CoreIssue
02-03-2006, 09:48 AM
Quote:Love
9Love must be sincere.
Fake love is repugnant. We see so much of it in so many churches and Forum sites.
One whose love is not real shows it quickly when things get tough or do not go their way. They run away or get nasty real fast.
Quote:Hate what is evil;
The idea Christians are to hate nothing is not Biblical. Sin is evil and is to be hated.
The committer of sin is responsible for their sin, consequences and restitutions as required. But they are salvagable.
We are never to forget all saints were lost sinners before repenting. Someone was there for them so then we need to be there for others.
Quote:cling to what is good.
Keep what is good near. Keep what is evil away. Try to bring the sinner from what is evil to what is good.
Quote:10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
The Body of Christ is family. We must be there for each other in good and bad times.
Quote:Honor one another above yourselves.
Don't always try to be the big shot. See the good in others.
Quote:11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Never stop caring and trying. But keep it under control so as to not alienate others.
And do all for God.
Quote:12Be joyful in hope,
Be glad always in the hope God has given us for the future.
Quote:patient in affliction,
Know that one day, even if not in this life time, problems and issues will end. Keep working even when you feel buried by your concerns as best you can.
Quote:faithful in prayer.
Never give up praying. Keep carrying it all to God. Keep praising God.
Quote:13Share with God's people who are in need.
Share with your fellow saints in need.
Note it says saints and not everyone in need. Be wise stewarts of where your help goes and what it can accomplish for God.
Quote:Practice hospitality.
Do not become a recluse. Show a Christian attitude to all that come to your door.
Quote:14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Try to change those who attack you. They expect you to attack back so do not give them to excuse to say you are no different from them.
But this does not mean one cannot defend themselves or seek justice.
Quote:15Rejoice with those who rejoice;
Be happy for the happiness of others as long as it is for something good.
Quote:mourn with those who mourn.
Share in the loss of others for their sakes.
Quote:16Live in harmony with one another.
This does not mean we must agree with how others live around us. But we must live in a way that does not provoke our neighbors all the time.
And between Christians who differ in strength and doctrines we are not constantly to be putting these issues in front of each other. Be reasonable and wise in such things.
Quote:Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[3]
Social snobbery is not Christian. Rich or poor we are all the same in God's eyes.
Quote:17Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
If someone does something evil to you do not be evil in return.
This does not mean you cannot seek justice or cannot tell them what they did was wrong. Just do not descend to their level in words or actions.
Quote:Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
Always handle your life correctly. Don't give others the opportunity to accusing you of mishandling issues of life.
Quote:18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Try to be at peace with others if possible. But if it requires not living as a saint then you cannot live at peace.
Quote:19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[4] says the Lord.
Revenge is never acceptable. But justice is.
Do not confuse the two. Let God handle the revenge while you deal with justice.
And never forget room for mercy.
Quote:20On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[5] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Do not take advantage of a problem an enemy has to take revenge out on them.
But do not confuse not helping someone to take revenge on them with not helping because such help is wasted.
Meaning as with an enemy who is a drug addict. If you can help get them off of drugs and to God feed them and so on. Do not say now that they are down I am not helping to get revenge.
But if giving them food is absolutely going to do nothing more than strengthen them to go after more drugs do not help them.
Do not enable sin.
9Love must be sincere.
Fake love is repugnant. We see so much of it in so many churches and Forum sites.
One whose love is not real shows it quickly when things get tough or do not go their way. They run away or get nasty real fast.
Quote:Hate what is evil;
The idea Christians are to hate nothing is not Biblical. Sin is evil and is to be hated.
The committer of sin is responsible for their sin, consequences and restitutions as required. But they are salvagable.
We are never to forget all saints were lost sinners before repenting. Someone was there for them so then we need to be there for others.
Quote:cling to what is good.
Keep what is good near. Keep what is evil away. Try to bring the sinner from what is evil to what is good.
Quote:10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
The Body of Christ is family. We must be there for each other in good and bad times.
Quote:Honor one another above yourselves.
Don't always try to be the big shot. See the good in others.
Quote:11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Never stop caring and trying. But keep it under control so as to not alienate others.
And do all for God.
Quote:12Be joyful in hope,
Be glad always in the hope God has given us for the future.
Quote:patient in affliction,
Know that one day, even if not in this life time, problems and issues will end. Keep working even when you feel buried by your concerns as best you can.
Quote:faithful in prayer.
Never give up praying. Keep carrying it all to God. Keep praising God.
Quote:13Share with God's people who are in need.
Share with your fellow saints in need.
Note it says saints and not everyone in need. Be wise stewarts of where your help goes and what it can accomplish for God.
Quote:Practice hospitality.
Do not become a recluse. Show a Christian attitude to all that come to your door.
Quote:14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Try to change those who attack you. They expect you to attack back so do not give them to excuse to say you are no different from them.
But this does not mean one cannot defend themselves or seek justice.
Quote:15Rejoice with those who rejoice;
Be happy for the happiness of others as long as it is for something good.
Quote:mourn with those who mourn.
Share in the loss of others for their sakes.
Quote:16Live in harmony with one another.
This does not mean we must agree with how others live around us. But we must live in a way that does not provoke our neighbors all the time.
And between Christians who differ in strength and doctrines we are not constantly to be putting these issues in front of each other. Be reasonable and wise in such things.
Quote:Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[3]
Social snobbery is not Christian. Rich or poor we are all the same in God's eyes.
Quote:17Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
If someone does something evil to you do not be evil in return.
This does not mean you cannot seek justice or cannot tell them what they did was wrong. Just do not descend to their level in words or actions.
Quote:Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
Always handle your life correctly. Don't give others the opportunity to accusing you of mishandling issues of life.
Quote:18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Try to be at peace with others if possible. But if it requires not living as a saint then you cannot live at peace.
Quote:19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[4] says the Lord.
Revenge is never acceptable. But justice is.
Do not confuse the two. Let God handle the revenge while you deal with justice.
And never forget room for mercy.
Quote:20On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[5] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Do not take advantage of a problem an enemy has to take revenge out on them.
But do not confuse not helping someone to take revenge on them with not helping because such help is wasted.
Meaning as with an enemy who is a drug addict. If you can help get them off of drugs and to God feed them and so on. Do not say now that they are down I am not helping to get revenge.
But if giving them food is absolutely going to do nothing more than strengthen them to go after more drugs do not help them.
Do not enable sin.