Love

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S

Saint

Guest
#1
#1
It seems that love is what Christianity revolves around. First off, God is love (1 John 4:8). Second off, the two most prominant commandments ever given in the Bible are to (1) Love God with all of your heart mind soul and strength and (2) Love your neighbor as yourself. Both of those commandments can be found in the new (Matthew 22:34-40) and old (Deuteronomy 6:5, and Leviticus 19:18) testiments. And, as the set of verses above found in Matthew shows, Jesus said that those commandments are the most important, and that the law revolves around them. 1 John tells a lot about love: those who don't love their brother are not a child of God, (1 John 3:10) that the message that has been heard from the beginning is to love one another, (1 John 3:11) if you don't love, you remain in death, (1 John 3:14) that we should lay down our lives for our brother, (1 John 3:16) and 1 John 4 is full of explaning that we need to love, why we should love, and that we even rely on God's love, and, of course, John 15:12 tells us to love one another as Jesus loved us, and as we all know, Jesus loves us unconditionally, to the point where He begged for the forgiveness of the people who were torturing/killing Him. but i didn't put this up here to reteach this all to you, i put it up here to ask a question. now, obviously, i didn't put all of the references to "love" from the Bible on here, but these seem to be the most relevant. Ok, well as i put up there, John 15:12 tells us to love one another as I (Jesus) loved you. Alright, now "one another" means everyone, leaving no one to be left out. So we are to love everyone as Jesus loves us. Ok, well Romans 5:8 tells us that He died for us while we were sinners, that while we were His enemies, while we were against Him, doing things that He sees as disgusting and evil, He died for us. So that means that we must love everyone, regardless of their sins, of their past, what they did, are doing, or plan on doing, right? Ok, well that means that we should be willing to die for a liar, a thief, a murderer, even terrorists, because they fall into the category of "one another" and dying for them is the love that Jesus has shown us, and therefore we must show it to them. Now, obviously we don't die for their causes or anything, but what i'm refering to is, if they could be saved, to die for that reason at the very least. Ok, so here's my question: how many people on here can honestly say that they love murderers, terrorists, and child abusers enough to willingly lay down your life for theirs? and, more importantly, could you help me out with that, because i've been working on this for a year, and though i have improved, i'm just not there yet. Thanks for any helpful answers! sorry for such a long post :)

PS: I know that some of you might disagree, so please keep your replies as civilized as possible.
 
J

jangel

Senior Member
#2
May 12, 2010
487
2
0
#2
hate the sin not the sinner...the act itself not the doer but it would take a mature christian to understand the love for everyone, coz as much as I want to crush them all out we still all in the period of grace and everyone can still find mercy even how sinful you are.
 
E

ed

Guest
#3
#3
Hi Saint,
The answer is not hidden. I hope I can explain it to you. Yes love is the way. How in those bizarre circumstances. Well remember this. Do not throw your pearls to pigs. So do not associate with people who are far from your belief unless of course you have a calling. Secondly do not test our Father. Now in this instance it means you are not to go looking for such characters and putting God to the test. But if by the leading of the Holy Spirit ( totally accidently) you find yourself in this situation, then yes, give your life for theirs. To do otherwise is judging and this really means you are comparing yourself to them and if you decide not to give your life up for them you are saying that your life is worth more. Besides at this stage of your life Jesus may have decided it is time for you to join him and He has chosen this method of receiving you.The other point is of course is that Jesus may just want to show you his authority by rescuing you. Jesus has put me into situations and I can witness that by the time you realise you are there it is past the point of no return and Jesus makes sure you comply with whatever is the plan for your life. Your just there for the ride. Well it may be the scary ride but it is His working through you for His glory.
I hope this makes sense to you and helps you come to an understanding.
love
edwin.
 
