rumitoid

I have my understanding of why this is a "new Commandment," unlike "Love your neighbor as yourself," but I am interested on your take. I will say that I see a rather stark distinction, one where the Second Great Commandment might even be a stumbling block.

I am not limiting this to Christians but it is a question which I feel only a person with an in-depth study of Scripture could answer. This thread is meant as a way to come together in faith by sharing our insights. We are each at a different point of growth. Maybe I should be on milk and you on meat. But in coming together we can all grow a bit.

rumitoid

Okay, due to the overwhelming response to this question I have decided to change things up a bit. Here is why I think it is a new commandment: we are no longer to love others as we love ourselves; we are no longer even to consider ourselves in the love of others. The gateway to this is the love of enemy. Enough said.

rumitoid

LOL!

MogenD65 Loc: Georgia

Seems to me it's not as much a new commandment as a summary of all the commandments. After all didn't Yeshua say his yoke was light.

robby1

God gave us the Law to show we were sinners. We couldn't keep the Law. God knew we couldn't so he sent Jesus to do it for us. God said the flesh profits nothing. God put us on this earth to know good and evil. Once we practiced evil God condemned us to eternal damnation. God's plan in the beginning was for man to be condemned. This was His plan for salvation. If man could have kept the law then Jesus wouldn't have to go to the cross. God subjected His creation to futility and gave man a choice to keep the whole law or perish. We know what happened. This is God's plan for redemption. That is why God formed Adam from the dust of the earth. He knew Adam would sin and He made a way out through Jesus. God said let Us make man in Our Image. Down through the ages God has been doing that. That is why God formed Adam from the dust of the earth. God breathed the breath of life into Adam. Adam was not created in the Image of God He was formed from the dust of the earth. When Adam sinned against God, God cursed the earth. Since Adam was formed from the dust of the earth Adam was cursed too. After Cain and Abel Eve gave birth to Seth Who was in the image of Adam. That is the point where God started to make man in God's Image.

MogenD65 Loc: Georgia

I really don't think that was his question, but thanks for the sunday school lesson anyways. :|

robby1

Your welcome.

robby1

I don't think that God was talking about the people of this world. He said come out from among them. We as Christians in this world when we are saved do a 180 degree turn. We start to get a desire to read the Bible and go to church. The more we read and the more we learn about god and the more we understand, we begin to see a difference in so called Christians. I believe these are the people that God wants us to get away from.

alabuck Loc: Tennessee

[quote=robby1]I don't think that God was talking about the people of this world. He said come out from among them. We as Christians in this world when we are saved do a 180 degree turn. We start to get a desire to read the Bible and go to church. The more we read and the more we learn about god and the more we understand, we begin to see a difference in so called Christians. I believe these are the people that God wants us to get away from.[/quote
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God wants us to get AWAY from "these people?" How do you draw that conclusion? Have you read, "The Great Commission?" It's Matthew 28:16-20.

"16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

I don't read anything in it that says to avoid those of the world.

Just saying....

robby1

[quote=alabuck][quote=robby1]I don't think that God was talking about the people of this world. He said come out from among them. We as Christians in this world when we are saved do a 180 degree turn. We start to get a desire to read the Bible and go to church. The more we read and the more we learn about god and the more we understand, we begin to see a difference in so called Christians. I believe these are the people that God wants us to get away from.[/quote
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God wants us to get AWAY from "these people?" How do you draw that conclusion? Have you read, "The Great Commission?" It's Matthew 28:16-20.

"16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

I don't read anything in it that says to avoid those of the world.

Just saying....[/quote]
Read rev 13 vs 8 rev 17 vs8 rev 20 vs14-15.

alabuck Loc: Tennessee

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They say that those whose names aren't in the Book of Life won't be saved. Okay. I get that. But, none of your passages in Revelation says NOT to go into the world and preach the gospel. You need not fear being next to an unbeliever should the Rapture occur. God's aim is rather good.

robby1

I totally agree. There is a parable about the sower. You spread the seed. Paul said He plants Apollos waters and God Gives the increase.

alabuck Loc: Tennessee

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If then, why, as you stated earlier, try to stay away from unbelievers? If we live a Christian life and demonstrate our love for the non-believers, the Spirit of God may move in their hearts and bring them to a new understanding of Christ. It may even bring them to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.

I'm not saying that we preach at them or beat them over their heads with a Bible. We interact with them. We help them out when they need it. We show them respect and courtesy. We treat them as we'd like to be treated. This gives to show that God is using us. It's part of His plan for us to do so.

robby1

If they are in the Lambs Book of life before the foundation of the world then yes God may use us to spread the word. The only problem with that is God already saved us before we were ever conceived in the womb. The Lambs book of life is a last will and testament.

robby1

When it came time for God to save me, He interacted with me just the way He interacted with Paul on the road to Damascus. God never gave us the responsibility to save anybody. Just be a Christian and act the part and God will do the rest.