How to live a good moral christian life

[willieH]

willieH:  :sigh:

GOD is not about making you afraid... MEN, in their CARNAL WRECKLESSNESS and Corrupted THEOLOGY... seek to instill FEAR in their readers...

We find out later WillieH was talking about me. Where did I say God is making you afraid? I didn't, where do I instill fear in their readers? I didn't.

Oh but you do!  Not just in posting in this thread... but in YOUR observation and judgment of others (of whom you know NOTHING about)...

You continuously perpetuate PERSONAL "REPONSIBILITY" for SIN... which was LONG AGO, ...NEUTRALIZED by GRACE... BEFORE a man was even existently IN NEED of that GRACE... (from the FOUNDATION of the WORLD)...

Nowhere is it stated WE are RESPONSIBLE... only ACCOUNTABLE... (Rom 14:12)...

CHRIST counsels us to clothe ourselves with Him, that our SHAME [account] might be covered in the Judgment (Rev 3:18)... otherwise our INCORRUPT DEEDS and their subsequent NAKEDNESS, shall appear before the THRONE of JUDGMENT... to tearful dismay...

The WORK of GRACE is NOT VENGENCE, rather, it is to RECLAIM that which has gone astray and become found in the disarray of loss... read the parables...  :dontknow:

In TRAFFIC court, someone is held in ACCOUNT [us] for a given offense... (facing the music), but then, if they are without the funds to pay the fines due... and another [CHRIST] steps forward and PAYS...  The REPONSIBILITY for PAYMENT is thereby RELIEVED...   They still found their SHAME [accountability] before the court... but the PAYMENT for the OFFENSE [responsibility] was found done by ANOTHER...

CHRIST took ALL SIN to His Cross... yet sotw... you would have its RESPONSIBILITY continue, and furthermore... its PAYMENT to be MADE by those who "KNOW NOT what THEY DO"...  :thumbdown:

Paul amply noted the principle and POWER of GRACE... but sotw... you would enact your own judgments as to WHO is in the body of CHRIST, and then proceed to determine their lives concerning the unity of that Body... without KNOWING those lives (which are IN the hands of CHRIST, the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our FAITH)...  :thumbdown:

Rom  5:20  Moreover the LAW [which indicates SIN] entered, that the OFFENSE [SIN] might abound.  But WHERE SIN ABOUNDED... GRACE did MUCH MORE ABOUND...

This Scripture is NOTING that the TEMPORAL CONDEMNATION of SIN [by the LAW] in any amount or degree, as taught by SOME [sotw], is that men are somehow RESPONSIBLE for that SIN, ...which in TRUTH, is found DWARFED by presence and ETERNAL POWER of GRACE...

And Scripture also notes, that GOD does the DRAWING of men into that GRACE which DRAWING, brings them into TRUTH, and PROVIDES the WAY, thereby gaining the LIFE, provided IN and BY the sacrifice of His Son who AUTHORS and FINISHES the FAITH to BELIEVE that TRUTH:

Heb 12:2  ...looking unto JESUS, the AUTHOR [alpha] and FINISHER [omega] of FAITH...

Once the FAITH is "AUTHORED" it is processed unto it's COMPLETION... not by the one in which it was AUTHORED, but by the ONE which AUTHORED it... as HE "FINISHES" that FAITH according to HIS WILL, which is the only WILL that is INCORRUPT... dealing with the INCORRUPTIONS inherent in the lives of the one PROCESSED... unto its COMPLETION which results in INCORRUPTION (1 Cor 15:42-44 / 52-58) NOT due to US, but DUE to HIM... As follows:

John 14:6  ...I am the way the TRUTH and the life, ...NO MAN comes unto the Father, BUT ...BY... ME...

CHRIST is the only "route" to Heaven... but MAN cannot INITIATE that route:

John 6:44  ...no MAN CAN come unto Me, except the Father which hath sent Me, DRAW him...

