Bible Study Ignored Jesus' teachings

[gila]

1. Salt and light
Matthew 5:13-16 (New International Version)

:
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

How are we doing in this department? I don't believe we are doing such a good job being salt and light of the world. On the contrary, we seem to be well known as hypocrites.


2. Matthew 5:17-20 (New International Version)
The fulfilment of the law

:

17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

We see that most Christian communities are washing down the Commandments because it is not cool to follow them. We are so spoiled that it is very hard to keep God's commandments.

 

[gila]

Matthew 5:43-47 (New International Version)

3. Love for Enemies

43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

This is so simple to understand but most churches are disobeying by supporting and joining the military. It is just sad.

4. perfection;

Mattew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.


Of course no one can be perfect but Jesus is expecting us to do our best, and when we commit sin we should ask for forgiveness and repent.

hitomi

 

[lamb24]

I agree with you, gila. I believe there are also more parts of Jesus teaching
and the Bible that are not being really teached. The 'easy parts' are more com-
monly teached than those where it is said about repentance or fruits of a tree.
I think we need a balanced teaching of them both.

 

[n2thelight]

gila on Tue May 20, 2008 2:47 pm

Matthew 5:43-47 (New International Version)

3. Love for Enemies



43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?



This is so simple to understand but most churches are disobeying by supporting and joining the military. It is just sad.

4. perfection;


[quote:3f804]

Mattew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.


Of course no one can be perfect but Jesus is expecting us to do our best, and when we commit sin we should ask for forgiveness and repent.

[/quote:3f804]

Gila,I would have to respectfully disagree with you,What would America be without our military?

Love your enemy does not mean you let them run over you

There are times in some decent God fearing Christian's lives that it may become necessary for them to take a life. This is a fact in the real world, and Christians can not make it disappear by burying their head under a pew, they just lose their credibility. These reasons can range from; unintentional accidents, self defense, or in the case of the police officer or good Samaritan; the defense of another's life. As well also in the Judicial System regarding a juror having to "voting" in a death penalty case (Capitol punishment). And Also a soldier who must kill to survive in a war against a hedonistic Communist Government; those Governments that would outlaw the very worship of God and Jesus. And also against the many regimes that starve, torture, and murder God's children for the most selfish of reasons. Do not think for one moment that God does not hear the cries of the oppressed and the victims in this world, without sending them deliverance!

And if God sent your Countries Armed Forces to liberate His oppressed tortured people, then why on earth would you have the soldier, whom you pay salary to, carry guilt for killing the enemy? Or if you had occasion to be in a position where you were able to save the innocent by killing the guilty, I hope you don't feel like a sinner for doing it. Do you think that God would rather let the suffering of the weak and helpless continue on, just so that you can stand before Him on judgment Day and say: "I didn't have to take the life of a malefactor?" Don't be ridiculous.

What then does God tell us of these protectors? Does he hold these protectors who've had to kill; responsible of murder, like the criminal that would rob a man and kill him? Does he hold these protectors in guilt awaiting the judgment of eternal damnation?

Of course not, and there are also many people through a moment of lapse of good judgment who find themselves in the unenviable position of being responsible for the death of a fellow Human Being by accident. All throughout history many a soldier has killed in battle. Police officers around the world are making life and death decisions daily involving the use of deadly force in the course of their duties and responsibilities. And finally, any citizen of this free country may be called to their civic duty to sit on a jury that may be hearing a death penalty case. If not properly armed with the true Word of God, any one of these "protectors of the weak and of the victims of this world" could second guess their decisions and spend years carrying false guilt within themselves, and even misguidedly believe that they are damned to Hell!

I assure you that the victims of this world who are so quickly forgotten about in favor of criminals rights; and the good Bible loving Christian peoples who are over shadowed by the misinformed pacifist Clergy that so seem to be in prominence now; are not forgotten of by God!

In God's eyes, victims and Christians are not second class citizens! Good must triumph over evil, and sometimes that means taking the life of a malefactor. In the case of the murderer, God says: Send him to me! In [1st Epistle of John 3:15], it states that "No murderer has eternal life abiding in him." That means that the murderer must work it out with the Father after he dies and God makes the decision as to whether or not he will be forgiven.

What a terrible place this country would be if our soldiers stopped defending, our police stopped protecting, and our Christians stopped serving on juries!

Sometimes a person must take a life. We are to take no pleasure in it, but God understands, and is all wise and knowing. He knows what is in your heart and he can even read your mind. God created all things and peoples, and he knows the nature of them.

In verses 13 through 15 of this 2nd chapter of the book of Exodus, we see Moses flee Egypt for his life, not because he had sinned against God, but because at that time, Egyptian law meant execution for anyone killing an Egyptian. Especially if it was done for the sake of a Hebrew slave, who the Egyptians looked upon as property and not people, thus they treated them as less than equals.

Exodus 2: 13-15
13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.
15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. (KJV)

If you look at this in a deeper sense, you see that what Moses did unknowingly, and with the unknown (to him) guidance of God with regards to fleeing Egypt and going to the land of Midian; was an example of fleeing to a "city of refuge", even though this was not yet commanded by God to be done at this particular time; For surely in God's eyes Moses act was not worthy of death.

In closing, we as God fearing (Which should have been translated to: "God revering" throughout the entire Bible, and should be read as such) Christians should always look to the Lord for wisdom and guidance. For as Jesus said: "Behold, I have foretold you all things" [Mark 13:23].

God forbid, if we are ever put into the position of having to take a life in the course of self defense, going to war, defending another, using deadly force as a police officer or good Samaritan, or being chosen to sit on a jury and having to "vote" in a death penalty case; It would be an easy way out for a weak Christian, to shirk his duties in life and leave it up to somebody else.

But if everyone refused to make a moral stand and do what is necessary and right for the good of all, this world would be without discipline and order, and the evildoers would run amuck, take control, and cause much suffering for the good people who must live amidst them. We can see from multiple stories throughout the Bible, that God has had to cause and allow the destruction of some.

Surly you've heard of the story of David and Goliath? When David slew the Philistine (Goliath) and cut off his head, was that David committing a murder? Of course not, it was necessary and David acted. For in killing that one, David averted an invasion and battle wherein may would have died. In fact, David succeeded in killing Goliath only with Gods blessings and help [1st Samuel 17: 1-51]. And even later on in David's life when David did plan and enable the death of Uriah the Hittite [2nd Sam 11:15], so that he (David) could have Uriah's wife; God was angry because David had sinned, but while God did punish David, He also forgave him [2nd Sam 11:2-12:13]. My point being: God takes everything into consideration!

http://biblestudysite.com/life.htm

 

[Catholic Crusader]

3. Love for Enemies.....

....This is so simple.....

And yet you label 1 billion of your brothers and sisters in Christ "horrible" and "rotten" - people who do good works of charity every day you smear and insult. I believe Jesus said something about Hypocites too. You might want to reread that part.