Who belong to Christ?

[arunangelo]

Those who belong to Christ have His Spirit (Romans 8:9). His spirit is the spirit of unconditional love that is eternal, merciful and sacrificial. Because He loved us, and therefore wanted to save us from eternal death, He took a human form, and not only bore all our sufferings, that our sins (against Him) created, but also accepted the most humiliating and painful death on the cross (Philippians 2:5-8). In doing this, God stayed faithful to the covenant with us, although we betrayed Him and were unfaithful to Him. His unconditional love also extended to those who crucified Him and humiliated Him. Therefore, even as He hung on the cross He pleaded to His Father for their forgiveness (Luke 23:24). Furthermore because He is merciful He does not condemn sinners (John 8:11). On the contrary, He came into this world to pay the price for their sins (Matthew 20:28). It may seem impossible for human beings to have such a spirit. Fortunately, because of Jesus’ sacrifice, His Spirit is instilled in every human heart. Therefore, those who sincerely desire it (because they have faith in it) can receive it. Furthermore, because Jesus sanctified our sufferings by taking them upon Himself; we can use suffering to become people with endurance, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness and generosity. We can therefore find people exercise fidelity and selflessness by staying faithful to their marriage covenant even when there is abuse, betrayal and infidelity; exercise sacrifice by accepting great inconveniences in order to take care of severely disabled children or parents; and exercise mercy by not only forgiving their offenders of crimes as serious as the murder of their loved ones, but also by going out of their way to help them to recover from their criminal ways.

 

[Davy]

Hi, arunagelo: Your comment is very interesting, but I have often struggled with the concept that God loves unconditionally and I do not accept that God does not condemn sinners.

When Jesus judges one of the 7 congregations in the book of Revelations; "Thyatira." In Revelation 2:21-23, (NIV) Jesus says: "I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds." Notice Jesus gives these clearly unrepentant ones time to repent, but if they do not repent, they will be repayed according to their deeds. He does not show them unconditional love and forgives them. He warn, they must repent, or he will punish them.

Notice what 1 Corinthians 5:13, (NLT) says: "God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, 'You must remove the evil person from among you.'" This poses the questions: who are these evil or wicked among the Christian congregation, and why are they not immediately forgiven and draws closer into the Congregation love? Why are they removed? 1 Corinthians 5:1-7, shows such evil persons committed gross immoral behavior and were to be removed from the congregation because it would protect the congregation from their corrupting influence, and also, because this one was boasting, he clearly did not show a repentant spirit. Paul under the holy spirit condemned this person's sinful ways and did not show unconditional love, rather he ordered him to be put out of the congregation. Staying within the love of the congregation was conditional, that they do not do sinful things that could corrupt the congregation.

This is because, if you do not make a stand against serious sin and show their are consequences, people will not be motivated to steer clear of such sinful behavior. Throughout the history of the nation of Israel, God repeatedly punished them because they would not repent of their sins, for which many died. God clearly condemns sinners and will punish them. Those who belong to God, are those who if they sin, repent or they are condemned by God and will not be accepted into the unconditional love of the congregation, until they do repent. Well, that is what the Bible seams to say to me!

 

[arunangelo]

Hi, arunagelo: Your comment is very interesting, but I have often struggled with the concept that God loves unconditionally and I do not accept that God does not condemn sinners.

When Jesus judges one of the 7 congregations in the book of Revelations; "Thyatira." In Revelation 2:21-23, (NIV) Jesus says: "I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds." Notice Jesus gives these clearly unrepentant ones time to repent, but if they do not repent, they will be repayed according to their deeds. He does not show them unconditional love and forgives them. He warn, they must repent, or he will punish them.

Notice what 1 Corinthians 5:13, (NLT) says: "God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, 'You must remove the evil person from among you.'" This poses the questions: who are these evil or wicked among the Christian congregation, and why are they not immediately forgiven and draws closer into the Congregation love? Why are they removed? 1 Corinthians 5:1-7, shows such evil persons committed gross immoral behavior and were to be removed from the congregation because it would protect the congregation from their corrupting influence, and also, because this one was boasting, he clearly did not show a repentant spirit. Paul under the holy spirit condemned this person's sinful ways and did not show unconditional love, rather he ordered him to be put out of the congregation. Staying within the love of the congregation was conditional, that they do not do sinful things that could corrupt the congregation.

This is because, if you do not make a stand against serious sin and show their are consequences, people will not be motivated to steer clear of such sinful behavior. Throughout the history of the nation of Israel, God repeatedly punished them because they would not repent of their sins, for which many died. God clearly condemns sinners and will punish them. Those who belong to God, are those who if they sin, repent or they are condemned by God and will not be accepted into the unconditional love of the congregation, until they do repent. Well, that is what the Bible seams to say to me!

Jesus sat and ate with sinners. He came for sinners not the righteous. On the cross he forgave His offenders.

 

[james g]

Forgiveness is never 'looking the other way', or acting as if no wrong is or has been committed. Forgiving is not excusing the inexcusable, tolerating the intolerable, nor sweeping things under the [proverbial] carpet. That is NOT God's way.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My way," says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8


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True love and forgiveness operate on the basis of integrity. God the Father sent God the Son to die on Calvary's cross to make genuine forgiveness possible.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16.
"The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations..." Luke 24:46,47.


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The benefits of this divine forgiveness are available upon the condition that men or women acknowledge their wrongful behavior and status as lost sinners -- i.e., repent. With God, there is no such thing a unconditional forgiveness.

"...your sins have been forgiven on account of his name." 1 John 2:12
"I [Jesus] have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:32.
"I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, 'What have I done?'"Jeremiah 8:6.


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This is the biblical pattern of forgiveness which Christians are called to follow. As the Lord requires accountability and genuine repentance to establish a relationship with Him, likewise these attributes form the basis for forgiveness amongst ourselves and the foundation for healthy human relationships.

"If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and IF he repents, forgive him." Luke 17:3
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as [in the same manner] the Lord forgave you."Colossians 3:13
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as [in the same manner] in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

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