The FATHER [not sotw], DRAWS the one CORRUPT, and IN that DRAWING, brings them into INCORRUPT understandings ACCORDING to HIS WILL and WORK... (Eph 1:11)... bringing ALL unto Himself in due time:

1 Tim 2:6 ...who gave Himself a RANSOM for ALL, to be TESTIFIED, in DUE TIME...

John 12:32  ...and If I be lifted up from the earth, will DRAW ALL MEN, unto Me.

You internally observe that the WORK of righteousness as done... in and by YOU... and thereby PRETEND to observe others [without knowledge of them] as in unrighteousness, having forgotten that YOUR WORK is filthy... and FORGET [if you ever knew] that only WORK done BY CHRIST, ...in you... has any redeeming value...

To include the misobservations of YOURSELF and, the misobservations of OTHERS yet in the DRAWING processes...  Calling them as in DISUNITY of the BODY... as if YOUR (unrighteous) postion is worthy of making that judgment... :pitiful:

peacE...
willieH      :cloud9:

[Molly]

14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast give great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme....

--2 Sam 12


What does this mean?

[Craig]

14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast give great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme....

--2 Sam 12


What does this mean?

It means by your own deeds, you have caused many to stumble and reject Him based on false pretenses that your actions caused..

Romans 2:24 For "THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU," just as it is written.

Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

[Molly]

14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast give great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme....

--2 Sam 12


What does this mean?

It means by your own deeds, you have caused many to stumble and reject Him.

Romans 2:24 For "THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU," just as it is written.

Why are they called enemies of the LORD and how are they blaspheming?

The name of God is defamed because of you?  wow that's heady stuff.. :mshock:

[Craig]

1 Corinthians 5:1-5
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

[Paul Hazelwood]

well, I'm going to jump in here on the division of things and let the chips fall where they may.

If you start back through the thread Craig was posting his thoughts as we all ought to be allowed to do here, he singled out no one, he might have made some remarks about how some people look at things, but that is not wrong because sometimes it is good to see a perspective that might fit us even if our name is not mentioned.  


I think we should have the liberty to indirectly address a post so that we are not directly condemning someone personally.

Nathans first responce singled Craig out.

Really?  "That's" how you judge between a mature Christian and an infant?

This person we're responding to has been badly scarred by the things of her mind and the best you can do is stomp all over someone elses attempt to comfort her?

Willie also singled Craig out with this comment.

"A grand collection of self originated LEGALISM..."

Go read the first page of the thread and see if I am wrong, I will stand corrected if it is shown that Craig named names and directly created a divisive post.    I am not saying anyone is perfect,  but the first page is fairly easy to see where it originated this time.

[willieH]

willieH: Hi  :icon_king:-s  &  :icon_queen: -s

Want some PERSONAL comments?

Well, ...here is some PERSONAL commentary... found in THIS THREAD, in replies #18 & #19:

I got nothing against you Craig...  Learn to LOVE a little bro...  It really blows my mind that after 4 years of our bickering that you do not see that GOD has put us together to LOVE one another...  :HeartThrob:

When is it going to happen?  :dunno:

I'm willing, ...are you?  :friendstu:

To which I received the immediate (...LOVING???) comment from Craig:

Whatever floats your boat WillieH.

:omg:

If my wife and I were in a disagreement which causes a temporary separation, In which She said: "dont you realize that GOD has put us together to LOVE one another, ...I'm willing, are you?"

And I immediately replied with:  "whatever floats your boat"...

Do-ya think that she's gonna run up and give me a hug?  :faint:

If you think so, ...you are definitely  :wacko2:

Is my response to her a LOVING comment?  :mshrug:  Is it POSTIVE in any way?  :dunno:  Is it one with the potential END the disagreement/separation?  :dunno2:

YOU do the MATH!  :dontknow:  And THEN get back to me... about disunity...  :sigh:

PS... sorry DeeDee and all others, for this sidetracking... and for my portion of the current dissensions  between Craig and I (4 yrs and counting), that you have suffered through in this thread...  :blush:

peacE...
willieH    :handshake:

[jabcat]

Brother Willi, you've got a lot to offer.  Thanks for your insightful posts.  Maybe there's another topic you can help on.  God's blessing, James.

