Evidence of the nature of God, the nature of love, and the answer to the question many debate here on the forum.
[h=3]The Parable of the Good Samaritan[/h][SUP]25 [/SUP]And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
<pause here. and ask yourself how would you have answered this, being a teacher on the forum?>
[SUP]26 [/SUP]He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
[SUP]27 [/SUP]So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’[SUP][h][/SUP] and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”[SUP][i][/SUP]
[SUP]28 [/SUP]And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
<fulfilling the commandments>
[SUP]29 [/SUP]But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
[SUP]30 [/SUP]Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. [SUP]31 [/SUP]Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. [SUP]32 [/SUP]Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. [SUP]33 [/SUP]But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. [SUP]34 [/SUP]So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. [SUP]35 [/SUP]On the next day, when he departed,[SUP][j][/SUP] he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ [SUP]36 [/SUP]So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
[SUP]37 [/SUP]And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
- God is the same yesterday today and forevermore
- God's commands: Love God, Love your Neighbour - has not passed away, nor ever will.
- Life in the Spirit fulfills the law. What law? The above law.
- Life in the Spirit is Faith in Action. The priests and levites, who should have known better than the common man about these things were found wanting. Why? Because their faith was not genuine. A genuine faith is always accompanies by action. And in this case - obedience. Obedience to what? Loving your neighbour, in the above instance.
Something to chew on.
God bless. Have a wonderful Sunday.
[h=3]The Parable of the Good Samaritan[/h][SUP]25 [/SUP]And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
<pause here. and ask yourself how would you have answered this, being a teacher on the forum?>
[SUP]26 [/SUP]He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
[SUP]27 [/SUP]So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’[SUP][h][/SUP] and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”[SUP][i][/SUP]
[SUP]28 [/SUP]And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
<fulfilling the commandments>
[SUP]29 [/SUP]But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
[SUP]30 [/SUP]Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. [SUP]31 [/SUP]Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. [SUP]32 [/SUP]Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. [SUP]33 [/SUP]But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. [SUP]34 [/SUP]So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. [SUP]35 [/SUP]On the next day, when he departed,[SUP][j][/SUP] he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ [SUP]36 [/SUP]So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
[SUP]37 [/SUP]And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
- God is the same yesterday today and forevermore
- God's commands: Love God, Love your Neighbour - has not passed away, nor ever will.
- Life in the Spirit fulfills the law. What law? The above law.
- Life in the Spirit is Faith in Action. The priests and levites, who should have known better than the common man about these things were found wanting. Why? Because their faith was not genuine. A genuine faith is always accompanies by action. And in this case - obedience. Obedience to what? Loving your neighbour, in the above instance.
Something to chew on.
God bless. Have a wonderful Sunday.