Love Your Enemy

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44)

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (Colossians 3:16)

Well, well, well....how does your religious doctrine measure up to these words of Jesus and Paul?

What about God, how is His attitude toward His enemies?

“God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we (sinners) have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:8-11)

Unfortunately, for the time being, it is a rare thing when humanity is found to follow His example.

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy…” (Titus 3:4-5)

He did not try to save us or offer to save us….he SAVED us!

"Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age" (Galatians 1:3-4).

Pretty simple information.

1. Christ Jesus gave himself for the sins of mankind.

How? In the Grace of God Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for the sins of the world.

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

2. Christ Jesus will deliver mankind from this present age

How? We first must die…then be given eternal life FOR FREE!

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23)

And then he will return and resurrect mankind from the dead

”Behold, I tell you a mystery… we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable…” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

“…when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:5-8)

The simple prayers of those Israelites who prayed “in secret” were rewarded in accordance with what their Father God knew they needed. All other prayers were just “babbling” like pagans. It seems to me this is good advice for us as well.

“…if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

Those Israelites that Jesus was speaking to who did "not forgive others their sins" were not forgiven by their Father God for their own sins.

Let me ask you, does the above apply to Christians?

Well in my opinion it applies to everyone…even now!  And what is the result of sin?

“the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a),

But the cross changed everything and God added the promise of "not counting people's sins against them", and the "the free gift of eternal life" to his plan for sinners. After the cross Paul tells "the world" of sinners...

“…God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation…God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

AND THE RESULT…

“the free gift of God is eternal life…" (Romans 6:23b)

“For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14)

The older I get the more this hits home. Good thing I also trust the following to happen to me after I have “vanished away”…

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep (vanished away) so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope…For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise…comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

“Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." (Exodus 19:7-8)

Man centered religion is based on Law and always focuses on what we have to "do”. The gospel of Grace, however, is focused on God and what he “has done”. When men get caught up in Law based religions (and ALL religions are Law based) they enthusiastically say as did Israel “all that the LORD has spoken we will do”. Of course they don’t and reap the consequences….death.

"You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them" (Leviticus 18:5)

In other words Christianity, as all other religions, tries to live by promises MAN makes “TO GOD”. That is the Old Covenant which fails to save mankind.

Those who understand the Grace of God in saving mankind live by promises GOD makes “TO MAN”. That is the New Covenant first revealed to Israel by Jeremiah where God changes their minds, saves them, and makes them new.

"I will make a new covenant…I will put My law in their minds" (Jeremiah 31:31, 33).

Paul revealed this would also happen for all mankind in due time.

“For by Grace are you saved…It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men…” (Ephesians 2:8; 1 Timothy 4:-9-10)

This glorious gospel is almost lost to Christianity it seems to me. We are all about religion…what we have “to do”…rather than about the good news…what God “has done” in Christ Jesus for ALL.

Think about why you have done charitable things for someone in the past. For me it has always been due to one of the four following reasons, two good and not so much:

1. An overwhelming sense of love and responsibility for the recipient, OR

2. An overwhelming compassion for the recipient.

These two mirror God…He loves and accepts responsibility for His creation and has an overwhelming compassion for his creation.

“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD'S loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 21-23)

Two other reasons are these:

3. An overwhelming fear of guilt if you do not do so, OR

4. An overwhelming fear of the consequences if you do not do so.

These are what various religious institutions promote to get one to contribute to their religion. They are NOT of God in my view…and it applies to Christian churches who preach a guilt and fear based doctrine. But when we become aware that we are the object of God’s love, grace, mercy and compassion, then fear in gone…

“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us…There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…”  and then we come to realize that “the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:16-18)

“Now these things happened to them (Israel) as an example, and they were written for our (all of mankind) instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11)

God’s dealings with Israel are an illustration of what He intends to do for ALL. The Old and New Covenants were made and written for and to ISRAEL as an example and to instruct ALL mankind what God is going to do for us at the close of the ages.

“But now He (Christ Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6)

The basic promises of the old covenant Law of Moses can be summarized as "do this, and you will live." The promises under the law were contingent upon the performance of Israelites. If they were able to keep the Law, the promises of long life and blessing during this age were fulfilled. Ultimately, the children of Israel demonstrated the inability of man to live up to the standards of the Law of Moses and of course all of them died and continue to die.

"Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against me; they did not walk in my statutes, and were not careful to observe my judgments, which, if a man does, he shall live by them" (Ezekiel 20:21).

The promises under the New Covenant made to Israel are immeasurably better than those under law, because they DO NOT depend upon man's performance.

"I will make a new covenant… I will put my law in their minds…I will be their God…I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more". (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

What God has promised to do for Israel under the New Covenant he will do for ALL mankind because He has no favorites and what God does for them is an “example” for us all. It “instructs” us on what God is going to do for mankind at the end of the ages. He will forgive mankind’s iniquity and He will remember our sin no more. Paul was given this good news to tell to us Gentiles.

