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HIDDEN
LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS #44
New Testament Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona
Weekly E-mail Reminder
“GOD
IS LOVE”
1, 2 and 3 John
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(1.) JOHN’S POETIC WITNESS
OF THE SAVIOR – FULL OF TENDER IMAGERY:
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He allows the account of one event
to become part of an overall lesson, always pointing to the Lord’s mission.
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(2.) MESSAGES IN THE NAMES:
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As new wine is a name of the Lord, John uses several other names to identify the
Savior, such as "The Word." (John 1:1-2) He is "The Life"
and He is "The Light." (John 1:4-5) He was born of God. (John 1:13) We
must be born of God. (John 3:5-7) We receive everlasting life by coming to the
light. (John 3:16) We are to accept the words of God. (John 3:34) John’s
beautiful language also uses "love" to portray the name and the
immense gift God gave to us.
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(3.) LOVE AND FEAR AND GOD:
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"The Hebrew word for "revere" is (yirah) which is usually
translated as "fear," and that for "love" is (aha'vah).
These two concepts, although they may seem contradictory at first glance, are
the essence of Judaism's view of man's attitude to God." "The
"fear" referred to is not the fright or scaredness which a person
feels when he is confronted, for example, with a hungry lion. It is rather a
feeling of awe or reverence felt when witnessing greatness or grandeur . . . the
thought of the infinity and greatness of God." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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(4.) LOVE, GOD AND FELLOW
MEN:
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"A 3rd century Rabbi, Abbaye . . . worked in his fields at night
so that he could study during the day . . . taught that . . . to love God means
that "God should come to be loved by other people through your
behavior." ". . . Abraham's life is an example . . . of supreme faith
and devotion to God, and of love for one's fellow man." "Just as He is
merciful, so must you be merciful; just as He is gracious, so must you be
gracious; just as He helps the needy, so must you too help the needy." Thus
God is the ultimate example for man." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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(5.) KINDS OF LOVE:
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"The Song of Songs, described by the rabbis as an allegory of God's love
for Israel, has been classed among the world's great love poetry. Its lyric
quality and range of imagery have pictured the generosity and understanding
which love creates and sustains, and have made these the ideal in human
relationships. Love of God is sometimes signified indirectly, such as loving
justice, or loving His commandments." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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(6.) MOSES’ FAREWELL
SPEECH:
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". . . on the eve of the Children of Israel's entry into the
Promised Land, Moses made a farewell speech to the Jews . . . In one sentence
(Deuteronomy 10:12) he summed up . . . the entire purpose of human existence:
"And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God demand of you? Only this:
to revere (fear) the Lord your God, to walk only in His paths, to love Him, and
to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and soul." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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