Who are the friends or enemies of the Living God?

[PeterJens]

I realised something simple.

Who is a friend of Jesus and who is an enemy?

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
Luke 12:4

You are my friends if you do what I command.
John 15:14

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15

Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
Acts 13:38

We are friends of Christ if we do what he commands. Obedience is the key way we show our heart change.
Peter preached after the cross sin still needed to be resolved through Jesus by faith.

If you cannot hold to these two principles you are not a friend of Jesus but an enemy.
If you hold to these two principles you are a friend and part of the Kingdom of God.

Now I know many of the readers of this note will feel condemnation at these words because they claim to know Jesus yet deny these realities. You will call me self righteous, arrogant and proud.

I call you to repent and bow the knee to the King of Kings not because these are my words but His and His sons, Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God.

I also know the anger this stirs up in you will bring great problems to many people, but this is the gospel of light and truth, love and righteousness. It is also the gospel of judgement, and the second death. It is not nice, and friendly, it is life to those who believe and judgement to those who rebel and stay in sin.

My heart breaks at the lostness of this world and how people stumble into death and judgement when the door to forgiveness and life is open before all. And yet so many shout loudly they know Christ yet trample on His realities.

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.
Matt 11:19

Christ came to set us free from sin, not to leave us lost and bound by this world.

 

[PeterJens]

Deception. When you first meet someone, do you assume things about them or leave it as an empty sheet you fill in?

It has struck me many here because of their conspiracy ideas about who is evil and who is good, think unless you have the right boxes ticked you are evil. This language is shown in ideas like

"Only christians can do things acceptable to God"
"Everyone can be possessed by evil spirits even with the Holy Spirit present in them"
"Religion has brain washed the world into rules following"
"Satan has control of many christian congregations"
"The church is a people called to rule the world with wealth and power"
"Our teachers are Gods mouth piece and never fall away"
"Any criticism is evil of satan in a christians life"

All these statements are wrong in some fundamental ways.
The fruit of these teachings are sin, destructive behaviour and letting evil prosper.
None of them are founded on scripture or truth, but on paranoia and superstition.

Our whole culture is founded on the salt and light of love working in the individual to transform them into a functioning loving individual who puts the needs of others alongside or above their own. This is the life blood of any community, and without which we as a society will cease to function. It is also the heartbeat of our faith and life in Christ, yet these very fundamentals are being denied and destroyed by some who claim they have the revelation of Christ and wish to condemn and destroy those who are faithful to the Lord.

In a way, so has the battle been from the beginning of time. But we are called as men and women of God to shine the light and call His people to take heart and carry on in the Kingdom, knowing the enemy can never overcome that which God is part of, but as faithful friends life is given through encouragement.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes [himself] an enemy of God. James 4:4

​Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because everything [that is] in the world—the longing of the flesh and the longing of the eyes and the boasting of life — is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. 1 John 2:15-17

 

[JustWhoIAm]

Of course the boxes that are made for people and groups of people do not fit many times due to skewed perceptions, HOWEVER. To throw the idea that deception does not run rampant on many tiers of our society away, to take on the idea that conspiratorial activity is not an issue would be folly. The truth is that people have always lied to others for some kind of personal gain - that's the 'original sin'.

The issue we have is sorting out what is true from what is not, and that task can be difficult, indeed.

The best idea is to hold true to the word of God and our faith, not what humans or organizations teach (including the 'church'), but the word of God and our faith.

 

[Ariel82]

*Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.*And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.*Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.*Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. - Ephesians 4:29-32 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians4:29-32&version=NIV

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

*Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.*And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.*Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.*Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. - Ephesians 4:29-32 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians4:29-32&version=NIV

So is this a veiled swipe at the OP? A subconscious suggestion that discussing such issues is somehow wrong and evil?

 

[Ariel82]

No it's a reminder to those who consider me their sister.

I have sadly given up on making peace with either of you.

You can view my intentions as evil, but God knows my heart.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

No it's a reminder to those who consider me their sister.

I have sadly given up on making peace with either of you.

You can view my intentions as evil, but God knows my heart.

OK thanks for the clarification. I never give up on anyone. Peace is where the spirit is. So if anyone is willing to follow the same spirit as I do, I am content, even if they formerly were not. The river of life washes everything clean. It's a good place to be.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

OK thanks for the clarification. I never give up on anyone. Peace is where the spirit is. So if anyone is willing to follow the same spirit as I do, I am content, even if they formerly were not. The river of life washes everything clean. It's a good place to be.