S

Saint

Guest
#4
#4
ed said:
Hi Saint,
The answer is not hidden. I hope I can explain it to you. Yes love is the way. How in those bizarre circumstances. Well remember this. Do not throw your pearls to pigs. So do not associate with people who are far from your belief unless of course you have a calling. Secondly do not test our Father. Now in this instance it means you are not to go looking for such characters and putting God to the test. But if by the leading of the Holy Spirit ( totally accidently) you find yourself in this situation, then yes, give your life for theirs. To do otherwise is judging and this really means you are comparing yourself to them and if you decide not to give your life up for them you are saying that your life is worth more. Besides at this stage of your life Jesus may have decided it is time for you to join him and He has chosen this method of receiving you.The other point is of course is that Jesus may just want to show you his authority by rescuing you. Jesus has put me into situations and I can witness that by the time you realise you are there it is past the point of no return and Jesus makes sure you comply with whatever is the plan for your life. Your just there for the ride. Well it may be the scary ride but it is His working through you for His glory.
I hope this makes sense to you and helps you come to an understanding.
love
edwin.
Click to expand...
it is not the action of jumping in front of the bullet that i'm confused about. Actually, it's not that i'm confused on the subject at all. It's just that i need help to have the mind-set to truely love these people. I know that to not to love them is judgemental and is condemnable (as seen in some of the parables) as well. but i can't seem to move from where i am on this. and i'm not by any means far enough. but regardless, thank you for your post.
 
G

giantone

Guest
#5
#5
I would think by just keeping the first Commandment, to love God with everything you have. The second one would be much easier to do. But do we love God as we should.


1 Thessalonians 5:8 *But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
 
M

Mulehide

Guest
#6
#6
Saint said:
It seems that love is what Christianity revolves around. First off, God is love (1 John 4:8). Second off, the two most prominant commandments ever given in the Bible are to (1) Love God with all of your heart mind soul and strength and (2) Love your neighbor as yourself. Both of those commandments can be found in the new (Matthew 22:34-40) and old (Deuteronomy 6:5, and Leviticus 19:18) testiments. And, as the set of verses above found in Matthew shows, Jesus said that those commandments are the most important, and that the law revolves around them. 1 John tells a lot about love: those who don't love their brother are not a child of God, (1 John 3:10) that the message that has been heard from the beginning is to love one another, (1 John 3:11) if you don't love, you remain in death, (1 John 3:14) that we should lay down our lives for our brother, (1 John 3:16) and 1 John 4 is full of explaning that we need to love, why we should love, and that we even rely on God's love, and, of course, John 15:12 tells us to love one another as Jesus loved us, and as we all know, Jesus loves us unconditionally, to the point where He begged for the forgiveness of the people who were torturing/killing Him. but i didn't put this up here to reteach this all to you, i put it up here to ask a question. now, obviously, i didn't put all of the references to "love" from the Bible on here, but these seem to be the most relevant. Ok, well as i put up there, John 15:12 tells us to love one another as I (Jesus) loved you. Alright, now "one another" means everyone, leaving no one to be left out. So we are to love everyone as Jesus loves us. Ok, well Romans 5:8 tells us that He died for us while we were sinners, that while we were His enemies, while we were against Him, doing things that He sees as disgusting and evil, He died for us. So that means that we must love everyone, regardless of their sins, of their past, what they did, are doing, or plan on doing, right? Ok, well that means that we should be willing to die for a liar, a thief, a murderer, even terrorists, because they fall into the category of "one another" and dying for them is the love that Jesus has shown us, and therefore we must show it to them. Now, obviously we don't die for their causes or anything, but what i'm refering to is, if they could be saved, to die for that reason at the very least. Ok, so here's my question: how many people on here can honestly say that they love murderers, terrorists, and child abusers enough to willingly lay down your life for theirs? and, more importantly, could you help me out with that, because i've been working on this for a year, and though i have improved, i'm just not there yet. Thanks for any helpful answers! sorry for such a long post :)

PS: I know that some of you might disagree, so please keep your replies as civilized as possible.
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Hi Saint,

This has been on my mind as well. In college, we were taught to be soul-conscious, meaning seeing each person as a lost soul that God loves and gave His Son to die for. When I see this person (no matter how awful here on earth) standing before God and being cast into an eternal hell, it tears me apart. I cannot stand to see anyone suffer so. Thinking of that helps to spur me to do all and anything I can to help rescue as many people as I can, even thieves, murderers, terrorists. I'm nowhere near where I should be either, but this helps.
 
