What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” It seems so symmetrical that the Apostle John expounds the third ingredient of a genuine believer's evidence of a changed life in 1John 3:16. He mounts up this evidence so one can guard themselves against “pretend” believers that attract like moths to a light. “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous” (3:7) There is no greater deceiver than one who deceives themselves and so the Apostle carefully mounts this evidence to point inward as well as outward. “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother” (3:10). Ergo the genuine love for others is herein contrasted against Cain, against murder in general, and against closed up bowels of compassion. Cain hated Able because unrighteousness hates righteousness. The first born human became the first first-degree murderer illustrating the point. Just look at Washington DC, Albany, churches, families and 1John 3:13. And how serious is murder? “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” (3:15). In his Master's teaching murder was not an extreme, but a common carnal attitude (Matt 5:21-26). Genuine love will not stand guilty of murder nor be tolerant of such hatred, but neither will it withhold good when a brother is in need (3:17). Is your “Christian” friend's love genuine? Is yours? Do not be deceived, “And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him” (3:19). Authentic believers have genuine love.
An Essay for week #15 Apr 15, 2018
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs180415.mp3
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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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