Love Is An Important Key To Our Salvation

1 John 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:11-12
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12  If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

1 John 4:16-21
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Commentary:
This commentary is about love and the inspiration behind this commentary come s from 1 John Chapter Four.

These scriptural passages give us a yard stick by which we can measure or determine if our love is correct or Godlike.

Our love for God and for our fellowman must be manifested in our deeds and in the truth of our life. No just in word and tongue. We can declare love by our tongue but our deeds and the way we live our life speaks more about our love than just words.

Love is a core attribute of God and His son Jesus Christ. Part of our being born again is manifested not just in lip service but in our loving God. The more we love everyone including the “unloveable” the more we learn of God. Because God is love or rather God embodies the essence of Love and no one can love like Heavenly Father. You can know Him with some degree of love in you. The more you love the more like Heavenly Father you become.

The scriptures teach us that because The Lord loved us and we are supposed to follow the teaching of The Lord then we should strive to love one another. As we love one another then Gods love dwells in us even more until it becomes perfected in us.

If we love one another then our lives should demonstrate that love. We should manifest our love in the work place, in our business dealings, in sportsmanship, in any form of competition, in all aspects of our life. We should deomstrate our love by being happy for our friends or neighbors when they get something nice. Not covet.

Our love should turn us from sin and our love should turn us towards keeping Gods Commandments. If we strive to love like God then we should strive to be like Heavenly Father. How do we become like Him? Learn and keep His commandments. Read from our scriptures everyday asking ourselves as we read, how does this apply to me? How can I use these verses to better myself and become more like my Savior?

Love is the root of keeping the commandments and righteous living. If we all love more fully then the murder rate would cease to be a statistic. Violents crimes would cease. We would have no more disposition to hurt people if we love them.

Loving God, ourselves and our fellowman is the cure for everything. It puts everything into perspective.

“God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him”. The harder we strive to love our fellowman including the so-called “unloveable” then the more we will have the love of God with us. It’s not easy to love everyone but it will get easier the longer we strive to love because when we feel Gods love in us we feel more like giving that love to others.

When the day of judgement comes upon us many will shrink and fear the judgement becasue of all the wrongs committed by ourselves and for our failure to love. However if we take this counsel and commandments to love one another then we won’t fear the judgement but look forward to our reward because we know we are on Gods side.

” There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear”. With perfect love we need not fear the judgement, we need not fear what man can do to us. We need not fear the tribulations of life becasue as we demonstrate our love by the way we live our life then we know that the end will bring rich rewards in the Kingdom of  Heaven.

I love this passage of scripture so much it bears repeating “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

When it comes to love there is no leeway. There is no way to fake it. Of course we can’t fake anything with Heavenly Father watching over us. It’s easier to love family and friends who do good to you but what about loving those who cut you off when your driving or loving those who flip you off when driving or what about loving those who beat you soundly on the field of competition. What about loving your enemy? Do you pray for those who despitefully use you?

Love is not a two way street. We are commanded to love everyone with a God like love. If that love is not returned then we are to keep on loving them. We need to love those who hurt our feelings.  We need to love those who do wrong by us. We don’t nessacarily need to trust or respect certain people but we need to forgive them and love them.

In closing lets us quote from holy scripture “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also”.

Christians Should Not Be Involved In Fighting Among Themselves 1 Peter 3:8-13

1 Peter 3:8-13

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

Commentary:
It would be interesting to know how many denominations there are in all of Chriatianity. Of all the makor denominations within Chriatianity there are off shoots of those groups. I think it would be impossible to have an accurate survey done.

The point to that is inside of the world of Chriatianity there are countless denominations. Why is that so? Not everyone agrees doctrinally with everyone else.

The one thing that all Christians have in common is their belief in Jesus Christ. And I think that’s where it ends. So many denominations get hung up on the Holy Trinity doctrine or being Saved by grace regardless of good works or Sabboth Day observance. At least in the history of this blog and reader comments it seems those are some of the biggest issues that pit one denomination against another.

In my opinion based on the teachings of the chief Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 3:8-9. All the Christian denominations that contend with each other in regards to accusing one another of not being Christian are in error.

Who has the God given authority to determine who is Christian or not Christian?

