Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.(1 John 4 : 7~11)(1 John 4 : 16~17)
God sent the love of the cross to this earth because He is love. This love of God possesses eternal glory, eternal authority, and power. Therefore, in order to make us into human beings who possess eternal glory and authority like God, He gave us the divine nature, and through Christ, He showed the whole world that only by following that divine nature and attaining the love of the cross can we reach salvation and resurrection. Thus, the love of the cross is the eternal God, the eternal glory, the eternal authority, and the eternal power.
The love of the cross is not human affection or carnal desire that arises from the flesh. Human affection is always born of bloodline and carnal instincts—it is an instinctive love felt through the flesh, even without being taught. However, human love is limited, for it inevitably leads to jealousy, envy, hatred, pride, lies, lust, and conflict, depending on one’s circumstances. Such is the inherent limit of human love.
However, the love of the cross is a love that is founded on sacrifice—on denying and giving up one’s entire self. Therefore, it contains no jealousy, envy, hatred, pride, lies, lust, or conflict, which are born from greed and selfish desires. It is a love that possesses only a heart of love, a heart of mercy, a heart of patience, a heart of self-control, a heart of gentleness, a heart of peace, a heart of goodness, a heart of obedience, and a heart of joy.(Galatians 5 : 22~26)
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.(1 Corinthians 13 : 2~9)
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.(1 John 3 : 16)
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.(Romans 14 : 7)(Mark 8 : 35)(Matthew 16 : 25)(Luke 10 : 27)
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.(1 Thessalonians 2 : 5~8)
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.(Luke 14 : 26~27)
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.(John 15 : 12~14)
Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.(Philippians 2 : 30)(Romans 16 : 4)
The love of the cross that feeds, gives, and cares is not a love that can be easily attained or fulfilled—even with a willingness to die and tireless effort. Just as no one can enter a top university simply by carrying a backpack and attending school without blood-sweating effort and hardship, in the same way, merely attending church, praying, or reading the Bible does not mean one has received salvation or the Holy Spirit. Yet, due to the shameless teachings of those without conscience—who pretend that such surface-level practices equate to salvation—and the countless believers who follow these teachings, the holy name of God and the precious love of the cross are being defiled, distorted by corruption upon corruption, lies upon lies, and lawlessness upon lawlessness.
Tithes and offerings were established to help form hearts worthy of becoming children of God through the love of the cross that feeds, gives, and cares for the poor and needy sheep. But these have instead become corrupted by selfish greed, turning into traditions, rituals, and worship customs shaped by personal desire. As a result, churches have become increasingly distorted, false, and corrupt.
Therefore, the Lord declares that He will tear down the brick-and-mortar churches—built with the tithes and offerings meant to feed the sheep—so that not one stone will be left upon another.
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.(Luke 21 : 5~6)
I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.(Zechariah 5 : 4)
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.(Matthew 21 : 13)
The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.(Job 12 : 6)(Jeremiah 11 : 15~17)
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.(Malachi 3 : 8)
The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the LORD GOD of hosts.(Isaiah 3 : 14~15)
Today, countless churches, pastors, and believers alike neglect the labor, effort, suffering, and sacrifice required to fulfill the holy will of God and to walk in the love of the cross that is worthy of salvation. Instead, they desire only its fruit—salvation and the Holy Spirit. Most of what is taught and learned in churches today comes from shameless individuals who seek the reward without the cost. They put forward love, charity, and service that amount to nothing more than moral duties that any decent person should do, and thus they fail to attain the divine nature that resembles God. As a result, believers are becoming slaves to men through vain faith, vain service, and vain charity.
Because their love, service, and charity are nothing more than excuses or mere imitations of the cross, they cannot produce the love of the cross that truly leads to salvation and likeness to God. Such churches, pastors, and believers build their faith on empty beliefs and empty religion. A church or pastor that does not sacrifice all and provide a true example is neither Christ’s church nor Christ’s shepherd, and they bear no sign of salvation or resurrection. They are merely dens of thieves that deceive the believers through stolen traditions and practices masked as worship, wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Do not be deceived any longer by the disgraceful teachings of these thieves, who steal the tithes and offerings meant to feed, give, and care for others. They replace God and His Word with devotion to their brick churches and altars. Instead, follow the true love of the cross—feeding, giving, and caring—through which you may cultivate a beautiful heart that resembles God. Build your faith by following such an example. The fact that we are in the last days is already testified by the very words on people’s lips.
Religion, churches, pastors, and believers are becoming increasingly corrupt, lawless, false, and distorted—clear proof that they are not the true religion, church, pastors, or believers of Christ. The true path of salvation in Christ is not the wide and easy road that worldly believers long for, pursuing their desires and expectations. It is a steep, narrow, and rugged path—difficult to find—paved only with suffering, effort, and sacrifice.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.(Matthew 7 : 13~27)
Follow the light of the Word that reveals the sins hidden in darkness for thousands of years and leads to the way of the cross, which is worthy of salvation—so that you may partake in the glory of suffering and persecution! Come out from the vain faith that leaves you weary and burdened in fruitless years, where your impoverished heart and afflicted conscience testify against you. Instead, pursue the love that overflows with a rich heart and the joy of thanksgiving. This is the holy will and Word of God, written with tears in prayer for the saints and fellow workers who will walk with you. Through your own testimony, you will come to know that He is the God of power who is with the tears of the afflicted, the sorrow of the mourning, the pain of the hopeless, and the heavy burdens of the anguished—He is the power of love.
Do not hesitate—anyone may reach out at any time.