He had all power and honor and glory and yet came to this world as a servant. He chose not to come as a king or religious leader or rich but as a lowly common man.

He didn't "live the good life now" or tell people "they were someone special" to damn their souls through deception. He chose to tell the truth even when it hurt others. While some were hurt and hated there were some who heard and repented.

He was often hot and cold and wet and had no home of His own. He stayed with friends and many nights slept in the wilderness, on a mountain or in a garden.

He was hated by all who heard Him when He told them that the Kingdom of God made no provision for the lusts of the flesh or the riches of this world. When He called hypocrites what they were and warned others of the wrath to come they wanted to kill Him.

He could not deny Himself. When He told people who He really was they wanted to stone Him. When He said He came from Heaven they only saw with the natural mind and eye and would not believe. Is this not Joseph's son?

He loved man enough to forsake all while loving God enough to declare the truth. He loved man enough to warn him of his wicked ways and tell him of the eternal torment to come. He loved God enough to make a whip and drive the ungodly out of the temple.

He loved God enough to know that when He cleared the ungodly out of the temple it would enrage them enough to kill Him. He loved man enough to accept the wrath of man and the wrath of God and be the only sacrifice acceptable in the eyes of God for the sins of man.

They spit in His face and pulled out His beard. They blindfolded Him and smote Him repeatedly saying " if thou art the Christ prophesy who smote thee". His visage was marred so bad nobody would even recognize Him.

He was bound as a common criminal although He was without spot or sin. He was taken to those who thought they knew the law but in reality knew nothing. Their judgment against Him only damned themselves.

He was brought before Pilate who found no wrong in Him. Still they wanted Him put to death. Pilate wanted to release Him and sent Him to Herod who found no cause of death in Him. Pilate and Herod were made friends again that day just as those professing Jesus Christ as their savior become friends with satan when they re-crucify the Lord not loving Him or caring what He thinks about how they live or what they believe.

He was scourged with a measure that allowed for the wrath of God to be poured out on this innocent man's frame. Most died before it was over.

They forced Him to carry His cross to Calvary. He was assisted by a man named Simon who showed us that we as Christians should take up our cross rather than take the easy way out of everything or do as we please.

He was nailed to the cross and suspended between Heaven and earth. He was seen as cursed and took on Himself all our curses so that we might live.

Jesus Christ was the perfect example of unconditional love. In His short life not quite half the appointed number of days allotted man He was hated, owned nothing and yet only repaid good for the evil bestowed upon Him.

As Christians we should see this and take note. Most of us probably have more than He had. Most of us may feel like we are wronged or that we weren't treated fairly in life but He went through worse.

Because He is the Son of God is no cop out. The Spirit He sent back can keep and guide all who call upon the name of the Lord regardless of their financial or health issues. It can lead all who trust the Lord into all truth and turn them from the foolishness of mainstream and the multitude of that which calls it's self Christianity while only serving the flesh and self.

He went through worse. Every day of His short life He knew the fate awaiting Him. He walked and shared the gospel with the very one that would betray Him. He loved them all unto the end.

Most of His servants like Job, who lost everything and satan attacked his body had more pain and despair than most Christians today. Paul and those listed in the book of Hebrews were beaten, stoned and wandered in sheep and goat skins to be ripped apart by beasts.

Christians today in the middle east are imprisoned, homes taken and murdered. Many places have a bounty on a minister for those who would kill them. Many are tortured.

Still here in the United States most wouldn't follow the Lord unless everything went the way they want it.

That is conditional love.

Most wouldn't last overseas. The multitudes have been brainwashed and deceived by the god of this world and his ministers to worship this world and it's lusts and pleasures. If it goes against what they want it's called hate. If it goes against what they want and it is the truth it is love.

Just something to think about. The Lord may return sooner than most think. Best be ready
Forever is too long to be wrong.

Amen Del and welcome back

Hey Del.  I also say Amen, and good to hear from you.  I don't post much because people just want to get into theological arguements and dismiss the truth that you have written.  The simple truth of God's love and plan for salvation.  God Bless you for still reaching out. 

