In reading from the Scripture, we find much said
about the practice of love for brother , sister, neigh-
bors and even strangers. There is, to my knowledge,
no great body of literature on this subject that is not
drawn from Scripture. There are no injunctions from
literature encouraging readers to practice selfless
care and concern for others as there are in the gos-
pel of the Apostle John, chapter 3:16-17,
about the practice of love for brother , sister, neigh-
bors and even strangers. There is, to my knowledge,
no great body of literature on this subject that is not
drawn from Scripture. There are no injunctions from
literature encouraging readers to practice selfless
care and concern for others as there are in the gos-
pel of the Apostle John, chapter 3:16-17,
"For God so loved the world that He Gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. For God sent no his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but that the world through
him might be saved."
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. For God sent no his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but that the world through
him might be saved."
So, the basis for the actions of a Holy God
on behalf of a sinful, hopeless and lost man-
kind was his selfless care and concern for
his creation. This care and selfless concern
is shared by his Son. The Lord God, in three
persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, loved
his creation so much he was not only willing
to reach out to him through Holy Scripture,
but came to this earth as a new born child,
lived a life without fault, according to law,
and died for his creation. He is the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob... (For this rea-
son, there must not be "Anti-Semetic" views
among the Family of God, the Church of
our Lord Jesus Christ who was born of Jew-
ish parents,)
As we look in the epistle of this same apostle,
we find in the second chapter, First John Vs. 9-
on behalf of a sinful, hopeless and lost man-
kind was his selfless care and concern for
his creation. This care and selfless concern
is shared by his Son. The Lord God, in three
persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, loved
his creation so much he was not only willing
to reach out to him through Holy Scripture,
but came to this earth as a new born child,
lived a life without fault, according to law,
and died for his creation. He is the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob... (For this rea-
son, there must not be "Anti-Semetic" views
among the Family of God, the Church of
our Lord Jesus Christ who was born of Jew-
ish parents,)
As we look in the epistle of this same apostle,
we find in the second chapter, First John Vs. 9-
11; "He who says he is in the light, and hates his
brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves
his brother abides in the light, and there is no
cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his
brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and
does not know where he is going, because the
darkness has blinded his eyes."
(Read 1 John 4: 7-21)
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of
God; and everyone who loves is born of God
and knows God. He who does not love does not
know God, for God is love."
This might be a good place to "define" the term.
To love is to have affection, benevolent compassion,
desire and to choose to act upon those traits. There
is no cut and dried definition and love may be frater-
nal as to a brother or sister and it can be romantic
or passionate as with one to whom you would care
to marry. The one common denominator, this fact;
A lover always has the best interest of the object of
that love, to the point of denying self in the favor of
of that loved one, as in the love of Jesus Christ for
His church. If it were not for Scripture there would
be no knowledge of love in this world. If we were to
accept the "world's" definition of "love," it would be
more perfectly interpreted, "lust."
The clear teaching of Scripture here, and other
passages is this; If you are born of the Spirit of
God, saved, etc., you are instructed to love and
are capable of love. If you are not one of His,
you are unable to love. Is that not what it states
in this passage? This does not mean one cannot
have warm feelings toward another, be attracted
and enjoy one's company. It is, however; another
matter to love unconditionally, and unselfishly as
in the love God gives. The other side of the coin;
if we do not love our brother, neighbor, and any
with whom we have a relationship, how can we
say we love God, whom we have not even seen?
Then, there is this; Some say one must love every
one in the whole world. My view is this; only God
is capable of love like that. We are limited to lov-
ing only those with whom we have personal rela-
tionship. To say you love everyone in the world is
"pie in the sky." It is unsupportable in Scripture,
nor is it practicable.
Although it may not be spelled out in Scripture, I
am convinced Jesus Christ's identification with the
human race, in His incarnation, will affect him for
eternity. He is one with the Father, but we who are
his followers will be one with our Savior when we
move from this earthly sphere, at death, and enter
into life with him in heaven. The cost He bore, we
will never know until we see him and are made to be
like him in truth. God Bless you, and may the Holy
Spirit of God enlighten you and me as we follow our
Lord, Jesus Christ in our temporary condition.
One personal note; Have you noticed when you
have an issue with someone and it rises to the level
of resentment, contempt or just ill will, the blind-
ness it causes. As we are influenced by such emo-
tions related to any individual, we are no longer
interested in that ones well being, nor do we want
to be around him and we lose the joy of our rela-
tionship to others, including our Lord. So, "hate"
and any emotion like that, has no place in the life
of one who would serve the One who always loves.