[willieH]

Brother Willi, you've got a lot to offer.  Thanks for your insightful posts.  Maybe there's another topic you can help on.  God's blessing, James.

Thanks bro... for your uplifting encouragements...  :friendstu:

peacE...
willieH    :handshake:

[jabcat]

Hey Nathan, you said you're "done"...don't go anywhere, except at the appropriate point and time, away from fruitless struggles .  Speak the truth and then move on to the next glory.  I'm benefiting from your posts.  God is using you brother. 


Also Paul, I liked your post about the abortion issue...as much as it goes against my "moral" fiber, I agree, we should not be condemning, but speak the truth in love..showing the light and the way [Jesus] out of the darkness...

God bring that about in my being...

God's blessing, James.

[Craig]

Knowing what is wrong, is not condemnation. Who ever taught people that definition is mentally unstable and unlearned and in need of serious therapy because they have a victim's mentality and a sin consciousness where all they can see is sin. Jesus did not lie when He said, it is not what goes into a man that makes him unclean but what comes out. From the abundance of the heart, the mouth always speaks. People who see skeletons around every corner, suffer from skeletons; people who see condemnation around every instruction, suffer from condemnation.  There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, and yet there is still judgment concerning right and wrong; there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus but we are still judged according to our deeds and our words; we may be found wrong, but He is merciful and forgiving and able to bring correction by His power and His might; we may be doing wrong, but He has given us grace sufficient in our time of need and a mind and spirit of repentance so that we may continue to do what is good.

It is not good and moral to abort children, but those who abort their children suffer the consequences of their actions and already received their reward in full. It is not good and moral to fornicate and commit adultery with one another, but those who fornicate and commit adultery already received their reward in full. It is not good to horde your wealth while your neighbor starves, but those who horde their wealth already received their reward in full.

In everything I have ever wrote, there has NEVER been condemnation. How one feels when presented with the knowledge of good and evil, is irrelevant because we are wretched men but without excuse to continue in wickedness. Most of all condemnation in this thread is done by self and not others, and sadly this very fact is what why we see this problem play out every day, month and year. The feeling of fear and condemnation is not evidence of fear or condemnation except in the mind and heart of the one who feels it. In other words, it is not an external battle, but an inner one that you must take up with God and not against your brother.

As others have already stated in this thread, there is nothing in this thread which I have done in order to receive such treatment and if you find a point, they stated, along with myself, we will admit wrong and repent. Yet, none have done so, through circular reasoning they have taken my replies to their initiated insults out of context and have turned what was meant for good into evil.

To my accusers, I am without condemnation and free from any guilt or wrong committed for I have done nothing wrong in sharing the knowledge of the Truth. My love is never changing, nor do I hate anyone and I do forgive all you for your constant insults and accusations. You have no power over me, and I will not be swayed by any opinion which labels me falsely. Perhaps one day, instead of relying on their own understanding, they will recognize the voice of the Lord in what it means to take the timber out of their eye, before taking the tick out of their neighbor.

Love does not rejoice in evil, and God has warned us all to warned our brothers of the error of their way. The motivation behind any warning in Scripture is not fear, but love because we all reap what we sow. If we can tear up the ground destroying the old seed and planting a new seed through our repentance, our change in mind, we will can prevent a harvest worthy only of destruction and fire, near cursed and partake in a bountiful harvest with the Lord.

For four years, people on this forum have claimed to know me but they do not. They know not one thing about me, just as Judas knew nothing of Jesus who chose him. They boast in their love, and point the finger of disunity and dissension not realizing that finger is what started it in the first place.

If you want to know what makes a good moral Christian life, one must know what is good and moral.

[DeeDee]

If you want to know what makes a good moral Christian life, one must know what is good and moral.

Thats the answer to my question.

Question: "How does one live a good moral christian life?"

Answer: "Knowing what is good and moral and living according to that is what makes a good moral christian.

:thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:

[willieH]

willieH: Hey Ya'll...  :grouppray:

John 13:35 ...by THIS shall ALL MEN KNOW that ye are MY DISCIPLES:  ...if YE have LOVE... one to another...

