Post by Cindy on Aug 15, 2023 11:16:45 GMT -5
When you meet another Christian, you're meeting someone that Jesus dwells in, just as He dwells in you (assuming you're saved). Therefore it's critical how we treat each other because how we treat each other is how we're treating Jesus! When I first realized that the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit all dwell within me, I was shocked. But the more I studied, the more I realized it was true. We are told that we are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in us (1 Corinthians 3:16). We are also told that each member of the Trinity is one with the other members. You can't have the Father without also having the other members. (John 10:30; John 14:9; 1 Cor. 2:10–16; Heb. 1:3)
When I first realized that, I was shocked, and realized that I had often mistreated a brother or sister in Christ and our Lord as well. I repented immediately and I know I'm forgiven, but I still have to remind myself of this truth regularly so that I won't mess up again.
I also discovered two other truths that go along with this one. First, that Jesus tells us that we're to treat others who say they are Christians, as though they really are, because only Jesus knows for sure. Second, we're to treat the unsaved as though they may be Christians because, again, only Jesus knows who belongs to Him, and who is going to. Jesus isn't bound by time like we are, so it's best to just treat everyone as though Jesus was dwelling in them. That doesn't mean we don't tell others the gospel if we think they're unsaved, it just means we're to treat them lovingly like Jesus tells us to.
In the past, I've had people tell me it was perfectly ok to call other people names and put them down when you were "defending the faith". They often use the part in Matthew 23 where Jesus is telling off the Pharisees and calls them names like hypocrite and blind guides. The problem with that is that Jesus was not calling certain people those names, He was calling the entire sect those names. Today it would be like someone saying "The Catholic Church is full of blind guides". Secondly, Jesus is God and we are not. So if you choose to believe that Jesus was speaking to individuals, it's still won't work since He tells us we can't know anyone's heart, only He can. Besides which, how can anyone obey what we're told in 1 Peter 3:15 and still call people names and put them down? It's impossible. There are plenty of other scriptures that speak to this too, but I'll let you guys find them.
Here are a few of the many scriptures that tell us to love everyone:
““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)
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
“and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
When I first realized that, I was shocked, and realized that I had often mistreated a brother or sister in Christ and our Lord as well. I repented immediately and I know I'm forgiven, but I still have to remind myself of this truth regularly so that I won't mess up again.
I also discovered two other truths that go along with this one. First, that Jesus tells us that we're to treat others who say they are Christians, as though they really are, because only Jesus knows for sure. Second, we're to treat the unsaved as though they may be Christians because, again, only Jesus knows who belongs to Him, and who is going to. Jesus isn't bound by time like we are, so it's best to just treat everyone as though Jesus was dwelling in them. That doesn't mean we don't tell others the gospel if we think they're unsaved, it just means we're to treat them lovingly like Jesus tells us to.
In the past, I've had people tell me it was perfectly ok to call other people names and put them down when you were "defending the faith". They often use the part in Matthew 23 where Jesus is telling off the Pharisees and calls them names like hypocrite and blind guides. The problem with that is that Jesus was not calling certain people those names, He was calling the entire sect those names. Today it would be like someone saying "The Catholic Church is full of blind guides". Secondly, Jesus is God and we are not. So if you choose to believe that Jesus was speaking to individuals, it's still won't work since He tells us we can't know anyone's heart, only He can. Besides which, how can anyone obey what we're told in 1 Peter 3:15 and still call people names and put them down? It's impossible. There are plenty of other scriptures that speak to this too, but I'll let you guys find them.
Here are a few of the many scriptures that tell us to love everyone:
““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)
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
“and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
!!
