The Advent Truth.
Jesus said the two greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor. But notice what He said next: “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40). Love is not the replacement for obedience—it is the foundation of it.
A lot of people today define love as affirmation. If it feels kind, supportive, and accepting, then it must be loving. But the Bible gives a different definition.
“Love rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6).
Biblical love is not celebrating what God calls sin. Biblical love is caring enough about someone to want them to walk in truth, even when that truth is uncomfortable.
Think about it. If you truly believed someone was standing in the middle of a highway with a truck speeding toward them, would love remain silent? Would love clap and encourage them to stay there? Of course not. Love would warn. Love would plead. Love would act.
The same principle applies spiritually.
Now that doesn’t mean Christians should be cruel, hateful, arrogant, or self-righteous. Far too many people have used “truth” as an excuse to be obnoxious. Jesus never did that. He was full of grace and truth (John 1:14). He loved sinners enough to spend time with them, but He loved them too much to leave them where they were.
When Jesus met the woman caught in adultery, He didn’t condemn her. But neither did He affirm her sin. His words were, “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).
Real love does not lower God’s standard. Real love walks alongside people while pointing them toward God’s standard.
The irony is that many people quote “love your neighbor” as if it means never challenging behavior, beliefs, or lifestyles. Yet the most loving thing a Christian can do is point people to the Savior who can transform their lives.
If Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, then pointing people to Jesus is loving.
So yes, love your neighbor.
Care enough about their eternity to tell them what God says.
Love does not celebrate what destroys people.
Jesus said the two greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor. But notice what He said next: “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40). Love is not the replacement for obedience—it is the foundation of it.
A lot of people today define love as affirmation. If it feels kind, supportive, and accepting, then it must be loving. But the Bible gives a different definition.
“Love rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6).
Biblical love is not celebrating what God calls sin. Biblical love is caring enough about someone to want them to walk in truth, even when that truth is uncomfortable.
Think about it. If you truly believed someone was standing in the middle of a highway with a truck speeding toward them, would love remain silent? Would love clap and encourage them to stay there? Of course not. Love would warn. Love would plead. Love would act.
The same principle applies spiritually.
Now that doesn’t mean Christians should be cruel, hateful, arrogant, or self-righteous. Far too many people have used “truth” as an excuse to be obnoxious. Jesus never did that. He was full of grace and truth (John 1:14). He loved sinners enough to spend time with them, but He loved them too much to leave them where they were.
When Jesus met the woman caught in adultery, He didn’t condemn her. But neither did He affirm her sin. His words were, “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).
Real love does not lower God’s standard. Real love walks alongside people while pointing them toward God’s standard.
The irony is that many people quote “love your neighbor” as if it means never challenging behavior, beliefs, or lifestyles. Yet the most loving thing a Christian can do is point people to the Savior who can transform their lives.
If Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, then pointing people to Jesus is loving.
So yes, love your neighbor.
Care enough about their eternity to tell them what God says.
Love does not celebrate what destroys people.
The Advent Truth.
Jesus said the two greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor. But notice what He said next: “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40). Love is not the replacement for obedience—it is the foundation of it.
A lot of people today define love as affirmation. If it feels kind, supportive, and accepting, then it must be loving. But the Bible gives a different definition.
“Love rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6).
Biblical love is not celebrating what God calls sin. Biblical love is caring enough about someone to want them to walk in truth, even when that truth is uncomfortable.
Think about it. If you truly believed someone was standing in the middle of a highway with a truck speeding toward them, would love remain silent? Would love clap and encourage them to stay there? Of course not. Love would warn. Love would plead. Love would act.
The same principle applies spiritually.
Now that doesn’t mean Christians should be cruel, hateful, arrogant, or self-righteous. Far too many people have used “truth” as an excuse to be obnoxious. Jesus never did that. He was full of grace and truth (John 1:14). He loved sinners enough to spend time with them, but He loved them too much to leave them where they were.
When Jesus met the woman caught in adultery, He didn’t condemn her. But neither did He affirm her sin. His words were, “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).
Real love does not lower God’s standard. Real love walks alongside people while pointing them toward God’s standard.
The irony is that many people quote “love your neighbor” as if it means never challenging behavior, beliefs, or lifestyles. Yet the most loving thing a Christian can do is point people to the Savior who can transform their lives.
If Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, then pointing people to Jesus is loving.
So yes, love your neighbor.
Care enough about their eternity to tell them what God says.
Love does not celebrate what destroys people.
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