- Jul 3, 2021
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This is something I've been thinking about for some time, and felt encouraged to share today...
[Gal 3:13-14 NKJV] 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree"), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
[Gen 15:1 NKJV] 1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I [am] your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
[Gen 12:1-3 NKJV] 1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Do you believe that the promise given to Abraham is applicable to Gentile believers? If you do, good, so do I. Let's put two and two together here and do the math. Put a number of christians together to whom this promise applies, and it should follow that, by either blessing or cursing, we can create an economy of blessing, or cursing, and be blessed or cursed for it.
And if you think this approach may be too soft on sin, consider the following:
[Tit 3:3-7 NKJV] 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
[Rom 2:3-4 NKJV] 3 ... do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Do you think it's fair to consider that repentance is the result of a blessing from God? I do. By blessing even sinners, I think we can help them toward repentance.
[Mat 5:43-45 NKJV] 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Food for thought: last I checked we still have a decent amount of Christians in the United States. We don't know how many or to whom this promise applies, but it could be a decent number, enough that I'm wary of cursing those whom I should not, and being cursed in return. As much as we may want to see fireworks and God to "get those guys" we don't like, life is short, and we only have a limited time to make the cut. I don't know about you but punishing others is not my goal.
[Gal 3:13-14 NKJV] 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree"), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
[Gen 15:1 NKJV] 1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I [am] your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
[Gen 12:1-3 NKJV] 1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Do you believe that the promise given to Abraham is applicable to Gentile believers? If you do, good, so do I. Let's put two and two together here and do the math. Put a number of christians together to whom this promise applies, and it should follow that, by either blessing or cursing, we can create an economy of blessing, or cursing, and be blessed or cursed for it.
And if you think this approach may be too soft on sin, consider the following:
[Tit 3:3-7 NKJV] 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
[Rom 2:3-4 NKJV] 3 ... do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Do you think it's fair to consider that repentance is the result of a blessing from God? I do. By blessing even sinners, I think we can help them toward repentance.
[Mat 5:43-45 NKJV] 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Food for thought: last I checked we still have a decent amount of Christians in the United States. We don't know how many or to whom this promise applies, but it could be a decent number, enough that I'm wary of cursing those whom I should not, and being cursed in return. As much as we may want to see fireworks and God to "get those guys" we don't like, life is short, and we only have a limited time to make the cut. I don't know about you but punishing others is not my goal.
