Do we have to love our enemies in order to be saved?
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Ok I think you have the cart infront of the horse.
If you are repentant then you know your own sins, and how destructive you have been in the lives of yourself and others. If you are repentant then you are sorrowful of the ha you have done. So when you see other people reeking havoc because of their sin, you know they are as you were. Knowing that should cause you to pray for them, and have a merciful disposition toward them; this is love. Love is not emotional warm fuzziest. It's desiring and working toward the best for others with in your ability yet sacrificially. This is the results of truly knowing how rotten you have been and being repentant.
If you are repentant then you know your own sins, and how destructive you have been in the lives of yourself and others. If you are repentant then you are sorrowful of the ha you have done. So when you see other people reeking havoc because of their sin, you know they are as you were. Knowing that should cause you to pray for them, and have a merciful disposition toward them; this is love. Love is not emotional warm fuzziest. It's desiring and working toward the best for others with in your ability yet sacrificially. This is the results of truly knowing how rotten you have been and being repentant.
"love your enemies" is in step with the higher standard Jesus repeatedly calls His followers to live by. It's the same message the apostle's preached, too.
If you'll notice, that is what God is like. God provides good things even for those who hate Him and hurt other people.
Jesus says that you can tell who someone's father is by how they behave because children emulate the behaviors or their parents. If we are children of God we'll do things He does.
This is not saying we'll be a god or we'll be God. We can share common characteristics with God because we are made in His likeness, in His image. One of God's characteristics is loving enemies.
It also does not mean someone is instantly transformed into someone who is capable of loving their enemies. Sanctification is an incremental process.
That being said, salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Christ alone and it is for true believers. We can not keep adding on works to earn salvation or we're quickly back to trying to be justified by good behavior.
If you'll notice, that is what God is like. God provides good things even for those who hate Him and hurt other people.
Jesus says that you can tell who someone's father is by how they behave because children emulate the behaviors or their parents. If we are children of God we'll do things He does.
This is not saying we'll be a god or we'll be God. We can share common characteristics with God because we are made in His likeness, in His image. One of God's characteristics is loving enemies.
It also does not mean someone is instantly transformed into someone who is capable of loving their enemies. Sanctification is an incremental process.
That being said, salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Christ alone and it is for true believers. We can not keep adding on works to earn salvation or we're quickly back to trying to be justified by good behavior.
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I think we are human beings just like the ancient Jews. What Christ explained to them completed the Tanakh. That's important for every Believer. Therefore, what Christ explained is valuable when we see how the Apostles dealt with them in terms of teaching, practicing, being objected, being assertive. Always good to know what the shadow is doing when the body disappears. Comparing the Words of Christ with the words of the Apostles is a better understanding. But to just toss em away because we think it's for [Jews] only, is like ripping out the Books of the Bible with 5 or less Chapters because some believe they don't contain enough knowledge as Books with more Chapters in them.
I think we can love everyone without loving their sin or behaviors. I have had people do me wrong and cause me problems in life. I hold no grudges toward these people and wouldn't want to see any of them suffering in pain, starving, or go to hell. I would like to see everyone saved. But that also doesn't mean that I should hang out with these folks or bring them back into my life.
Scripture says not to cast your pearls before the swine and it also says pray for your enemies. So to me, I think it means I can love everyone even if that love is just from afar.
The Truth is Love. So when it comes to false prophets. I believe we can hate their evil ways, but we do need to tell them the truth and give them the scriptures. We should pray for their souls that God have mercy upon them, but that doesn't mean we should entertain their sin and foolishness, either.
Scripture says not to cast your pearls before the swine and it also says pray for your enemies. So to me, I think it means I can love everyone even if that love is just from afar.
The Truth is Love. So when it comes to false prophets. I believe we can hate their evil ways, but we do need to tell them the truth and give them the scriptures. We should pray for their souls that God have mercy upon them, but that doesn't mean we should entertain their sin and foolishness, either.
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We must obey all Jesus' teachings, but it is necessary to know that some of them (given before the cross) are no longer in effect.
Keep the commandments (in order to be saved);
Obey the scribes and Pharisees;
Sell all you have and give the money to the poor;
Truly, I say to you, you will never get out (of the prison) until you have paid the last penny; (is this a teaching for Christians?)
