Category: Brotherly love

The Fellowship Of Believers

Naked Bible 39: Acts 2:42-47

This passage has been used by scholars and lay folks alike to justify socialism, communism, or some sort of politically utopian society that has the veneer of socialism or communism. This isn’t the case at all. Jesus couldn’t have been clearer when he said, prior to the events of Acts 2, “my kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). The kingdom of God is not to be identified with any political or socio-economic system that guides statecraft. The concerns of God’s kingdom are other than those of an earthly state. Consequently, Acts 2:42-47 cannot legitimately be used to tell the state how to conduct its business. Such is not the concern of God’s kingdom. The political systems of men are to be evaluated by Biblical theology’s opposition to the coercive abuse of power and the sanctity and dignity of human life reflected in biblical teaching and divine law.

Love

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:7-12)

Dedicate Your Lives to God

Romans 12

1 I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship.

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but continuously be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God’s will is—what is proper, pleasing, and perfect.

3 For by the grace given to me I ask every one of you not to think of yourself more highly than you should think, rather to think of yourself with sober judgment on the measure of faith that God has assigned each of you.

4 For we have many parts in one body, but these parts do not all have the same function.

5 In the same way, even though we are many people, we are one body in the Messiah and individual parts connected to each other.

6 We have different gifts based on the grace that was given to us. So if your gift is prophecy, use your gift in proportion to your faith.

7 If your gift is serving, devote yourself to serving others. If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching others.

8 If it is encouraging, devote yourself to encouraging others. If it is sharing, share generously. If it is leading, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping, help cheerfully.

9 Your love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

10 Be devoted to each other with mutual affection. Excel at showing respect for each other.

11 Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord.

12 Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer.

13 Supply the needs of the saints. Extend hospitality to strangers.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Keep on blessing them, and never curse them.

15 Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Cry with those who are crying.

16 Live in harmony with each other. Do not be arrogant, but associate with humble people. Do not think that you are wiser than you really are.

17 Do not pay anyone back evil for evil, but focus your thoughts on what is right in the sight of all people.

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live in peace with all people.

19 Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will pay them back, declares the Lord.”

20 But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him. For if he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will pile burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Forgiveness from the heart

Matthew 18 KJV

 21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

 22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

 23  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

 24  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

 25  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

 26  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

 27  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

 28  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

 29  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

 30  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

 31  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

 32  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

 33  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

 34  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

 35  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.