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not ; a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” (1 Timothy 2:3-7)

It continues to astound me as to how few in institutional Christianity understand the gospel when it is so clearly explained by our apostle Paul! Satan is indeed a clever deceiver of even the most intelligent religious leaders of mankind.

"Yet now, in Christ Jesus, you, who once are far off, are become near by the blood of Christ...that He should be creating... in Himself...one new humanity, making peace...reconciling...in one body to God through the cross...And, coming, He brings the evangel of peace to you, those afar, and peace to those near...for through Him we...have had the access, in one spirit, to the Father. Consequently, then...you belong to God's family, being built on...Christ Jesus Himself..." (Ephesians 2:13-21)

Paul is addressing everyone who is not an Israelite.  They are called in Scripture "Gentiles". He clearly says that through the blood of Christ ALL are now "one new humanity" and have access to God our Father because we ALL, both Jew and Gentile, belong to God's family.

Even thou ALL are mankind are part of God's family...some admittedly are evil jerks and losers. Nevertheless, in time God will complete us all in Christ Jesus as a new creation...in His image. So be patient for God is not finished with any of us yet...even the jerks and losers.

"For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified.Yet each in his own class...For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy is being abolished: death...that God may be All in all." (1Corinthians 15:22-28)

“You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” (Acts 10:36)

“For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.” (Romans 14:9)

The term Lord means “owner”. Christ will not lose even one that is his…and that is ALL!

"In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 56:11).

"Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith does not save anyone. The Grace of God takes care of that. However, Faith does deliver us from the fear of death and enables us to have peace and joy in the midst of difficult circumstances. And of course, it pleases God.

Faith in what men say leads to doubt, guilt, and depression.

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

The Gospel given to Paul to tell the world in a nutshell:

God is now at peace with all mankind (II Corinthians 5:19). This blessed peace has come to us through the blood of Christ’s cross (Colossians 1:20). God no longer holds men’s offenses against them (II Corinthians 5:19). This same blood reconciles all to Himself, both that in the heavens and that on earth (Colossians 1:20).

God saves everyone eventually (I Corinthians 15:22-23). Jesus Christ is a ransom for all (I Timothy 2:6). Death is to be abolished (I Corinthians 15:26; II Timothy 1:10). God will be All and in ALL (I Corinthians 15:58).

Some learn of this salvation in this age, some after the resurrection, but eventually, every knee will bow and every tongue will joyfully confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord of their salvation, all to the Glory of God (Philippians 2:10).

Paraphrased from book by Martin Zender
The Really Bad Thing About Free Will (2006)

What Manner of Spirit Are You?

"And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him...And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save." (Luke 9:54-56)

It seems to me that this "manner of spirit" that Jesus rebuked in James and John may be the same "spirit" which insists that God will eternally punish in hell those who do not do chose to join a local church. I wonder who is behind that requirement.  Well maybe I do...

"...Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness...." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

God does the saving and he is the one who adds to the body of Christ those he desires, and he desires for it to be all mankind.

"God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired...this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Corinthians 12:18; 1 Timothy 2:3-4)

And by the way, He is no longer keeping track of the sins of the world...Jesus atoned for all of them...

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world....God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation… God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” (1 John 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

”…for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life…seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech…now the Lord is that spirit: and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all…are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:6-18)

Paul is talking about the difference between the Law and the Spirit…both are glorious because they are originated by God. However, one kills us and one brings us back to life.

“For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life...” (Romans 6:23)

Mankind participates in both…death by Law…life by Spirit. And it is all a part of God’s plan and He WILLS it to be so.

“For God is at work in you both to WILL and to WORK for HIS good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

When mankind is finally “made alive” in “spirit” at the resurrection to "eternal life", then we will be set at liberty…free indeed…and God will then be "All in all".

”For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive… that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world...So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us…so that we may have confidence for the Day of Judgment…There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (1 John 4:14-18)

Let that sink in for a moment. John was most likely toward the end of his life when he wrote this. By that time he was familiar with the revelation of the salvation of all which Paul had received from the risen Jesus. And John was now certain that Jesus was the “Savior of the world”...not just Israel. And not just a possibility of being saved if certain choices were made…Jesus IS the Savior…of the whole WORLD.

And John says it is because God is LOVE. And there is no fear in the judgment that is to come when one actually understands and believes that God loves the world. When we come to realize and believe, as John did, that God is love…the fear of judgment is CAST OUT.

It is so frustrating for me to see so many Christians who “fear” the judgment of God and yet claim they know God loves them and say they love Him back. You cannot be “perfected” in love and still “fear” God. When you come to know the truth that Jesus is the "Savior of the world" because God loves the world…then you no longer "fear" for yourself or others.