Simple as that...  :boogie:  Complicating GRACE with other than LOVE, is to distort GRACE and its IMAGE presented by those claiming its existence within...

By LOVING one another do we display that we are the DISCIPLES of CHRIST...  NOT by demanding to be correct... or determining others INCORRECT...

Some need to TRY this METHOD [LOVE] on for size, instead of dissertations in their own words as to "how to live a good moral Christian life"...

LOVE one another in JESUS, showing ALL observers that LOVE is that which is AT WORK in you... then that LOVE, shall notify others that you are amongst His DISCIPLES...  :dontknow:

The ONLY reward to seek in this life, is that the LORD JESUS CHRIST is made known to others... which is reward enough...

Promote His LOVE, not judgment... His LOVE, not vengence... His LOVE, not fear... His LOVE, by deferring any attention and credit, from yourself, to HIM...  :declare:

Thereby, ...ENLARGING His GRACE...  :angel5:  ...whilst diminishing self...  :HeartThrob:

peacE...
willieH    :handshake:

[willieH]

Hey Nathan, you said you're "done"...don't go anywhere, except at the appropriate point and time, away from fruitless struggles .  Speak the truth and then move on to the next glory.  I'm benefiting from your posts.  God is using you brother. 


Also Paul, I liked your post about the abortion issue...as much as it goes against my "moral" fiber, I agree, we should not be condemning, but speak the truth in love..showing the light and the way [Jesus] out of the darkness...

God bring that about in my being...

God's blessing, James.

:goodpost:  I strongly agree with this James!  :bgdance:

You are a beloved brother, Nathan... stick with us...  :cloud9:

peacE...
willieH    :handshake:

[Craig]

If you want to know what makes a good moral Christian life, one must know what is good and moral.

Thats the answer to my question.

Question: "How does one live a good moral christian life?"

Answer: "Knowing what is good and moral and living according to that is what makes a good moral christian.

:thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:

Exactly! And for reasons unknown yet apparently present, for some the knowledge of what is good and moral seems to be a great controversy because there is a false presumption, a false stigma, which states: if one does not live a good and moral life and does not live accordingly, that they are somehow condemned and such standards were fear based and not for the sake of the good we were created to do in the first place. Such slippery slope reasoning is a dangerous precedent because it is this fear of condemnation that keeps them in bondage to fear and condemnation. It is such a sad irony.

So indeed, do what is good and moral and live accordingly, that is what makes a good moral Christian.

[Molly]

If you want to know what makes a good moral Christian life, one must know what is good and moral.

Thats the answer to my question.

Question: "How does one live a good moral christian life?"

Answer: "Knowing what is good and moral and living according to that is what makes a good moral christian.

:thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:

Yes, easier said than done, as history has demonstrated.

Not that it should be that complicated--but somehow it turns out that way.

[Molly]

By LOVING one another do we display that we are the DISCIPLES of CHRIST...  NOT by demanding to be correct... or determining others INCORRECT...

I don't know, Willie.  Christians don't seem to do very well in the love department.  Germany was one of the great Christian nations of the world, but Hitler and his handlers, having started a war, was responsible for the deaths of about 55 million soldiers and civilians worldwide, give or take a few tens of millions.

I would much rather people get it through their heads what is right and wrong in an absolute sense, than to depend on such love from humans.

[willieH]

willieH: Hi Molly... :hithere:

By LOVING one another do we display that we are the DISCIPLES of CHRIST...  NOT by demanding to be correct... or determining others INCORRECT...

I don't know, Willie.  Christians don't seem to do very well in the love department.

I agree Molly... which is why victory is found in FEW... not MANY...

Germany was one of the great Christian nations of the world, but Hitler and his handlers, having started a war, was responsible for the deaths of about 55 million soldiers and civilians worldwide, give or take a few tens of millions.

First... If a MILITARY leader or President begins an atrocious war, are the people under them [common non-military citizens] held responsible for their deeds?  If Obama takes the reigns and convinces the leadership of America to attack another nation... are you and I responsible?  Most, if not ALL nations do not have a "say-so" in military matters at ALL...

