*** (Luke 4:4) And Jesus = answered him [Satan], saying, = It is written that = "man shall not live by bread alone, = but by ‘every’ = Word of God."
*** (James 1:22) Keep on being = Doers of the Word, = and = Not Merely Hearers = who Deceive themselves.
Continuing on with this topic… perhaps we can take a look at “Tough Love” as demonstrated in the NT. “Paul the Apostle”… had to rebuke; “Peter the Apostle”… because of Peter’s Bigotry; towards other believers, especially the gentile ones. This type of ‘Social Prejudice’… transcends all Races and Beliefs; Economic stratus; and all ‘other’ walks of Life. Paul’s actions; ‘led’ by the Holy Spirit; is not only… “Corrective and Restorative”… but as an ‘example’ to us… almost 2,000 years later. Which of ‘you’… Will Speak of “JESUS”…?
*** (Ezekiel 2:7) And you = shall speak = My Words to them, = whether they will hear = or = whether they will forbear, = for they are rebellious.
*** (Romans 15:4) For whatever things were = written before = were written for our learning, = so that we through = patience and comfort = of the Scriptures = might have hope.
*** (Galatians 2:11-to-16) But when Peter = came to Antioch, = I [Paul] opposed him to his face, = because = he was to be blamed.
(Gal 2:12) For before some [Jews] came from James, = he ate with the nations [Gentiles]. = But when they came, = he [Peter] withdrew and separated himself, = fearing those of the circumcision [Jews].
(Gal 2:13) And the rest of the Jews = also dissembled with him, = so as even Barnabas = was led away with their dissembling [separation].
(Gal 2:14) But when I [Paul] = saw that they did not walk uprightly = with the truth of the gospel, = I said to Peter = before all, = If you, = being a Jew, = live as a Gentile, = and not as the Jews, = why do you compel = the nations [Gentiles] = to Judaize?
(Gal 2:15) We Jews by nature, = and not sinners of the nations [Gentiles],
(Gal 2:16) knowing that a man = is not justified by works of the Law, = but through faith in Jesus Christ; = even we believed in Jesus Christ, = that we might be justified = by the faith = in Christ, = and "NOT" by works of the Law. = For all flesh = will "NOT" be justified = by works of law.
*** (James 2:1) My brothers, = do not practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ = by showing partiality.
(Jas 2:2) Suppose a man wearing gold rings and fine clothes comes into your assembly, = and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in.
(Jas 2:3) If you give special attention = to the man wearing fine clothes and say, = "Please take this seat," = but you say to the poor man, = "Stand over there" or "Sit on the floor at my feet,"
(Jas 2:4) You have made = false distinctions = among yourselves = and have become = judges with evil motives, = haven't you?
(Jas 2:5) Listen, my dear brothers! = God has chosen = the poor in the world = to become rich in faith = and to be heirs of the kingdom = that he promised to those who love Him, = has He not?
(Jas 2:6) But you have = humiliated the man who is poor. = Are not rich people = the ones who oppress you = and drag you into court?
(Jas 2:7) Are not they the ones = who blaspheme = the excellent Name [Christ Jesus] = by which you have been called?
About now… ‘One’ can readily see the “Distinction of Classes”… based on Prejudice! “Tough Love”… based on the Wisdom of God and His Holy Word… does what is best for those that are wrong… not only in their thinking but also in their actions. “I write this… ‘Neither to Accuse’… ‘Nor to Excuse’… those Actions! All of this has to be based… “Only on that ‘Agape’ Love of God”… which only comes from the Holy Spirit… indwelling that True Believer!
*** (1John 4:19-20-21) We love Him = because = He first loved us.
(1Jn 4:20) If anyone says, = I love God, = and hates his brother, = he is a liar. = For if he does not = love his brother = whom he ‘has’ seen, = how can he love God = Whom he has ‘not’ seen?
(1Jn 4:21) And we have = this commandment from Him, = that he who loves God = should love his brother also.
*** (John 13:34-35) I [Jesus] = give you a new commandment, = that you love one another. = As I have loved you, = you should also = love one another.
(John 13:35) By this = all shall know = that you are My disciples, = if you have love = toward one another.
