Daily as we grow as Christians in Christ following him, we begin to see the wickedness of the world we live in. The more we grow and come understanding the more we realize and see different things which we have ourselves died too, but see others still living in them. Yes, living the death of the worldly desires of the heart and not knowing what they are doing.
Our own walk, can also lead us away from others and separated from them because of the things they do and things and new paths we are being lead down by the spirit. One thing I know I struggle with is this separation, and tendency to separate because I am not lead down the worldly paths I once was.
Thus the observation of Christ once more. For he was continuely going into the homes of the lowest of the low in those days. The people whom were considered to the evilest. Once again showing us his example of unconditional love and not judging them for what they were doing, but showing his love for them while yet were still sinners.
No, he did not partake in their evil ways, or become a part of them. He showed them that he loved them despite what they were doing. Thus changing their hearts, to understanding how unconditional love truly works and is. How to not think in our worldly ways of separation, but to the contrary. How to accept and love all despite their actions, sins, or whatever evil they may do.
I see so many families, friendships, etc� broken up because when people come to Christ they then think in their own minds they must disconnect with those who do evil. How do we expect Christ through us to change their hearts, if we ourselves show them separation because we have come to Christ? Wouldn�t this thinking and way be just like the Law? Showing separation because of sin?
It is coming to know Christ�s love for us and the forgiveness we have through him that joined us together and bridged the gap of separation, which once when we saw our sin and were made aware of them. But now being under Grace and his unconditional love, no longer separated from the love the Father.
We should desire to allow this same love and truth to flow through to all no matter what. I know it is not east at times, but you can love all people without becoming a part of the evil things they do. For Christ does not love the evil we do, but he accepts us despite of it and showed us that acceptance for us all through life, death, burial, and resurrection. This is how Christ loved his enemies, us one and all.
I Seem to see a �Thread� weaving through your Threads (Pun Intended). And that �Thread� is
�Accepting and Loving the Sinner�but Not The Sin!�.
Yes�this is a Common Phrase in Christianity. We are All Sinners. �All Have Sinned�. Christ Commanded Us to
�Love One Another as I have Loved You�.
David,
It Seems that you also are Implying that we Should not Depart from those that do not Believe or Continue to Sin. That we should �Stay� with them.
(David) �I see so many families, friendships, etc� broken up because when people come to Christ they then think in their own minds they must disconnect with those who do evil. How do we expect Christ through us to change their hearts, if we ourselves show them separation because we have come to Christ? Wouldn�t this thinking and way be just like the Law? Showing separation because of sin?� (End)
While I Agree that we Need to be Examples to those that have not �Yet� come to Believe�I Also Believe that we are also Called to �SEPARATE� Ourselves from those that Continue to Sin. To Remove that �Temptation to Sin�.
Jesus Himself Tells us in Scripture:
Matthew 10:13-15
12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Matthew 10:21-23
21 �Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Matthew 10:34-36
34 �Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
��a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law�
36 a man�s enemies will be the members of his own household.�[c]
It is Clear from Christ�s Words that by Becoming Christian you Will ALIENATE Yourself from The World.
So�I do see what you are Getting at and In Principal Agree with you�but�Practically�it will not Work. You cannot Help a Drug Addict if you�re a Drug Addict! So�that�s the way I see it�or as it�s been said before
JESUS COMMANDS, �LOVE ONE ANOTHER JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU!�
Jesus commanded his disciples many times to obey the OT command �To **LOVE** your neighbor as yourself� and on the day before his atonement Jesus added a NEW command �To **LOVE** one another as I have **LOVED** you� and this was just one day before he laid down His life for His friends.
John 13:34: Jesus says, �A **NEW** command I give you: **LOVE** one another as I have **LOVED** you so you MUST **LOVE** one another. By this all men will know that you :rolleyes:are My disciples!!�
John 15:9-14: �As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Now remain in My **LOVE**. **IF** you obey My commands, you:rolleyes: will remain in My **LOVE**,,, My command is this:**LOVE** each other **AS I HAVE LOVED YOU**!!. Greater **LOVE** has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends **IF** you do what I command!":angel:
Ephesians 3:16-19: �I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in **LOVE**, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the **LOVE** of Christ, and to know this **LOVE** that surpasses knowledge�that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God!!�:angel:
I Peter 1:22,23: "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the Truth so that you have sincere **LOVE** for your brothers, **LOVE** one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again through the living and enduring Word of God.�
God's Word further explains what this new **LOVE** is like in I Corinthians 13:2,4-8: If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not **LOVE** I am nothing...**LOVE** is patient, **LOVE** is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. **LOVE** does not delight in evil but rejoices with the Truth. It always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. **LOVE** never fails!!"
John 14:23: Jesus says, �If anyone **LOVES** Me, he will obey My teaching, My Father will **LOVE** him, and We will make Our home with him.� He who does not **LOVE** Me will not obey My teaching.�
I John 2:3-5: �We know that we have come to know Him {Jesus} **IF** we obey His commands. The man who says, �I know Him,� but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the Truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His Word, God's **LOVE** is truly made complete in him!!� :angel:
Matthew 28:19.20� Jesus commands, �Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to *OBEY EVERYTHING* I have commanded you!� {See I John 2:3-5}
EVERYTHING would also include all the other commands in God's inspired Word from Acts to Revelation as per 2 Timothy 3:16: 4:2: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work...Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
Ephesians 4:15,16: �Speaking the Truth **IN LOVE**, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ! From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up ***IN LOVE***, as each part does its work!�:angel:
If we really **LOVE** our brothers and sisters in Christ we will lovingly teach them to obey all the approximately 400 commands of the NT with **LOVE** in the hope of countless eternal rewards when Jesus comes with great power with all His angels.
Revelation 22:112: Jesus says,"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!" :applause:
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, For the Son of Man is going to come in His **FATHER'S GLORY WITH HIS ANGELS**{See Matt 24:30,31; 25:31-40 & 2 Thess 1:6-10}, and **THEN** He will reward each person according to what he has done.":applause:
Daniel 12:3: "Those who impart wisdom will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever!"
Jesus says in Rev 2:17; 3:4, 5, 21: �To him who overcomes...I will give a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it:rolleyes:.....He will walk with Me for he is worthy... I will acknowledge his name before My Father and His angels.... I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem.....I will write on him my New Name... and I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.� :applause::angel:
Archemedes....as a Critic I give you an A+, as for your fualt you think you found, it is worthless and like chasing the wind which is what comes out of your mouth. There is no heart of Christ in you or what you go around doing here on this site. I give you an F for false, and a H heartless. Go blow your worthless critic somewhere else with those who desire to hear your worldly thinking, and enjoy your chastising of people.
I KNOW that your cookie is crumblesd, and the wrong way too....
*** :applause:...Thanxs David...this is a Blessed Reminder for All that Father God does LOVES UN-Conditionaly...even when His children Treat Others Un-Lovingly...Seems lately the Demonic Gremlins have been working real hard to Steer the Sheep into a Riot of Confusion of Emotions...Love~Hate~Love~Hate~Love~Hate~Love~Hate....DANG !!!...ima gettin Dizzy with all this...:rolleyes:...xo