I think to the reader, this should explain a lot

 

[eternally-gratefull]

To the op, and lease do not take this as a personal attack for it is not, just trying to come from a different perspective and show what others see.

paul in the book of Colossians makes it known his ministry goal was not only to bring people to Christ and have them be saved, but to lead them (and us) to spiritual maturity

He says in chapter 1 his goal is to present every man mature in Christ, he tells us clearly he labored for this reason.

He he goes on to say how this is done, over and over he tells us of our security in Christ, all the things God has given to us (reconciliation, salvation, adoption, eternal life, qualified us to be par takers of his glory, all these things he calls the "things above" and he tells us to focus on these things continually, for they are to root, or foundation of Christian growth or maturity.

he then tells us, our selfish, ungrateful, self serving attempts to fill the hole in our lives have caused all kinds of sin, sexual sin, pride, covering, idolatry, which is rooted in self. Instead, because of "the things above" indicative". Put on the love of Christ, to e work ( the body (in serving our brothers) to the world (by watching what we say or do) And to God, by giving thanks.

this is anti cultural the world does not want us to do this why? Imagine a person who thinks he has everything and is perfectly content in life no matter what their circumstance. What are they going to spend money on?

But out think what happens when we get this way. The greed disappears, the self righteousness is killed, the pride, and arrogance is stopped in its track. Why? We already trust God, our needs are met, and we do not have to TAKE. But we repent and GIVE.

The he world loves a giver, a giver will it take, a satisfied person deep in gratitude and worship of God is full, he will serve. This draws them to Christ, this stops our sinful nature, this makes us mature and christlike

as Paul said, in thanksgiving, we can have a peace that surpasses all understanding,

to me, obedience does not come in order to love, obedience is empowered because we have been loved.

anyway, again, this is not a slam on you, please do not take it that way, just another perspective.

GBU

 

[PeterJens]

I have sadly given up on making peace with either of you.

As you are a stranger, was there no peace here?

I suggest this is a very loaded comment, as if we have offended you.
Peace to you, and may you find the Lords love and power in your life to overcome sin.

 

[Willie-T]

No it's a reminder to those who consider me their sister.

I have sadly given up on making peace with either of you.

You can view my intentions as evil, but God knows my heart.

You stand so much taller in my eyes, day by day.

 

[Grace777x70]

Ariel.....yes....with all the abundance of sin in your life may you find the power and love of the Lord to overcome it.......my goodness.....smh

 

[Willie-T]

Ariel.....yes....with all the abundance of sin in your life may you find the power and love of the Lord to overcome it.......my goodness.....smh

Yes, I hope we all can somehow survive all the deprived stuff we conjure up all the time while we trip over all the righteous people on their knees all around us. LOL

 

[PeterJens]

Interesting projection

Two faiths, different ideas.

1. Christ through transformation and love changes you into a loving caring individual through obedience and forgiveness.
He reaches deep into our foundations and remakes us.

2. You are forgiven and accepted into heaven therefore you will conquer selfishness and do Gods will.
History shows us this just leads to licenousness and exploitation, while hiding sin so nobody sees.
When questioned about sin in the congregations, a full frontal assault was made against the person suggesting it
rather than admiting sin is a real issue. Hypocracy like this does not mix with Jesus the righteous.

Jesus says simply, you are His friend if you obey His commands.

Now this is obviously hard, because how can you love if you do not know how to love yourself or even your friends?
Urban society, schools, distributed living may have created a very lonely disfunctional society into which the gospel
does not speak easily, because people find it hard to know what to be loved really means.

One preacher said this "It took me a year of saying God loves me to understand this."

That is spiritual poverty. Jesus died on the cross because He loves us. If this is the level you find love working, there is still much you have to learn. If I could I would give you a hug, and say you are forgiven, washed, cleansed, accepted, made whole, called precious, holy, righteous, Gods bride, if you believe in Him. It is a reality you can experience.

Jesus's whole life, His talking to the disciples who are just like us, shows His openness.
The wedding banquet shows God invites all, but they cannot be bothered, they are above Him, superior to the creator.
So he called us, the lost, the sinners, the poor, the empty, the failures to the wedding feast, and empowers us to be His people. What a King, what a friend who wants us to be His friends.

A prostitute, who He forgave, washed Jesus's feet with her hair. What love, what humbleness, what a gift of life.
That one act has gone through history, spoken about, and Jesus uplifted and honoured this jesture. What a King we follow, it brings me to tears, and praise, that this is my King. Amen.

 

[psalm6819]

I am a friend of God and He is my Friend. He called Abraham "friend" also. (and look at the stuff Abraham did)

 

[PeterJens]

As you are a stranger, was there no peace here?
I suggest this is a very loaded comment, as if we have offended you.
Peace to you, and may you find the Lords love and power in your life to overcome sin.