He never promised us a rose garden. He did not promise us fame or fortune. He did tell us if we wanted to be His disciples we MUST pick up our cross and follow Him. He told us we must die to ourselves. He did tell us to count the cost and He implied in no uncertain terms that it could cost us everything in this life.

Perhaps it is that those in other countries can do no else but to depend on Him for all things. Perhaps they have reached the point where pride is no longer a stumbling block. In His sight true humility is an asset.

Perhaps in this country the "church" has become weak,shallow,and to much in tune to the things of this life. Perhaps its because it's a form of godliness but there is no power because there is a disconnect between the people and the One who gives us the power to overcome sin. We are rarely taught to seek the kingdom of heaven,and His righteousness. To seek Him out because HE is God and not for what He can do for us.

Perhaps we are seeking a Santa who will give us everything we want,maybe a buddy that won't point out what needs to be corrected because everyone else is doing it,or maybe we think He will squash us for every little dot out of place.

Perhaps if we realized that He is the one true God,who is Holy,Righteous,Pure and without defect,who created all things by His very voice,who allowed His son to take our place and what it cost Jesus to do so.

Perhaps if we understood that the proof is in how we live. If we are truly His we will act it. If we love Him we will obey Him. The two go hand in hand.

just an advant Gard noble Rabbi; his teachings misunderstood were slowly evolved into an intolerant religion, and himself elevated to Deity.

Quote from: SarahM777 on May 13, 2012, 04:05:50 PM
He never promised us a rose garden. He did not promise us fame or fortune. He did tell us if we wanted to be His disciples we MUST pick up our cross and follow Him. He told us we must die to ourselves. He did tell us to count the cost and He implied in no uncertain terms that it could cost us everything in this life.

Perhaps it is that those in other countries can do no else but to depend on Him for all things. Perhaps they have reached the point where pride is no longer a stumbling block. In His sight true humility is an asset.

Perhaps in this country the "church" has become weak,shallow,and to much in tune to the things of this life. Perhaps its because it's a form of godliness but there is no power because there is a disconnect between the people and the One who gives us the power to overcome sin. We are rarely taught to seek the kingdom of heaven,and His righteousness. To seek Him out because HE is God and not for what He can do for us.

Perhaps we are seeking a Santa who will give us everything we want,maybe a buddy that won't point out what needs to be corrected because everyone else is doing it,or maybe we think He will squash us for every little dot out of place.

Perhaps if we realized that He is the one true God,who is Holy,Righteous,Pure and without defect,who created all things by His very voice,who allowed His son to take our place and what it cost Jesus to do so.

Perhaps if we understood that the proof is in how we live. If we are truly His we will act it. If we love Him we will obey Him. The two go hand in hand.

Amen, Sarah

Quote from: mowdan6 on May 03, 2012, 11:59:23 AM
Hey Del.  I also say Amen, and good to hear from you.  I don't post much because people just want to get into theological arguements and dismiss the truth that you have written.  The simple truth of God's love and plan for salvation.  God Bless you for still reaching out.

why would someone get into a theological argument about love?

God equates love of Him with obedience. The two go hand in hand and if we do not understand this it will lead us down a path we do not want to go.

Daniel 9:4
I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

Matthew 22:34-40

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Mark 12:29-35

29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] There is no commandment greater than these."

32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

Luke 11:41-43
New International Version (NIV)
41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

42 "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

John 13:33-35

33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 14:20-22

20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."

John 14:24

24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

John 15:8-10
8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.

Jesus Himself puts love and obiedence together. They go hand in hand.

Going on John also wrote that if we do not love those around us it shows that we do not have the love of God in us which is also in agreement with what Jesus says.

1 John 4:7-21

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 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. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Love is a mark of the Holy Spirit in our lives

Galatians 5:19-23

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.


There is so much more about what God's love is about and how it is to work in our lives.

Paul then goes on to define that type of love

1 Corinthians 13

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

That is the Biblical type of Agape love we are to have one for another.