S

Saint

Guest
#7
#7
Mulehide said:
Hi Saint,

This has been on my mind as well. In college, we were taught to be soul-conscious, meaning seeing each person as a lost soul that God loves and gave His Son to die for. When I see this person (no matter how awful here on earth) standing before God and being cast into an eternal hell, it tears me apart. I cannot stand to see anyone suffer so. Thinking of that helps to spur me to do all and anything I can to help rescue as many people as I can, even thieves, murderers, terrorists. I'm nowhere near where I should be either, but this helps.
Click to expand...
hey, mulehide, that actually helps me out too, so thank you for posting this. i'll try to use that in the future.
 
M

mpaper345

Banned
#8
Feb 9, 2010
2,486
39
0
#8
God's kingdom is love and the world's kingdom is motivated by selfish and arrogance some more than others.

Nobody can belong to the kingdom of God unless they love God and people perfectly because they must be different from the world to belong to the kingdom that is not of the world.

That is why Jesus said feed and clothe your enemies,love your enemies,if you are physically abused to not physically abuse back,if you are verbally abused do not verbally abuse back,do not render evil for evil.That way you are different from the world that is not perfect in love.Jesus said be perfect as your Father is perfect which means we can attain perfect love by the Spirit.

Love does not think an evil thought,does not do an evil deed,is not arrogant,is not selfish.

When we come to God and give up sin what we are doing is learning to love because we are giving up on sin which is not love.We are learning to love as Jesus loves people.It is all about love that gets you to heaven which you cannot attain perfect love without the Spirit.God gets the glory for us being perfect in love.

Love works no ill towards their neighbor;therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.If we love God and people perfectly we have fulfilled God's law.

The Bible says we do not void out the law but we establish the law which we do by being led of the Spirit and being perfect in love.

The Bible says if we are led of the Spirit we are not under the law which means a Spirit led life will be perfect in love which does not sin therefore the law cannot touch them for prosecution.

Matt
 
S

Saint

Guest
#9
#9
mpaper345 said:
Love does not think an evil thought
Click to expand...

and that's where most of my problems come from, which worries me because thought always turns into action. but it's not that i don't think loving my enemies is wrong, because i know that it is right, my problem is actually doing it. Because there is a very, very big difference from knowing what is right and doing it. it's like romans 7 where paul is describing his internal fight to keep from doing the bad that he knows is bad and do the good that he knows is good. well, i'm a lot like him, i try and try to do what is good, and not what is evil, (in this case, thinking good towards an evil person instead of thinking evil towards and evil person) i even know which one is which, it's putting it in practice that i can't seem to do, like Paul. ha, come to think of it, that whole passage should be my motto. :eek:
 
M

Mulehide

Guest
#10
#10
Saint said:
and that's where most of my problems come from, which worries me because thought always turns into action. but it's not that i don't think loving my enemies is wrong, because i know that it is right, my problem is actually doing it. Because there is a very, very big difference from knowing what is right and doing it. it's like romans 7 where paul is describing his internal fight to keep from doing the bad that he knows is bad and do the good that he knows is good. well, i'm a lot like him, i try and try to do what is good, and not what is evil, (in this case, thinking good towards an evil person instead of thinking evil towards and evil person) i even know which one is which, it's putting it in practice that i can't seem to do, like Paul. ha, come to think of it, that whole passage should be my motto. :eek:
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This is true. But in Romans 8 Paul then gives the answer...to live in the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-2
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

When we totally live in the Spirit and are under the Spirit's control rather than trying to do good on our own, we will then automatically produce love (and many other things) as Paul later states in Gal. 5:22-23.
 
S

Saint

Guest
#11
#11
Mulehide said:
This is true. But in Romans 8 Paul then gives the answer...to live in the Spirit.
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were it so easy :) but i find that following it perfectly is quite difficult.
 
M

Mulehide

Guest
#12
#12
That it is my friend.
 