It seems people miss-understand the phrase overcome sin - what I mean is through communion with Christ and the transformation of our hearts we can walk in righteousness. Now I know to many readers they read this as me saying you are a sinner and I am righteous, but what I mean is we are all sinners, but through walking with Christ and being cleansed we can walk righteously.

It is going to take me some time to understand how others see my words in a condemnatory way. But then I expect nothing more from people who call me their enemy and evil.

I need to say I am an enemy because I have no fear in saying this. I would desire to be friends and open and loving, but my enemies call me evil and deceived full of malice and everything bad, like witchcraft. And why? Because I say living in love is possible, and what Christ died for us to achieve, by knowing God loves us completely, saved to eternity.

How excited do you get as a kid at christmas. This is the gift of life He gives us, nothing is of greater value. But it is so we walk in His love and righteousness, not stay in sin and defeat. But this is where my enemies disagree and call me an evil legalist and pharisee. Odd that because I am far from that position. But when Jesus changes you completely, turns you around, it is like people are talking a different language. I just love my Lord, whatever people want to say I fail at.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

The legalistic mindset. it is an enemy of God, and a freind of satan.

It says the means of transformation is obedience. It puts you under some form of legalistic guidance, Do this, do that, As long as you don't do that, you will be ok. it places the burden on the person, and not on the SAVIOR. it places the burden on the person, and not the POWER OF GOD.

It says how can you love God when you do not love self or others (we see this on TV and in our schools every day, This is worldly thought. As if we had the ability to love ourselves or others. History shows otherwise. And Gods word teaches otherwise.

It says those who place trust in Christ to change them from the inside out, after he completely saves them, will fall into licentiousness thinking, and all kinds of sinfulness, and history proves this, when in fact it has not. Scripture shows that the religious followers of God (legalists) have in fact been the ones to fall into sin, They are the ones out judging others, praising God how great they are, how loving they are, How righteous they are. When in fact (as God himself said) they are clean on the outside (the appear holy because they follow Gods commands and are usually morally upright people as compared to the world around them) but inside they are full of filth, and all kinds of disease, which if not healed, will lead a person to hell. because a proud man will never accept faith in God alone, He will never accept that he is unworthy, and he will never accept the eternal grace of God, unless he experiences the love of God and is healed of this self serving, self righteous attitude, that to God, all he is offering is war soaked blood rags..

Healing comes from the inside, Ceasation of sin, is caused by a gratitude for what God has given you, It does not cause you to sin more, it does not cause licentious behavior. It does the opposite. Because when you KNOW in your heart, your basic needs are met, you have no need to keep sucking things from those around you to fill your empty self. The more you trust God, the more your emptiness is filled. The meaning of life is answered, And you have hope.

Out of this love, this filling of Gods blessing deep inside you to overfolowing, you are able to love others (you never have to love yourself. because God gives you more love than you can even imagine and is able to satisfy you completely.) You become the humble servant, the giver, and not the take, Our sin issues fade away, Not because we turned from sin, or by our all mighty power overcame a particular sin struggle. But because that sin issue no longer has power over you, You do not need it, Because it never satisfied you to begin with, And you have replaced that secular filling with a spiritual filling, that fills you completely.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

I think to the reader, this should explain a lot

Actually, I think it reveals more what dwells in your heart.

 

[Willie-T]

It seems people miss-understand the phrase overcome sin - what I mean is through communion with Christ and the transformation of our hearts we can walk in righteousness. Now I know to many readers they read this as me saying you are a sinner and I am righteous, but what I mean is we are all sinners, but through walking with Christ and being cleansed we can walk righteously.

It is going to take me some time to understand how others see my words in a condemnatory way. But then I expect nothing more from people who call me their enemy and evil.

I need to say I am an enemy because I have no fear in saying this. I would desire to be friends and open and loving, but my enemies call me evil and deceived full of malice and everything bad, like witchcraft. And why? Because I say living in love is possible, and what Christ died for us to achieve, by knowing God loves us completely, saved to eternity.

How excited do you get as a kid at christmas. This is the gift of life He gives us, nothing is of greater value. But it is so we walk in His love and righteousness, not stay in sin and defeat. But this is where my enemies disagree and call me an evil legalist and pharisee. Odd that because I am far from that position. But when Jesus changes you completely, turns you around, it is like people are talking a different language. I just love my Lord, whatever people want to say I fail at.

It shouldn't be too hard. Just, ask.