Secondly... CHRIST's ...DISCIPLES... are not His DISCIPLES because they CLAIM to be... they are His DISCIPLES when they DO as DID HE... which is LOVE God with ALL His heart... and LOVING His neighbor, ...AS... Himself... which was displayed quite plainly in His life... showing YHVH to be GOD of His heart... for GOD is LOVE...

"Christians" are MANY... and the Lord said THIS about MANY:

Matt 7:22-23 ...MANY... will say to ME in that day:  Lord, Lord [THESE are herein noting Him LORD=believers] have WE [claiming the following as THEIR OWN DOINGS] not PROPHESIED in Thy Name?  and in Thy Name have CAST OUT DEVILS? and in Thy Name DONE many WONDERFUL WORKS? ...and then will I profess unto THEM, I never KNEW you; depart from Me, ye that WORK iniquity!

The "iniquity" they commited wasn't the Prophesying or the Casting Out of Devils, or the Wonderful Works... it was THEM claiming THEY DID these things... instead of giving the GLORY to LOVE, which ...IS... GOD...  Had they LOVED GOD with ALL their Heart, and their neighbor as themselves, they would have been found in HUMILITY instead of BRAGGING to GOD of themselves and all the "DID"...

I would much rather people get it through their heads what is right and wrong in an absolute sense, than to depend on such love from humans.

It is not up to YOU or I to "get it through their heads" of right and wrong... that is the WORK of GOD, in us...  If we are submitted to LOVING with ALL that Heart, both GOD first, then our NEIGHBOR, ...then we are become a TOOL in His hand to impart Himself TO them...  the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE...  and WE remain NOTHING but a TOOL...

When one goes out to the garage and builds a cabinet of Wood... the Hammer, saw, nails, garage, and wood don't get the CREDIT for BUILDING the cabinet...  :dontknow:  They were NECESSARY in the building, but the BUILDER gets the credit... and though they were all part, they are NOT to be credited for anything concerning the creation of the cabinet... :mnah:

Ps 127:1  ...except YHVH build the house, they labour in VAIN, that build it... except YHVH keep the city, the watchmen waketh in VAIN...

Unless LOVE is found the SUPREME commander of the Heart... the teachings which pour forth from it, are IN VAIN...   Which is why we must all strive in our lives to DIE DAILY to ourselves, that LOVE [GOD] may bring forth Himself, from our hearts to others...  :HeartThrob:

peacE...
willieH    :handshake:

[Molly]

First... If a MILITARY leader or President begins an atrocious war, are the people under them [common non-military citizens] held responsible for their deeds?  If Obama takes the reigns and convinces the leadership of America to attack another nation... are you and I responsible?

Yes of course we are, especially under our form of government which is supposed to be a Constitutional Republic.   And, if we are too silly and empty headed to hold ourselves responsible, the world will--as they did Germany and the German citizens.  In like manner, we are responsible for our own actions and every idle word.


I just watched a full length movie on youtube about Sophie Scholl.   She was a 21 year old college student in 1942 Nazi Germany who, along with her brother and other young friends,  started secretly printing pamphlets against the reign of the Fuhrer.  They called themselves the 'white rose.'   They were all devout Christians.  In 1943, they were captured by the Gestapo, tried in the People's Court (sounds Communistic, doesn't it?), and sentenced to death for thought crimes (sound familiar?) and hate speech (sound familiar?) and guillotined that same afternoon.   All this for writing a few words on a piece of paper.  Bet you didn't know that the Nazis guillotined 20,000 German dissenters, did you?  Our public education, and even our better colleges, hide such atrocities from all but satan's  initiates, who study real history in the hopes of repeating it.

As for love, where was it?  These young people were surrounded by Germans who clearly felt guilty about what was going on, who somewhere in the dark recesses of their sick minds could feel a twinge of compassion and guilt for what they were doing to their own children, but who had long since compromised their consciences and the Law of God out of existence.

Love is an action, not a feeling.  And, it is an action based on the knowledge and understanding of God's Law.

"We are your bad conscience.  The White Rose will not leave you in peace."

[Craig]

Genesis 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Proverbs 20:11
Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.