To sum up, Jesus taught the law of Moses throughout his ministry on earth.
After the cross, the risen Jesus gave new teachings through Paul and these supersede those given before the Lord's crucifixion.
Keep the commandments (in order to be saved);
Obey the scribes and Pharisees;
Sell all you have and give the money to the poor;
Truly, I say to you, you will never get out (of the prison) until you have paid the last penny; (is this a teaching for Christians?)
To sum up, Jesus taught the law of Moses throughout his ministry on earth.
After the cross, the risen Jesus gave new teachings through Paul and these supersede those given before the Lord's crucifixion.
Nope, Jesus fulfilled the law for righteousness sake. Salvation by grace is never earned in whole or in part by those who have received it.
Christians forgive those who trespass against them because the Holy Spirit ministers in their heart to do so. You cannot hate anyone if you are concerned for their soul.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Christians forgive those who trespass against them because the Holy Spirit ministers in their heart to do so. You cannot hate anyone if you are concerned for their soul.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Rightly understanding scripture is key.. Amen.
Marcello ---"Truly, I say to you, you will never get out (of the prison) until you have paid the last penny; (is this a teaching for Christian?)"
I would say this teaching is most definitely for Christians. We may no longer have debtor prisons - just as a side note debtors prisons weren't abolished in the Uk until the mid/late 1800's. Jesus was using this as an example to press his MAIN point.
Anyhow the point Jesus was making from Matt 5:21-26 is relevant to your original post. Jesus is using that as a picture about reconciliation. the discourse is not just that one sentence, but verses 21 thru 26.
What did Jesus say about obeying the scribes and Pharisees? read the very next verse that will help you understand. Do you not respect those in authority over you? doesn't mean you have to do as they do..is that maybe the point?
Anyhow. all of Jesus teachings are for Christians even those about the law.
Let´s consider one example:
Jesus said: keep the commandments (the law, in order to be saved);
Paul said: salvation is by grace and faith alone (with no works of the law).
If I choose to follow Paul I am not disregarding Jesus. On the contrary, I will be doing what is applicable to Christians today.
What Paul means by "another Jesus" in the verse you mentioned are false teachings created by men; not teachings that were revealed to Paul by the risen Jesus.
Jesus said: keep the commandments (the law, in order to be saved);
Paul said: salvation is by grace and faith alone (with no works of the law).
If I choose to follow Paul I am not disregarding Jesus. On the contrary, I will be doing what is applicable to Christians today.
What Paul means by "another Jesus" in the verse you mentioned are false teachings created by men; not teachings that were revealed to Paul by the risen Jesus.
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This is an interesting question..
I hated one enemy in particular for awhile until I started praying for that person and found that God started softening my heart towards her...so I think God is able to do anything especially if He wants it done. I don’t have the power in myself but that’s why I need God.
Philippians 3:7-1316But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
I hated one enemy in particular for awhile until I started praying for that person and found that God started softening my heart towards her...so I think God is able to do anything especially if He wants it done. I don’t have the power in myself but that’s why I need God.
I would say if you try to override the healing power of God in your life and want to hold onto your sin..then you would be in trouble for falling away....we haven’t been made perfect yet...but press on towards the goal..the upward call of God in Jesus. Philippians 3:7-1316
The Israelites got into trouble with God for hardening their hearts...we shouldn’t do that too.Hebrews 3:12-15
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME.””
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME.””
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God knows a lot more than we do.....His instructions to us are life-giving if we do them.
He said in this life we will have trouble and tribulations, bad things are going to happen to us but, we can overcome every bad thing and still enjoy our life, if we do what Jesus said to do......
Matthew 5:44-48 New King James Version (NKJV)
Love Your Enemies
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
He said in this life we will have trouble and tribulations, bad things are going to happen to us but, we can overcome every bad thing and still enjoy our life, if we do what Jesus said to do......
Matthew 5:44-48 New King James Version (NKJV)
Love Your Enemies
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
As a new believer I would do all these things for enemies and God almost always blessed me. It's the enemies job to distract us and I think I was taken off course. it's about time I return to the right track.
Nevertheless, I still maintain that if we don't attain perfection in loving our enemies we don't lose salvation.
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