape as we demonstrated a minute ago with Deut. 6:5.
Love – Generic word for love.
Below are different tenses and forms of the same word.
H157 ‘âhab
A verb meaning to love. To have affection for (sexually or otherwise). The range of meanings of the verb includes loving or liking objects and things… including base things like money or lofty like your mate or God.
H158 ’ahaḇ:
A masculine noun meaning love or lover. Both occurrences of this noun are in the plural. In Pro_5:19, it refers to marital love, while in Hos_8:9, the word refers to Israel’s trust in foreign alliances rather than in God. The foreign nations are Israel’s hired lovers.
H160 ‘ahăbâh
A feminine noun from of H158 and meaning the same, though it’s usage is slightly different: – love.
The word often signifies a powerful, intimate love between a man and a woman (Gen._29:20; Song of Solomon_2:4-5, Song of Solomon_2:7);
The love between friends (2Sam._1:26);
God’s love for His people (Isa._63:9; Hos._3:1);
Frequently, it is associated with forming a covenant, which enjoins the idea of loyalty (Deut._7:8).
When used in an abstract way, the word designates a desirable personal quality, which connotes affection and faithfulness (Prov._15:17; Prov._17:9).
Discuss the ways in which these words fit in our relation to God as Abba & Almighty God…and towards our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Now read Gen. 29:17-32 and discuss Jacob’s love for Rachel and Leah’s desire to be loved – being careful to keep the definitions of love as listed above in your mind.
I hope you will enjoy the rest of this teaching and as a result be better equipped to co-partner with the Spirit in the work of the ministry!
We encourage you…give it a listen!