Today, topics include the divine commandments to love ones enemy. Believers are to conform to and manifest the image of Christ. The armies of Israel were created by GOD to execute and demonstrate peace as the fruit and outcome of judgment, not to serve as conquerors, or those who pursue warfare for economic and political gain. Traditions of combativeness against “the heathen,” exclusion, prejudice, and segregation became “survival mechanisms” within the culture of the Jews. Along with exile (lawful eviction from their inheritance carried out by GOD) and captivity (forced labor and relocation imposed by men after defeat in war), wounds to the covenant people included centuries of continual harassment and resistance by those being ousted by GOD from the Promised Land and the remnant of their nations as well as scars from the judgments against Egypt, against the seven tribes of Canaan who broke their covenant with GOD, and against those who doubted prophecy and opposed Moses. At the coming of Jesus as Messiah, the culture of the Jews was disbelieving, faithless, hostile, suspicious, and vindictive. Cleansing and renewal through Jesus Christ addressed accomplishing repentance, salvation, and correct relationship with GOD through forbearance, forgiveness, and rebirth as vessels of the imparted, indwelling Spirit of GOD. The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Halbhh” (Level 6 with 18,197 points, a member since January 23, 2012) posted the following:
What is the meaning of Jesus’s radical command "Love your enemies"?
Update: The full quote, for reference:
"43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people... "
"43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people... "
THE GOLDEN ARROW: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1: 1-8, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Does GOD Hate Jews? (10/03/2016); The GOD Who Loves? (10/02/2016); Divine and Unconditional Love (09/18/2016); Learning From A Spirit? (08/25/2016); It Takes The Cross (04/22/2016); Tools for Revelation? (10/26/2015); Why the Jews Were Called Out? (06/15/2015)
“Halbhh”, love is one of the elements that set apart (we say, exalts and sanctifies) the Creator who is owner and ruler above his Creation. Herein is love: As both the Son of Man (Adam) and an embodiment of full divinity, Jesus Christ established new access to GOD the Father through operations and gifts from the Holy Spirit. The Savior fulfilled prophecy; became the required sacrifice for atonement and propitiation of sin; clarified and proclaimed eternal purposes and sacred law while providing further revelation of the character, makeup, and substance of GOD. Because finite, mortal beings must operate using frameworks of time and space, life experiences for mankind are brief, discontinuous, and episodic. Even so, the living are not valued as mere material objects. Intimate and lasting communication, exchange, and interaction as ongoing relationship with the Creator has been structured making allowances for the multiple interruptions and shifts caused through the discrete attributes of the living. Included are appetite; death (we say, sleep); gradual development to maturity; human error and inconsistency; incontinence; instability; and exhaustion of physical strength and intensity for ones senses. GOD has used devices such as covenants; diversity rather than change; family, dynasty and inheritance; promises; and the death of Jesus on the cross to bridge the separation from divine immutability, incorruptibility, and invisibility. Through the ministries of Jesus upon the earth and from heaven, mankind may receive inseparable aspects of the divine makeup as a fresh endowment of life essence (breath, spirit, word, utterance) required for created beings to exist as companions to the Maker. In addition to divine love, deposits of faith, holiness, longsuffering, meekness, wisdom, and wrath against sin should appear. Consider again how some of this is stated using language from the Bible:
(1.) 1st John 4: 9-11, King James Version (KJV): 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
(2.) 1st John 4: 16-18, KJV: 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
(3.) Ephesians 2: 8-10, KJV: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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