There is also this; if we just begin referring to our
neighbors who are somewhat different from us as
of another race or color, we will then believe that
one who is "different," does not qualify for similar
care as one who is more like us. Can you or I
still say we are following Jesus Christ when we see
a fellow being with a need and fail to meet it. If we
have the ability to meet that need and do not, we
are failing to follow Christ as Lord in that area of
life. If we consider color, ethnicity, national origin,
religion, status or any of the variables that make us
"different," we "SIN". See the link below...
http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2013/10/who-separated-races.html
As it stands now, we are flawed and incomplete,
temporarily. Our Lord loves us too much to let
us stay in this temporary condition. We must love
others in the same way and do whatever we can to
help them see how the love of Jesus Christ changes
their temporary condition and eternal destinies.
donporter 1.20.14
brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves
his brother abides in the light, and there is no
cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his
brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and
does not know where he is going, because the
darkness has blinded his eyes."
(Read 1 John 4: 7-21)
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of
God; and everyone who loves is born of God
and knows God. He who does not love does not
know God, for God is love."
This might be a good place to "define" the term.
To love is to have affection, benevolent compassion,
desire and to choose to act upon those traits. There
is no cut and dried definition and love may be frater-
nal as to a brother or sister and it can be romantic
or passionate as with one to whom you would care
to marry. The one common denominator, this fact;
A lover always has the best interest of the object of
that love, to the point of denying self in the favor of
of that loved one, as in the love of Jesus Christ for
His church. If it were not for Scripture there would
be no knowledge of love in this world. If we were to
accept the "world's" definition of "love," it would be
more perfectly interpreted, "lust."
The clear teaching of Scripture here, and other
passages is this; If you are born of the Spirit of
God, saved, etc., you are instructed to love and
are capable of love. If you are not one of His,
you are unable to love. Is that not what it states
in this passage? This does not mean one cannot
have warm feelings toward another, be attracted
and enjoy one's company. It is, however; another
matter to love unconditionally, and unselfishly as
in the love God gives. The other side of the coin;
if we do not love our brother, neighbor, and any
with whom we have a relationship, how can we
say we love God, whom we have not even seen?
Then, there is this; Some say one must love every
one in the whole world. My view is this; only God
is capable of love like that. We are limited to lov-
ing only those with whom we have personal rela-
tionship. To say you love everyone in the world is
"pie in the sky." It is unsupportable in Scripture,
nor is it practicable.
HOWEVER: I do not believe it would be a stretch
for me to call every soul walking this earth today
my brother or sister. Are we not all from the same
parentage, Adam and Eve of the Garden of Eden.
parentage, Adam and Eve of the Garden of Eden.
These were the first man and woman to inhabit
this earth and all of the inhabitants of earth came
from that union. There is not one soul then, to
whom I may turn a deaf ear when there is a need
of which I am aware. We also must recall persons
who have been benevolent to us as we had need.
Then there is the fact of our heavenly Father, who
with God the Son has met us at our deepest point
of need and provided Salvation; no cost to us. The
great cost was on Him.
Although it may not be spelled out in Scripture, I
am convinced Jesus Christ's identification with the
human race, in His incarnation, will affect him for
eternity. He is one with the Father, but we who are
his followers will be one with our Savior when we
move from this earthly sphere, at death, and enter
into life with him in heaven. The cost He bore, we
will never know until we see him and are made to be
like him in truth. God Bless you, and may the Holy
Spirit of God enlighten you and me as we follow our
Lord, Jesus Christ in our temporary condition.
One personal note; Have you noticed when you
have an issue with someone and it rises to the level
of resentment, contempt or just ill will, the blind-
ness it causes. As we are influenced by such emo-
tions related to any individual, we are no longer
interested in that ones well being, nor do we want
to be around him and we lose the joy of our rela-
tionship to others, including our Lord. So, "hate"
and any emotion like that, has no place in the life
of one who would serve the One who always loves.
There is also this; if we just begin referring to our
neighbors who are somewhat different from us as
of another race or color, we will then believe that
one who is "different," does not qualify for similar
care as one who is more like us. Can you or I
still say we are following Jesus Christ when we see
a fellow being with a need and fail to meet it. If we
have the ability to meet that need and do not, we
are failing to follow Christ as Lord in that area of
life. If we consider color, ethnicity, national origin,
religion, status or any of the variables that make us
"different," we "SIN". See the link below...
http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2013/10/who-separated-races.html
As it stands now, we are flawed and incomplete,
temporarily. Our Lord loves us too much to let
us stay in this temporary condition. We must love
others in the same way and do whatever we can to
help them see how the love of Jesus Christ changes
their temporary condition and eternal destinies.
donporter 1.20.14
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