P

paul1149

Guest
#13
#13
Saint said:
Ok, well Romans 5:8 tells us that He died for us while we were sinners, that while we were His enemies, while we were against Him, doing things that He sees as disgusting and evil, He died for us. So that means that we must love everyone, regardless of their sins, of their past, what they did, are doing, or plan on doing, right? Ok, well that means that we should be willing to die for a liar, a thief, a murderer, even terrorists, because they fall into the category of "one another" and dying for them is the love that Jesus has shown us, and therefore we must show it to them. Now, obviously we don't die for their causes or anything, but what i'm refering to is, if they could be saved, to die for that reason at the very least. Ok, so here's my question: how many people on here can honestly say that they love murderers, terrorists, and child abusers enough to willingly lay down your life for theirs?
Click to expand...
To conform ourselves to the teaching of laying down our lives for Christ
(and for others through Christ) we must rely on the Holy Spirit to illumine
us. Man looks on the outer appearance, but God sees the heart. And the Holy
Spirit will show us the hidden things also, so that we can cooperate in God's
plan to bring others to Him. Then, just as He shows us what's going on
spiritually "under the hood", He will show us what to do about it - whether
and how to intervene.

We don't just go out of our own volition and die for someone lost in sin.
We do so in obedience to the Spirit within us, and in doing so our sacrifice
is God-ordained and blessed, because God knows exactly what He's doing.

Does that help?

bb,
p.
 
C

charisenexcelcis

Guest
#14
#14
I think that you start small, that you deal with the little gaps in your love toward those who you are in contact with. Like faith, love grows by being exercised. Love in the little things and you will grow strong enough to love in the big things.
 
S

Saint

Guest
#15
#15
paul1149 said:
To conform ourselves to the teaching of laying down our lives for Christ
(and for others through Christ) we must rely on the Holy Spirit to illumine
us. Man looks on the outer appearance, but God sees the heart. And the Holy
Spirit will show us the hidden things also, so that we can cooperate in God's
plan to bring others to Him. Then, just as He shows us what's going on
spiritually "under the hood", He will show us what to do about it - whether
and how to intervene.

We don't just go out of our own volition and die for someone lost in sin.
We do so in obedience to the Spirit within us, and in doing so our sacrifice
is God-ordained and blessed, because God knows exactly what He's doing.

Does that help?

bb,
p.
Click to expand...

So, what you're saying is that when the time is right, the Holy Spirit will guide me into the right descision? if so, that's very comforting to hear and very helpful, because i just feel like i don't love enough to be able to do it yet.

charisenexcelcis said:
I think that you start small, that you deal with the little gaps in your love toward those who you are in contact with. Like faith, love grows by being exercised. Love in the little things and you will grow strong enough to love in the big things.
Click to expand...
hmm, that makes a lot of sense. it's simple, yet sounds like it'll work well. alright, i guess i can start there, then. thanks :D that helps a lot.
 
P

paul1149

Guest
#16
#16
Saint - yes, the Holy Spirit will instruct you, in continual little ways, teaching you how to be a "living sacrifice", day by day. Just deal with the day at hand (Mat 6.34, and the big picture will work itself out.

bb,
p.
 
S

serpentslayer

Banned
#17
May 25, 2010
373
1
0
#17
Saint, u are right that love is the 'religion' of GOD (james 1:27), but
not only does the Law revolve around Love, Love fulfils the Law. If
you do as Jesus said, which is Love (the two commandments are
the same b/c we love GOD when we Love HIS Children, especially
the most needy - true widows and the fatherless.), then we fulfil
the LAW w/o consideration of it. You should add 1COR13 to you
rightly divided interpretation b/c it is the defintion of LOVE,
which is sacrifice (JN3:16), which is Charity.

Concerning dying for the lost, it is best to warn young christians that
until the Holy Spirit has empowered them to 'work', they should be
busy studying the Word to prove their beliefs, which, as you say, is
the Sword of the Spirit, and the only offensive weapon one can have
again serpents. This said, if we are led by the Spirit, then if we
must die to save an enemy, so be it, your reward shall be great in
heaven. Love is not a blood thing, for we should even love
are enemies as we love our children. If you would treat your child
any different than one in the neighborhood, have you no been a
respecter of personage? Would you die faster for your child than a
strangers child? or would you have to think about it? So, then,
LOVE is unconditional, as GOD had demonstrated, having died
for all of us while we were yet enemies and sinners. To be certain
though, Jesus was led by the Spirit to HIS death, HE did not run
to greet it.
GOD BLESS YOU
 
S

Saint

Guest
#18
#18
paul1149 said:
Saint - yes, the Holy Spirit will instruct you, in continual little ways, teaching you how to be a "living sacrifice", day by day. Just deal with the day at hand (Mat 6.34, and the big picture will work itself out.

bb,
p.
Click to expand...
well that makes me feel better, then.
serpentslayer said:
You should add 1COR13 to you
rightly divided interpretation b/c it is the defintion of LOVE,
which is sacrifice (JN3:16), which is Charity.


