. . . how it is that only 'some' respond (to the call).
John 10:3,4,11,27,28 - he calleth his own sheep by name - the sheep follow him for they know his voice - the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep - my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me - and I give unto them eternal life.
But Jesus said, "“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons 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. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:43-48)
Therefore God loves everyone, we cannot love more people than God does.
Dear Eph4:26. We know that God is LOVE, and conditional love is NOT love. Jesus= God-Son, part of the Father, who died that we might live. God has given us free will, He is our Heavenly Father, He wants us back again. God woos us to the very last, and ONLY if we do not want to follow Jesus back to God, who made us in His image, we will find ourselves without God`s Love. The reason then is God does not force or coerce us in any way. God is LOVE, Eph. whatever you believe, and God loves you, too. The Bible is God`s Word to Man, and it was written by God-inspired men and women. And the greatest Theologist cannot prove by clever manipulation of thought or idea, that God is NOT LOVE. I say this humbly and with blessed assurance. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.
Dear Eph4:26. May I also point out, humbly and with love, the Christmas-tree may be Pagan, but at Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The tree is only to please the children.( in the main) Many people prefer a bunch of dressed fir. And why make Christianity so hard to live up to? Christianity is a loving relationship with our Christ, who did die out of love for All. He reconciled us to God, and Love/Agape is the key to God`s Kingdom. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.
Laetetia, I'm glad you posted this citation. It allows me to point out the ambiguity that the word 'love' creates. The context of Matthew 5:43-48 is not saying that God loves every man, woman, child that ever lived.
When you read Luke's account of the 'Love your enemy' parable, it is there that we find 'turn the other cheek' (6:29). The context of the parable is Jesus giving instruction (a commandment) to His Believer's (not the vessels of wrath) as to how to conduct themselves amongst the non-believing pagan world (majority).
'Love your enemy', doesn't mean to have affection for. It means to treat them in the same manner Jesus treated his enemies. That's a hard model to emulate. Can you see the difference?
. . . We know that God is LOVE, . . . God is LOVE . . . God loves you, too.
Emmy, the point of this thread is to get beyond the ambiguous 'God is Love' and point out that your citation of 1 John 4:8 can not be used without also citing 2 John 6 "this is love that we walk after his commandments"
God = Love (1 John 4:8).
Love = obeying the commandments (2 John 6).
If you are not obeying the commandments of God, God doesn't love you. That is putting a condition on love.
Until you can acknowledge that this is the context of what God's Love is, there really isn't any point of addressing your other comments.
'Love your enemy', doesn't mean to have affection for. It means to treat them in the same manner Jesus treated his enemies. That's a hard model to emulate. Can you see the difference?
It actually does mean to have affection for, as well as love being a doing word...
In Hebraic thought 'love' is a DOING word, not so much a feeling word.
So, to say that God does not 'love' every man woman and child is not to recognize the doing of the word 'love' in what Christ (God) has DONE for ALL mankind.
In Greek thought the love in 'love your enemies' is a 'doing' word but it's also a 'feeling' word. Agape also means 'to be fond of', 'to love dearly'. We are to be fond of and love dearly our enemies... ALL mankind are described as God's enemies...and while we were yet His enemies He died for us... because He also had affection and fondness for us. If He tells us to be fond of our enemies and love them dearly then of course He must abide by His own commandments... yes?
If we are to be holy as He is holy and perfect as He is perfect, then we must follow His commandments and love ALL men as He does... as we are commanded to do so. As the disciple follows the Master.
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Did He not do that for ALL?
Actually, I'd like to know where it says in the scriptures that God doesn't love those who don't keep His commandments. All I can find is that if WE don't keep His commandments then WE don't love Him.
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Last edited by Tavita; 26th October 2009 at 10:21 AM.
That wouldn't make much sense when applied to the concept of God as Love though would it? You would be saying " God is love because he obeys His own commandments". Obeying the commandments is a sign that we humans have love. Thats what that verse is implying.
The bible also speaks of love in this manner:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves." 1st Cor 12:4-7
The English word love in the original Greek text is Agape (ag-ah'-pay).
And God has Agape love for all of creation including every man , women, and child. Agape is a selfless, self sacrificing , and unconditional love. It always seeks out what is best for others.
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Isaiah 8:12-13 (NIV) "Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread."
John 10:3,4,11,27,28 - he calleth his own sheep by name - the sheep follow him for they know his voice - the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep - my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me - and I give unto them eternal life.
I asked if you could explain. I can read the Bible.
So would you care to elaborate on your sweeping generalization - the kids certainly knew your voice - you knew them so how come all the kids in the street did not come when you called?
Maybe you don't care much for the 'kids in your street'. Is that the point you are making?
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