Some Christian religions belive that to be saved all one has to do is to say “I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour” and from then on they are saved. So why can’t someone or some religious groups claim to be Christian without having other denominations attack them claiming they are not Christian?

Getting back to 1 Peter 3:8-9 it says we (Christians) should be of one mind having compassion on one another. We are taught to love each other as brethren and to bepitiful and courteous toward one another.

We are not to rail against each other or render evil for evil but just the opposite. We should bless one another. How can we do all that if were fighting over doctrine?

The Apostle Peter teaches us to eschew evil, do good and seek for peace. How can Christian have peace in the middle of fighting over doctrine.

One thing all Christian have in common is a belief and faith in the Messiah, even Jesus Christ.

Their are numerous Christians who take issue with the doctrines of The Roman Catholic Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those two Christian Churches have very different doctrines between the themselves.

However these two Christian Churches are a terrific example of Christianity doing good. They both individually have a tremendous track record of caring for the poor and coming to the aid in relief of victims of natural disasters. They both are doing great humanitarian aid in Africa and South America as well as other parts of the globe, where allowed,  to improve the situation of the sick and poor.

There have been numerous times where they have joined together and combined resources and areas of expertise in helping where help is needed.

Is that not what Jesus Christ did? Teach peace and help the sick and the hungry?

If all of the rest of Christianity could take their energy that is used to contend with each other and put it to use in serving their communities and helping the sick and the hungry, the tired and poor it would make a profound difference. Indeed all of Christianity would be doing what their name implies, being disciples of Jesus Christ.

Can we as Christians expect to achieve any degree of peace in our neighborshoods much less world wide peace if we are not at peace with each other? Let us respect each others differences and celebrate what binds us together, our belief in our Redeemer.

What Was Witnessed in the Heavens? Christian Hymn Song

What Was Witnessed in the Heavens?

What was witnessed in the heavens?
Why, an angel earthward bound.
Had he something with him bringing?
Yes, the gospel, joyful sound!
It was to be preached in power
On the earth, the angel said,
To all men, all tongues and nations
That upon its face are spread.

Had we not before the gospel?
Yes, it came of old to men.
Then what is this latter gospel?
‘Tis the first one come again.
This was preached by Paul and Peter
And by Jesus Christ, the Head.
This we latter Saints are preaching;
We their footsteps wish to tread.

Where so long has been the gospel?
Did it pass from earth away?
Yes, ’twas taken back to heaven
Till should dawn a brighter day.
What became of those departed,
Knowing not the gospel plan?
In the spirit world they’ll hear it;
God is just to ev’ry man.

Text: John S. Davis

Revelation 14:6
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Faith, Hope and Charity (Love) Love Will Never Fail! 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

1 Corinthians 13:1-13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Commentary:
The first first three verse convey the message that no matter what good we do, if we have not Charity we are nothing. The greek version of the word Charity is Love. No matter how good our works are, no matter what our sacrifices are, if we do not have Love all our good works profit us nothing.

Verses 4-7 discuss in deepth what Charity or Love is: It’s worth ready over and over again so we can understand the Lords version of love.

Love is a heavy word. You can love a spouse in a romantic and physical way, you can love a friend in a manner befitting friendship and so on. But the Love spoken by the Bible can be applied to all forms of love.

Verses 8-9 speak about different things failing but says Love will never fail! Love will never fail!

Verses 10 and 12 Speak about when that which is perfect shall come, which refers to the Saviors Second Coming and then verse 12 talks about now we see through the glass darkly but then face to face which means right now things may seem a little unclear but we will see Christ and be like Him if we have spent a life time going forward from now perfecting our ability to love others in the definition given in this bible passage.

Just today I lost my temper and yelled at a person at a bank. I was in the right clearly as others in the employ of that bank new but the person in charge was a real jerk. I was justified in the eyes of those around me to misbehave as I did but in the Lords eyes I was not. I was not long suffering and patient. I was easily provoked and I shouldn’t have been. This is a good example where Charity comes into play. I was not behaving as a loving disciple should behave. I must repent for the misdeed.

If we take on the challenge of patterning our life after this form of Love we will all need to repent and often at that. But the good news is that the great Mediator stands ready to facilitate our forgiveness.

The gospel is great. We are given challenging teachings and by the virtue of a loving Father in Heavenly we are also given the chance to repent. Prasie be to our Savior and our Heavenly Father.