To be certain
though, Jesus was led by the Spirit to HIS death, HE did not run
to greet it.
Click to expand...
to the first part, you're right, i completely forgot about 1 Corinthians 13! which is strange, because i have that chapter memorized.

And to the second, well that helps me out greatly. I really never gave such consideration to the fact that Jesus was hesitant in dying for us. in fact, He prayed that He wouldn't have to go through with it if there was any other way. This takes a lot off my mind, so thank you very much. :D:D:D
 
C

Consumed

Guest
#19
#19
Saint said:
It seems that love is what Christianity revolves around. First off, God is love (1 John 4:8). Second off, the two most prominant commandments ever given in the Bible are to (1) Love God with all of your heart mind soul and strength and (2) Love your neighbor as yourself. Both of those commandments can be found in the new (Matthew 22:34-40) and old (Deuteronomy 6:5, and Leviticus 19:18) testiments. And, as the set of verses above found in Matthew shows, Jesus said that those commandments are the most important, and that the law revolves around them. 1 John tells a lot about love: those who don't love their brother are not a child of God, (1 John 3:10) that the message that has been heard from the beginning is to love one another, (1 John 3:11) if you don't love, you remain in death, (1 John 3:14) that we should lay down our lives for our brother, (1 John 3:16) and 1 John 4 is full of explaning that we need to love, why we should love, and that we even rely on God's love, and, of course, John 15:12 tells us to love one another as Jesus loved us, and as we all know, Jesus loves us unconditionally, to the point where He begged for the forgiveness of the people who were torturing/killing Him. but i didn't put this up here to reteach this all to you, i put it up here to ask a question. now, obviously, i didn't put all of the references to "love" from the Bible on here, but these seem to be the most relevant. Ok, well as i put up there, John 15:12 tells us to love one another as I (Jesus) loved you. Alright, now "one another" means everyone, leaving no one to be left out. So we are to love everyone as Jesus loves us. Ok, well Romans 5:8 tells us that He died for us while we were sinners, that while we were His enemies, while we were against Him, doing things that He sees as disgusting and evil, He died for us. So that means that we must love everyone, regardless of their sins, of their past, what they did, are doing, or plan on doing, right? Ok, well that means that we should be willing to die for a liar, a thief, a murderer, even terrorists, because they fall into the category of "one another" and dying for them is the love that Jesus has shown us, and therefore we must show it to them. Now, obviously we don't die for their causes or anything, but what i'm refering to is, if they could be saved, to die for that reason at the very least. Ok, so here's my question: how many people on here can honestly say that they love murderers, terrorists, and child abusers enough to willingly lay down your life for theirs? and, more importantly, could you help me out with that, because i've been working on this for a year, and though i have improved, i'm just not there yet. Thanks for any helpful answers! sorry for such a long post :)

PS: I know that some of you might disagree, so please keep your replies as civilized as possible.
Click to expand...
Brother as with everything else pertaining with our walk, we cant do anything without Jesus, just acknowledging Him in all our ways directs our paths and heart, God bless you for your honesty, if one cant be honest about themselves how can they be honest before God.

And yes, i find i do have empathy and sadness with love for the most hineous crimes people do commit,murderers,rapists even pedophiles--

Forgive them Father they know not what they do
 
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S

Saint

Guest
#20
#20
Consumed said:
And yes, i find i do have empathy and sadness with love for the most hineous
Click to expand...
not even close to there yet, but i am progressing; i used to absolutely hate them, believeing that every one of them deserve the death sentence, now i don't hate them, and can feel some amounts of empathy for them.
 
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