Proverbs 21:2-,7-8
2 All a man's ways seem right to him,
      but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 To do what is right and just
      is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
      the lamp of the wicked, are sin!
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
      for they refuse to do what is right.
8 The way of the guilty is devious,
      but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

Acts 10:34-36
34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Acts 13:9-11
9Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."

Romans 2:5-6
5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God "will give to each person according to what he has done."

Romans 12:16-18
16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Romans 13:1-7
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

2 Corinthians 8:20-22
20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

2 Corinthians 13:7
Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed.

Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

2 Thessalonians 3:13
And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

James 2:8
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.

2 Peter 2:13-15
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

1 John 2:29
If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

1 John 3:7
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

1 John 3:10
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

1 John 3:12
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.

[Craig]

Love is an action, not a feeling.  And, it is an action based on the knowledge and understanding of God's Law.

When more people recognize this wisdom, the better we will be as a society.

[Nathan]

Jeeze, the Pharisees were the most educated on God's law and look how that turned out.

Love doesn't come from man, it comes "through" man "from" God.  Love is a choice.  It's not an emotion.  So many relationships between husbands and wives fall apart because someone convinced them love is an emotion and when they find they don't "feel" love for the other, they assume the relationship is over.

God is not the essence of love, he "is" love.  And as his nature is in us, so is his love.  I'm confused as to how one can illuminate God's love on another and yet the recipient responds with the feeling that it's condescension, piousness, or worse.  Perhaps the view of  love for another isn't as accurate as we would like to think?

I may be convinced I'm doing or speaking out of love, but for me, it's not about what "I" think, the proof is in the puddin'.  True love, for me, is not offensive to any involved.  The recipients may not like what is said or done by a person, but when it's truly done in love, that should still be seen as such . . yes?

[Paul Hazelwood]

Nathan, I am wondering if the statement  "Love is an action based on the understanding of Gods law"  is really a comparison to the pharasees.

The pharasees seemed to see their righteousness was from adherance to the mosaic laws rather than really understanding them.

To me, when I hear Jesus say that I can be a murderer without physically ending someones life then I want to deny just how many people I may have indeed hurt or murdered.

I must seek to not want to hurt someone in my thoughts which is an action based on that understanding.

Just my observation, or maybe if I was to make that statement, thats what I would mean.

[Nathan]

For me, Jesus made it clear that there are really only two laws that we really need to concentrait on . . .Love the Father . . .and love your neighbor.  That's what the law of God is to me.

I always wince when "knowledge" get's more attention than relationship.  I think it's why my stuff tends to rub people the wrong way in many of my posts.  I'm always and forever attempting to divert the attention of the subject from what I "know" to what I can "see".  Because relying on what I know is so much more limited than what I can see.  I see much I don't understand . . and that's not a bad thing.  It's the same as the law "you reap what you so".  Seeing is more liberating than knowing. 

Knowing comes, but even then it's limited.  I truly appreciate Proverbs that tells me that I should not rely on my own understanding.  I appreciate even more that it was Peter who God chose to reveal the Messianic nature of Jesus because Peter was just a fisherman . .he was not an educated scholar.  I can very much relate to that as well.

So when a comment is made about my knowledge of God producing love in others comes up, it sounds good, but I know how my mind works and it can't be trusted.  Even in church, in the middle of worship or sermons or what have you . .thoughts come in the mind that have absolutely nothing to do with God or his glory.  My knowledge of God is as vast as my mind allows . . .which is not very much.  So my brand of love may or may not be the same pure love that comes from the Father . . .through the Spirit . .not knowledge . . . that's all I was trying to get at.

[rosered]

Love doesn't come from man, it comes "through" man "from" God.

  Nate you just say it the right way !! yes God is Love , 

the whole source of Love /action  those deeds/works   is  GOD comin through........1Jo 4:8 He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. 

  One of the most difficult things to describe  in Words is what love is ...
  we know its patient and kind ,  and the unmerited favor  is undeserving 
when you look that up to see it ....
  or how else can you love your enemies or even pray for them without  being  hypocritical ?