The title of this article can be found in a great verse.  (Ephesians 4:15) “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”  This verse is most certainly important to any Christian and it should be a summary of our attitudes in saving souls.  We do recognize that the word of God is truth.  (John 17:17) “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”  We must also recognize the word love, as God would define it.  (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”    Understanding now that we are to teach truth, with a love in the saving of souls, and at no matter what the cost we can further study this topic.

    Many use the title of this article in attempts to provoke truth teachers and seekers from teaching against error.  Yet if we would look at the very context of where this passage (Ephesians 4:15) is taken we can see that speaking truth in love even means opposing error and preaching unity in the truth of the Gospel of Christ.  (Ephesians 4:1-14) “I Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”  Notice that we are not to be misguided by men and different doctrines.  Notice that we are to teach the ONENESS of the Church, Christ, God, Faith, Baptism, Spirit, and Hope.

    For us to be thinking that love mean compromise is for us to think wrong.  Christ loved all mankind and gave his life for all mankind.   (Hebrews 2:9) “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”  Yet Christ warned us to heed to his words.  (John 12:48) “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”  Then we can see Christ who is our example “tell it like it is” when he responds to those in error.   (Matthew 15:7-9) “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”  If we truly love the souls of men we will preach the word regardless of what they want to hear.  (II Timothy 4:1-5) “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
 
 
 

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