Greetings Dave M,
may I be so bold as to suggest that the love your neighbour as thyself can be seen in the light of the passage being examined here in this thread?
God is no respecter of people, and we are likewise taught by Jesus and the Apostles that we should not judge others, especially putting ourselves into some greater or more blessed position of favour with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. If we think or believe for a minute that our sins are forgiven, that we have hope, that Jesus is our Saviour, our salvation (as His name means); if we might appeal to His mercy and grace, if we might have any confidence in His promise to us, then we must also have similar love for others, in that He is the same Lord and Saviour to all.
I think it not too presumptuous to suggest that most, if not all, highly desire such for themselves from the mercy and grace of God in Christ Jesus His Son, which, when push comes to shove, equates to me, you and everyone having a real interest, a very keen love for myself, yourself, themselves.
I DON'T WANT TO PERISH!!! I am quite sure you don't want to perish either! Why? Could it be love? For who? For ourselves. No one else (when it comes to our own salvation at the hands of the Judge.
If I can be forgiven, what of the next bloke? There is no difference and if we were honest about ourselves, the next bloke probably deserves (if it were possible) forgiveness more than us, but in God's eyes, all have sinned.... all.
SO, to love your neighbour as yourself....
do you see what I am saying?
And, yes. We are to love one another with a pure heart. Sometimes we can get a bit messy with that. I thank God for His Mercy, His Grace, His Promise, found in His Son alone, and never never never in my merit or lack of it. I know I need His Mercy and Grace and I want it. How about you?
The minute we consider another to deserve to go to hell (more properly put, to perish) we are rejecting the forgiveness granted to us. We become unjust stewards. We don't want that. Why?
Simply put, we love ourselves.... we care very very much about our eternal condition, though often not enough to put away things that might keep us from shipwreck.
Of course, there be some who declare they only want to please the Lord, but I say that that position is only possible AFTER repentance and forgiveness and renewal, after adoption, and never before.
Another way to say all the above is that we are not to consider anyone unworthy or less worthy of the Grace and love of God and His forgiveness than ourselves. Some people dramatically change and the Apostle Paul is a very good example of that. If any would doubt or deny our worth, well, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosover believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting, eternal life and if we consider the worth of the Blood of His Son to the Father... that begins to show us how much we are worth. Such is grace. Can I add to it?
Grace and Peace to you as much as I want it for my self,
Bless you ....><>
may I be so bold as to suggest that the love your neighbour as thyself can be seen in the light of the passage being examined here in this thread?
God is no respecter of people, and we are likewise taught by Jesus and the Apostles that we should not judge others, especially putting ourselves into some greater or more blessed position of favour with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. If we think or believe for a minute that our sins are forgiven, that we have hope, that Jesus is our Saviour, our salvation (as His name means); if we might appeal to His mercy and grace, if we might have any confidence in His promise to us, then we must also have similar love for others, in that He is the same Lord and Saviour to all.
I think it not too presumptuous to suggest that most, if not all, highly desire such for themselves from the mercy and grace of God in Christ Jesus His Son, which, when push comes to shove, equates to me, you and everyone having a real interest, a very keen love for myself, yourself, themselves.
I DON'T WANT TO PERISH!!! I am quite sure you don't want to perish either! Why? Could it be love? For who? For ourselves. No one else (when it comes to our own salvation at the hands of the Judge.
If I can be forgiven, what of the next bloke? There is no difference and if we were honest about ourselves, the next bloke probably deserves (if it were possible) forgiveness more than us, but in God's eyes, all have sinned.... all.
SO, to love your neighbour as yourself....
do you see what I am saying?
And, yes. We are to love one another with a pure heart. Sometimes we can get a bit messy with that. I thank God for His Mercy, His Grace, His Promise, found in His Son alone, and never never never in my merit or lack of it. I know I need His Mercy and Grace and I want it. How about you?
The minute we consider another to deserve to go to hell (more properly put, to perish) we are rejecting the forgiveness granted to us. We become unjust stewards. We don't want that. Why?
Simply put, we love ourselves.... we care very very much about our eternal condition, though often not enough to put away things that might keep us from shipwreck.
Of course, there be some who declare they only want to please the Lord, but I say that that position is only possible AFTER repentance and forgiveness and renewal, after adoption, and never before.
Another way to say all the above is that we are not to consider anyone unworthy or less worthy of the Grace and love of God and His forgiveness than ourselves. Some people dramatically change and the Apostle Paul is a very good example of that. If any would doubt or deny our worth, well, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosover believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting, eternal life and if we consider the worth of the Blood of His Son to the Father... that begins to show us how much we are worth. Such is grace. Can I add to it?
Grace and Peace to you as much as I want it for my self,
Bless you ....><>
