Do we have to love our enemies in order to be saved?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
People always apply this out of context. Paul was referring to the agreement made in the Jerusalem Council in Galatians 2:7-9.

The gospel of the uncircumcision was given to Paul and he was to preach that to the gentiles.

The gospel of the circumcision was given to the 12, including James, and they are to preach that to the little flock, as well as unbelieving Israel.

So yes, anyone that preach the gospel of the circumcision to the gentiles will be cursed. But Paul was not talking about the people involved in preaching to the little flock and Israel.
Shaking my head in sorrow
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
I added to a post, now you are claiming it makes you clairvoyant. !!!!!!!
This is why no one can talk with you.
Show me where i said the word clairvoyant
once again you preach law. Yet you continually break it. You know what that makes you right?
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,582
3,616
113
I'll give you just one example of teachings that are no longer applicable:


Matthew 8

New International Version

8 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy[a] came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”


A pastor who preaches that the above teaching is no longer applicable is not preaching another Jesus; he is preaching what Jesus revealed to him from heaven.

Galatians 1:11-24

New International Version

Paul Called by God
11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
That was a requirement of the OT Law.. He had to present Himself to the priests.. That system was destroyed with the coming of the LORD and the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem 40 years later in 70ad.. But nothing Jesus said on the mount was rescinded after his death and reasurection..
 

NOV25

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2019
977
386
63
Don't confuse evidence of salvation, in the form of works such as "loving thy enemy", with "loving thy enemy" being required for salvation, as if it earns salvation.

If a person is truly saved, they have true saving faith in Christ yet they fail to "love thy enemy" will they be denied entrance into the kingdom?
No.

If a person does not have true saving faith in Christ but they "love thy enemy" (consider a buddhist monk) will this person be welcomed into the kingdom?
No.

  1. James 2:18
    Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

  2. James 2:20
    But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

  3. James 2:26
    For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Works are evidence of saving faith.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,345
2,157
113
The gospel of the uncircumcision was given to Paul and he was to preach that to the gentiles.

The gospel of the circumcision was given to the 12, including James, and they are to preach that to the little flock, as well as unbelieving Israel.

There is only one Gospel.:

Mark 1:15

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”


John 18:36

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”



There is only one Gospel and it is for all men and women.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
This is why no one can talk with you.
Show me where i said the word clairvoyant
once again you preach law. Yet you continually break it. You know what that makes you right?
Surely you have a dictionary if you don't know what the word clairvoyant means or recognize you are assuming you have that power. You are right, there is no way you can speak with me, you have decided to treat me in such a way as to make it impossible. I have put you on ignore in the past, I will do it again.
 
Apr 15, 2017
2,867
653
113
Three decades ago a co-worker of mine was rendered paraplegic by a thief. A group of believers and myself went to her home to comfort her.

We talked about the brevity of life on earth and everlasting life in heaven, etc., but not long after that, one of our fellow believers bluntly asked the physically disabled girl: "Have you already forgiven the guy who did this to you?"

The girl got embarrassed and tried to change the subject, but the guy kept insisting that she should not only forgive, but also love the thief, and so he ruined the gathering.

The unpleasant event led me and some other guys to examine the Scripture to see if LOVING OUR ENEMIES is a requirement for salvation. We came to the conclusion that we must always do our best to love our enemies, but if we don't attain such perfection we don't lose salvation.

A pastor back then told us: "Jesus preached to the Jews and Paul preached to us (the Gentiles). To be saved we must follow the teachings of Paul and of other apostles (which are actually from Jesus) and don't have to obey ALL teachings that Jesus gave to the Jews because we are now under a new covenant.

What is your opinion about this?
We have to love people no matter how they act towards us.

This love means we want no harm to come to them and want the best for them.

When the world is offended they say go to hell, but when a saint is offended they should say go to heaven.

Jesus said if we do not forgive then the Father will not forgive us.

Jesus said love your enemies, and feed and clothe your enemies, and pray for them, and bless them.

The Bible says love is the fulfilling of the law.

The Bible says follow peace with all people with holiness without which no person shall see the Lord, and follow peace with people as much as dwells in you.

That means our love for people will vary from person to person but we still have to love them, and follow peace with them, and want the best for them as much as those we love the most, and this love means how close we are to the person, and to get along with them.

Some people we can say hello, and God loves you, but we do not want to shake their hand or hug them.

Some people we can shake their hand but do not want to hug them.

Some people we can hug.

We will have different levels of love towards people but the love to want no harm to come to them, and the best for them is equal for all people.

We love equally all people to want goodness for them, but our love will vary from person to person in how close we are to them, and get along with them.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,058
4,344
113
you are correct be in it but not part of it

It is biblical when I am trying to show whoever it was that I’f you love someone as Jesus said, keep my commandments.

If we love God with the love described in the greatest commandment that cannot be done in the flesh. It is only done through salvation and rebirth. The Father and Son should be in the throne of our heart. Nothing goes before them. If that happens, it isn’t by our power it is by our rebirth in him. Because I am in a real relationship with Him. I don’t want to hurt Him, I want to please Him. He keeps me from my sinful nature and completes me.

When we live in the flesh and claim to know him, we end up double minded. because we try to “obey” which is impossible shown by the first covenant. The second one done out of love is perfect. It is in that perfect alignment and love He keeps us from our flesh sinful natural nature.
Nowhere in the bible does it say that you are to return to allow a person to abuse you after they do it once. You can avoid them.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,058
4,344
113
When you say 'repent of your sins ' ,what do you mean? And which verse says that " wanting to be sin free " is necessary for salvation and thats what ' repentance 'means?

that is not correct repentance is not sin-free it is a changed mind and direction one is going.

The only thing necessary for Salvation if faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Sozo is the Greek word. Jesus said Call on the name of the Lord and you shall be saved. repentance doesn't save you Grace did
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
113
There is only one Gospel.:

Mark 1:15

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”


John 18:36

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”



There is only one Gospel and it is for all men and women.
Gospel means good news.

Are you saying God had only ONE good news for mankind across all time?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
that is not correct repentance is not sin-free it is a changed mind and direction one is going.

The only thing necessary for Salvation if faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Sozo is the Greek word. Jesus said Call on the name of the Lord and you shall be saved. repentance doesn't save you Grace did
I think your misunderstanding what I'm saying there ..Everyone of the points is a question ?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
that is not correct repentance is not sin-free it is a changed mind and direction one is going.

The only thing necessary for Salvation if faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Sozo is the Greek word. Jesus said Call on the name of the Lord and you shall be saved. repentance doesn't save you Grace did
Check what I'm responding to before you knee jerk respond. I don't believe what HE posted .
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Surely you have a dictionary if you don't know what the word clairvoyant means or recognize you are assuming you have that power. You are right, there is no way you can speak with me, you have decided to treat me in such a way as to make it impossible. I have put you on ignore in the past, I will do it again.
Surely you have eyes

You stated the following

i added to a post, now you are claiming it makes you clairvoyant. !!!!!!!


I never said any such thing, that’s called bearing false witness, or putting words in someone mouth they did not say.

according to the law, you have broken the ten commandments by bearing false witness

so my post stands, you can’t run from the truth maam