PIC: errantAgendas By Sharon McCutcheon. Unsplash
In a longtime friend’s Facebook Post – Jake posted (not his real name):
I am going to the pride fest in Richmond today with some other brethren to preach the gospel. We would appreciate your prayers. If you are available please join us!
Sounded good. I commented to Jake:
Love ’em Jake (not his real name).
Admonish in love. Don’t overturn their tables! verse 15
Jesus had righteous anger in the temple John 2:13-17 – – but His followers are to (1) love those who need His grace and forgiveness (as we all did before getting saved, and do still – everyday after!) and (2) be known for our love… as we clearly share the saving Gospel, even to hostile folk…with love always.
Jesus makes us brand new inside if we turn from sin – and turn to – Jesus. Jesus can change anyone.
I know — because Jesus saved me, changed me, and keeps me. Now I belong to Jesus!
Jake, referring to my “Love ’em Jake” statement, commented to me. saying:
“Why? That is not [the] teaching of Scripture.
And then he listed some hardline Old Testament passages, and James. See all in one link: Deuteronomy 12:2-3, Deuteronomy 7:5, Ezekiel 30:13, James 2:19, Isaiah 2:17-18.
However, when God said this in the OT, “But this is how you shall deal with them…” that was during an earlier era under the Law. Those verses do not apply to God’s present era of hope – grace, love, and forgiveness in Jesus’ Name.
Jesus came to earth to save, not condemn John 3:17. The condemning will come later.
This post is my reply to Jake.
Jesus’ followers are to love. We need some basic hermeneutic principles and understanding of the New Covenant vs the old era of Old Testament covenants and laws.
We are to love all peoples. I like Paul’s message about love in this version of 1 Corinthians 13:5-7 The Message.
“So, no matter what I say,
what I believe,
and what I do,
I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
or “Keeps no record of wrong” (another version)
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.”
– 1 Corinthians 13:5-7 The Message
Jesus was known to fellowship with sinners and republicans publicans Matthew 9:10-11 KJV. He is our example of loving those who reject Jesus. Wouldn’t you agree? Or:
Are you still wrapped up in a condemning mode? Still failing to forgive? Still into gossiping about those who have failed? Still looking down on someone? Still intolerant, unkind, callous…? (Ephesians 4:17-32)?
Or are you letting “God re-mold” your mind?
– Source: God forgives all wrongdoings of all repentant sinners, no exception
See this BibleGateway site-search: sinners+and+tax+collectors. This could translate today to… the “gay” and proud rejectors of Jesus. See references in one link or: Matthew 9:10, Matthew 11:19, Mark 2:16, Luke 7:34, Luke 15:1 AMPC.
Excerpt from Looking at others
What do you think of others? Do you size-them-up: know their sins and think less of them, or think they are great because you like how they look or like how much they have?
Remember that God does not wait for us to be perfect. He wants us to come to Him just as we are, now. Even so, even as Christ, no matter the sin – we love the sinner.
There is no excuse for us to put-down another. There is no sin too great – nothing that God cannot forgive.
The Son of Man
came eating and drinking
[with others],
and they say,
Behold, a glutton
and a wine drinker,
a friend of tax collectors
and [[a]especially wicked] sinners!
Yet wisdom is justified
and vindicated
by what she does (her deeds)
and by [b]her children.
FOR MORE:
Being saved by Jesus, being with Jesus, loving Jesus… teaches us how to love others as He Himself loved. The love of Jesus extended to all around Him, bar none.
_____________
Being with Jesus…produces love
Being unselfish, more thoughtful and gracious to others
Being friendly, cordial and gracious
Forever forgiving Excerpt: Readily and freely (Ephesians 4:v32)
Are you still wrapped up in a condemning mode? Still failing to forgive? Still into gossiping about those who have failed? Still looking down on someone? Still intolerant, unkind, callous…? (Ephesians 4:17-32)? Or are you letting “God re-mould” your mind?
– Source: God forgives all wrongdoings of all repentant sinners, no exception
Put down sinners… with compassion and love?
Hating is life changing – eternal life changing. Scary thought.
Looking at others Excerpt: What do you think of others? Do you size-them-up: know their sins and think less of them, or think they are great because you like how they look or like how much they have? Remember that God does not wait for us to be perfect. He wants us to come to Him just as we are, now. Even so, even as Christ, no matter the sin – we love the sinner. There is no excuse for us to put-down another. There is no sin too great – nothing that God cannot forgive.
Is your life fruit – Agape Love?
Love-Agape (Greek Word Study) | from preceptaustin.org
Love and Agape Love in the Greek and in the New Testament
Put down sinners… with compassion and love?
Imagine what “being saved” has meant to you
Imagine you, the perfect person
We don’t get into a Holy Kingdom by being sinful
Was your confession accepted by God?
Take a stance on homosexuality like Jesus did
Transgenderism as seen from the Bible
Take a stance on homosexuality like Jesus did
Tolerating others and being biblical
Better is thinking with God’s Word
If we do not think like God Almighty thinks
What happens when you do not know what the Bible says on a matter?
The New Covenant did not abolish any previous convenants of God
We are in God’s era of hope – grace, love, and forgiveness in Jesus’ Name
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. 32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave [a]you.
– Ephesians 4:31-32
Brand new inside…Jesus changed me
Turn from – Turn to…I turned from sin – and turned to Jesus
Your new leaf – once you have repented…Jesus made me brand new inside
What God secures you cannot lose…Jesus keeps me – forever!
There is no other saving Gospel
The one-off offer Jesus makes to everyone
Specific salvation parameters to get saved
Specific salvation parameters Jesus absolutely requires
Lord, Father, I bow my heart before you
Psalm 51 type repentance and salvation
You’ve got mail – A message from God the Father
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