Remember the word judgment just means to “make a decision”. God has made the decision.  God decided to send his Son to SAVE the world …not scare the hell out us.

“…and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” (1 Timothy 1:14-15)

“And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life (nephesh-soul) “. (Genesis 1:30)

“Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (nephesh-soul)” (Genesis 2:7)

The Hebrew word for “soul” is “nephesh”. If you are familiar with Strong’s Concordance and want to look up how it is translated into English in the KJV it is Strong’s number 5315.

What is the Soul?

The “soul” is the seat of sensation. It should not be confused with the “spirit” (Hebrew “ruach”) but it seems to me most Christian teachers do not know the difference, mixing up the two and causing a doctrinal mess. There are different Hebrew and Greek words for both "soul" and "spirit" but even the translators do not always distinguish them.

What is a "soul" then...biblically speaking? It is the result of the union of a BODY with SPIRIT from God. When these two unite the result is “a living being" (SOUL), whether man or animal.

So what happens to the “soul” when a person or animal dies? Well think about it. The body returns to the "dust from the ground" from which it was "formed" and the "breath of life" (spirit) returns to God who gave it.

“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

And both the Hebrew word “sheol” and its Greek equivalent “hades” mean the same thing…imperceptible or unseen…not some mythical torture chamber called hell. At death all “souls” go to "sheol/hades" and becomes imperceptible, or unseen. There is no perception or sensation in "sheol/hades". These Hebrew and the Greek words have, unfortunately for truth seekers, been mistranslated “hell” by the KJV of the Bible and many other versions. And the meaning is then distorted and defined by Greek Mythology.

This is not rocket science folks, just a matter of believing God rather than men and trying to sort out the truth from the commentaries of lazy teachers we who prefer to teach as "doctrines the precepts of men".  They prefer these precepts to the accurately translated Word of God. And Jesus, the very Word of God in the flesh says to these religious experts...

"In vain do they worship me, teaching as DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN. Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men...You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition" (Mark 7:7-8)

AMEN TO THAT!

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will…In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:11-14)

Mankind has been "predestined" to hear and believe the good news of their salvation and upon believing they become sealed with the promise of "Holy Spirit".

I have heard much teaching about the Holy Spirit over the years. Like “walking in the Spirit”, or “receiving the Spirit”, or being “filled with the Spirit”. Some teach that the Holy Spirit is a person and part of a “trinity”. Some even teach about a “second blessing” when one is “baptized in the Holy Spirit”. Any many say things like “the Spirit led me” to do such and such.

The various and conflicting teachings on the “Holy Spirit” is confusing and probably wrong to some degree.

Here is a simple way I keep what God says about “Spirit” straight in my mind, Holy or not. I am a man of the flesh…a "soul" which is mortal and controlled by those natural emotions that all mankind experience (the flesh). I will stay “mortal” until I die and am raised a “Spiritual body". It is a promise from God. That body will be Holy and Spiritual - a new creation - only when I am made immortal. But that is in the future…it is our inheritance an hope as children of God.

“So also is the resurrection of the dead…it is sown a natural body, it is raised a SPIRITUAL body. If there is a natural body, there is also a SPIRITUAL body. So also it is written, the first man, Adam, became a living SOUL. The last Adam became a life-giving SPIRIT. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven…Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery…we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the DEAD will be raised imperishable… But when this…mortal will have put on IMMORTALITY, then will come about the saying that is written, DEATH is swallowed up in VICTORY.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-57)

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not UNDER law but UNDER grace.”(Romans 6:14)

I recently posted about how a saint is one who believes what God says in his Word. How does that relate to obedience? And what does Grace have to do with believing God and being obedient to God?

It is simpler than you might think. What Paul is saying is that our eternal destiny is no longer dependent on “obedience” to the law, but is solely dependent on the “grace” of God. ALL mankind is UNDER the umbrella of God’s GRACE, not UNDER the condemnation of the LAW.

And when we are obedient to BELIEVE what God says…we are designated saints.

And what does God tell us about salvation, justification and reconciliation? That it was all secured by Jesus Christ on our behalf purely and solely by His merciful love and grace.

AS FOR ISRAEL: 

"For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 35:24-26; 37:23)

AS FOR ALL GENTILES:

“I am entreating, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, pleadings, thanksgiving be made for all mankind…for this is ideal and welcome in the sight of our SAVIOR, God, Who WILLS that all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator of God and mankind, a Man, Christ Jesus, Who is giving Himself a correspondent Ransom for ALL, the testimony in its own eras, for which I was appointed a herald and an apostle, I am telling the truth, I am not lying, a teacher of the GENTILES in knowledge and truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-7)