In Matthew 24:12, Jesus makes a very sobering statement about the devastating effect increasing lawlessness can have on someone’s loyalty to Jesus: “Because of the increase of wickedness the love of most will grow cold” (NIV). However, he then adds in verse 13: “But he who endures to the end will be saved” (ESV). What can we as followers of Jesus do to help one another keep our love for the Lord strong and fervent in the midst of increasing lawlessness? In part 1 of this series, we consider what “lawlessness” means within the immediate context of Matthew 24:12-13, as well as a number of ways in which we as disciples of Jesus can help one another’s love for our King grow brighter and brighter as the world around us grows darker and darker. We invite you to join us as we ask God to establish our hearts in unwavering loyalty to Him.
Old Testament 
Genesis 6:9 
New Testament 
Matthew 5:14; Matthew 24:9-13; Mark 4:5-6, 16-17; Luke 6:26; John 15:18-19; Acts 5:41; Romans 5:3-5; Philippians 1:29; James 1:2-4, 12; 1 Peter 3:20; 1 Peter 4:3-6; 1 Peter 5:8-10; Revelation 3:14-21

Tim Miller

Crisis

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<li class="li1">The multiplication/spread/increase of lawlessness and its potentially erosive and deadly effects on covenant loyalty</li>
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12 Because of the increase of wickedness (“because lawlessness will multiply” [HCSB]; “Sin will be rampant everywhere” [NLT]; “Such will be the spread of evil” [TEV]; “There will be more and more evil in the world” [NCV]), the love of most (Gk. tōn pollōn; “the many” [YLT]; “many” [ESV, NET]; the article possibly pointing back to the “many” in verse 11 who are deceived) will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm (“who endures” [ESV, HCSB], “who keep their faith” [NCV], “whoever holds out” [TEV]), to the end will be saved. (Mt. 24:12-13, NIV)
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<li class="li3">12 Things will become so wicked, in fact, that the love of most will grow cold. (Mt. 24:13, BHT)</li>
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<li class="li1">Love as loyalty (covenantal context; see Feb. 19, 2021 ERG)</li>
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12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him (“to those who remain loyal to him” [BHT]). (Jm. 1:12, NIV)
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<li class="li3">“Love in its distinctive biblical understanding…is always relational and often implies faithfulness and loyalty. So in this context it refers more to a sense of loyalty toward God.”</li>
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<li class="li1">Lawlessness in context</li>
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9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted (Gk. thlipsis—“to be punished” [TEV]; “to suffering” [ISV]; “to be tortured” [NRSV]) and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me Clit. “because of my name” [HCSB]). 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith (“many will lose their faith” [NCV]; “many will give up their faith” [TEV]; “many will turn away from me” [NLT]; “many will take offense” [HCSB]; “many will be led into sin” [LEB, NET]) and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mt. 24:9-13, NIV)
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<li class="li1">From this passage we that when there is 1) an increase in hatred toward Jesus’ people; 2) an increase in persecution and suffering because of our identification with Jesus; 3) an increase in people turning away from the Lord; 4) an increase in people betraying one another; 5) an increase in deception fueled by an increase in false messages through the mouths of an increasing number of false messengers who claim to represent and speak for God, but who actually don’t; then we have entered into a time and situation in which our faith is going to be put under great pressure, and our loyalty to Jesus, His ways, and His gospel is going to be tested. This will be particularly true at the end of the age.</li>
<li class="li1">We rightly feel sadness and grief when people who call themselves followers of Jesus fall away from the faith. However, we should not be surprised. Jesus has given us clear warning.</li>
<li class="li1">However, this is not the whole story. According to Jesus, increased pressure and opposition have the potential not only to make our love cold, but also to make it hot and fervent.</li>
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14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you (“vomit you” [ESV, HCSB]) out of my mouth. 17 You say (deception), ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire (Gk. puroō—“to make red hot, cause to glow, heat thoroughly”; “I counsel you to buy from me gold made hot and purified by fire” [BHT]), so you can become rich (“truly rich” [NCV]); and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see (it is while in the fire that we see our need, and learn to rely solely on God). 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3:14-21, NIV)
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<li class="li1">The need to be well-rooted</li>
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5 Some [seed] fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root (“because it did not have sufficient root” [NET])….16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root (“they don’t have deep roots” [NLT]; “they don’t allow the teaching to go deep into their lives” [NCV]; the message “does not sink deep into them” [TEV]), they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes (“as soon as they have problems or are persecuted” [NLT]) because of the word, they quickly fall away (Gk. skandalizō—“stumble” [HCSB]; “stumble with offense” [BHT]). (Mk. 4:5-6, 16-17, NIV)
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<li class="li7">skandalizō in this context—“to be appalled&lt; &#8211; &gt; trip — to be or become filled with disgust or revulsion for someone (and therefore reject him); conceived of as stumbling and falling” (BSL, Mk. 4:7, sv skandalizō)</li>
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<li class="li1">Question: What can we as followers of Jesus do to help one other to become well-rooted? What does the Lord want to do through the various members of His body to keep the fire of our love and loyalty burning bright amidst increasing lawlessness? What does God want us to do to continually stoke the fires of love and loyalty in each other’s hearts?</li>
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JESUS’ WARNING AND EXHORTATION

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<li class="li1">Remind one another that being hated and suffering for obeying and remaining loyal to Jesus is a normal part of following Jesus and should be seen as a badge of honor.</li>
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41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. (Ac. 5:41, ESV)
29For you have been given the privilege (“God gave you the honor of” [NCV]) for Christ’s sake not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him. (Php. 1:29, ISV)
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (Jn. 15:18-19, NIV)
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<li class="li1">Remind each other not to be surprised when we are demonized and presented as evil.</li>
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3 For the time that is past suffices for (“You have already spent enough time in” [NRSV]) doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you (“slander you” [HCSB]; “vilify you” [NET]; “heap insults on you” [CJB]); 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Pt. 4:3-6, ESV)
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets. (Lk. 6:26, NIV)
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<li class="li1">Remember that we are part of a worldwide family who are going through similar things.</li>
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5:8 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. 5:9 Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering. 5:10 And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Pt. 5:8-10, NET)
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<li class="li1">Always interpret our sufferings (what we suffer unjustly; see 1 Pt. 3:16) through the lens of the gospel</li>
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1:2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. (Jam. 1:2-4, NET)
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Rom. 5:3-5, ESV)
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<li class="li1">Reminding ourselves and one another that majority opinion does not equal truth (appeal to majority is a logical fallacy)</li>
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9 … Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation (“blameless among the people of his time” [NIV]; “blameless among his contemporaries” [HCSB, NET]). Noah walked with God. (Gen. 6:9, ESV)
…when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water (1 Pt. 3:20, NIV)
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Mt. 5:14, ESV)

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