love – Grace Evangelical Society

Sanctification Through Falling Deeper in Love: A Lesson from Anthony Norris Groves

August 27, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Anthony Norris Groves, love, Sanctification

How can you be holy? How can you live a “deeper” life with Christ? I am reading a biography of Anthony Norris Groves, written by G. H. Lang. So far, it is excellent. Groves was one of the pioneers of the faith missions movement—he went to the mission field without salary or support and depended

Would You Give Up Your Church Buildings to Show Love?

August 21, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - love, Matthew 5:40, Philippians 4:5, Robert Chapman

We know that eternal life is a free gift—an extraordinary, extravagant gift—given simply on the condition of faith in Christ, totally apart from any works that we can do (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:8-9). But then what? What comes next? The short answer is: love. Freed from the burden of having to earn your salvation by

A Church Can Be Doctrinally Sound, But Unloving (Revelation 2:1-7)

July 23, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - doctrine, Ephesians, Ephesus, love, Revelation

Did you know that a church can be doctrinally sound and yet be without love? That’s not an idea I find easy to entertain, because I care so much about doctrine. But that is what Jesus said to the Ephesians: To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds

Will You Not Be Accepted? (Genesis 4:3-7; Matthew 5:21-24)

April 8, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - love, offerings

After the fall, two brothers brought offerings to the Lord, but only one was accepted: And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord

In Times of Crisis, Don’t Forget Your Neighbor

March 26, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - coronavirus, crisis, James, love

When the plague struck Wittenberg, Germany, in 1527, people wrote to Martin Luther, asking his advice about what to do. In particular, he was asked whether it was right to run away from the plague. Luther said it depended. On what? On who you are. What role do you have in life? Whether or not

The Short Commandment

March 19, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - love, Martin Luther, spirituality

Jesus commanded you to love (Mark 12:31). Paul said that if you do not have love, you are nothing (1 Cor 13:2). And John said “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death” (1 John 3:14). Love is

Find the Poor, Sick, and Needy, and Serve Them

March 16, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - love, Martin Luther, spirituality, Tuomo Mannermaa

Since Jesus gave you everlasting life by simply believing in Him (John 3:15-16, 36; Eph 2:8-9), what should you be doing with all your free time? You don’t need to be earning, keeping, or securing your eternal salvation—so that eliminates 99% of what usually passes for religious activity in the world—so what kinds of things

Love One Another as Brothers and Sisters (Romans 12:10)

December 13, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - love, spirituality

What should Christian spirituality look like? I often wonder how much damage works salvation has done to the churches over the centuries, not just in promoting a false gospel, but in also promoting a false spirituality. When you think you need to work your way to heaven, then spirituality is going to look very different

No Excuse, Sir! (1 John 4:20–5:5)

July 15, 2019 by Kenneth Yates in Blog - 1 John, child of God, commandment, love

I attended a military college after high school. The freshman year introduced us to military life and placed upon us many rules that a civilian would consider strange. For example, if an upperclassman asked you “why” you were doing something, the answer was always, “no excuse, sir!” It didn’t matter if you had a valid

What Is Love? (Ephesians 5:1-3)

May 10, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Ephesians, love

Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children. Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God. And do not let sexual immorality, or any impurity, or greed be named among you, as these are not proper among saints (MEV). The Ephesians were