*** (Proverbs 27:4-5-6) Wrath is cruel, = and anger is overwhelming; = but who is able = to stand before envy?
(Pro 27:5) Open rebuke = is better = than secret love.
(Pro 27:6) Faithful = are the wounds of a friend; = but the kisses of an enemy = are deceitful.
Lest you think… that Peter did not Benefit from his; ‘rebuke’ from Paul… perhaps this will help; as Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God… wrote this about his brother Paul! All Godly Correction, Instruction and Reproof… will bring about the Fruit of the [Holy] Spirit in the lives of the True Believers! That is why… it is so very important to… ‘Learn & Study’… His Holy Word!
*** (Ephesians 5:9) for the fruit of the Spirit = is in all goodness = and = righteousness = and = Truth,
*** (2Peter 3:15-15) Think of our Lord's patience = as salvation, = just as our dear brother Paul = also wrote to you = according to the wisdom given him.
(2Pet 3:16) He speaks about this subject = in all his letters. = Some things in them = are hard to understand, = which ignorant and unstable people = distort to their own destruction, = as they do the rest of the Scriptures.
*** (2Timothy 3:15-16-17) From infancy = you have known = the Holy Scriptures = that are able to give you = the wisdom you need = for salvation = through faith = in Christ Jesus.
(2Tim 3:16) All Scripture = is God-breathed = and is useful = for teaching, = for reproof, = for correction, = and for training in righteousness,
(2Tim 3:17) so that = the man of God = may be complete = and thoroughly equipped = for every good work.
*** (John 7:37-38-39) On the last and most important = day of the festival, = Jesus = stood up and shouted, = "If anyone is thirsty, = let him come to Me and drink!
(John 7:38) The one = who believes in me, = as the Scripture has said, = will have rivers of living water flowing from his heart."
(John 7:39) Now He said this = about the [Holy] Spirit, = Whom those who = were believing in Him = were to receive. = For the Spirit was not yet present, = because Jesus had not yet been glorified. [Romans 8:8 & Galatians 3:2]
*** (1Peter 4:17-18-19) For the time has come = for the judgment to begin = from the house of God. = And if it = first = begins from us, = what will be the end = of those = disobeying the gospel of God?
(1Pet 4:18) And if the righteous one = is scarcely saved, = where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
(1Pet 4:19) Therefore let those = who suffer according to the will of God = commit their souls in well-doing, = as to a faithful Creator.
*** (1Corinthians 11:31-32) For if = we would judge ourselves, = we would not be judged.
(1Cor 11:32) But when we are judged, = we are chastened by the Lord, = that we should not be = condemned with the world.
How about “Tough Love”…? Are you ‘Tough’… about your relationship with “JESUS?” You say you Love Him…. “But do YOU = Love His Holy Word”… as much as you say… You Love Him? In conversation with ‘Other Believers’… do you hold “His” Word Out… as your only point of reference…? Do you “Speak” His Holy Word… more than you do any Secular or Christian Author…? Many times I see Christians… quoting this or that; ‘Christian Author’… when they should be… ‘Posting’… “His Holy Word!” Just “Whom”… are you really serving… “The Lord Christ Jesus”… or that Christian author; you so ‘glibly’ quote…? May I simply ask… do you know that “Author”… ‘More & Better’… Than… “You”… Know JESUS’ Precious & Holy = Word of God…?
One final Question: Do you Practice… “2Chronicles 12:14”… or… “Ezra 7:10”…?
*** (Ezekiel 33:31) And they come to you = as the people come, = and they sit before you = as My people, = and they hear your words. = = But they will not do them. = = For with their mouth = = they show much love, = = but their heart goes after = their unjust gain.
*** (John 15:3) Now = you are clean = through the Word = which I [Jesus] = have spoken to you.
*** (Matthew 4:4) But He answered and said, = It is written, = Man shall ‘not’ live by bread alone, = but by = every word = that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
*** (Luke 4:4) And Jesus answered him [Satan], saying, = It is written, = That man shall not live by bread alone, = but by every word of God.
Thanks, In Christ Jesus, Roger /Jeremiah 33:3.
Ende…!
