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Regarding persecution, Peter said:
“In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely.” (1 Peter 2:21)
We are to follow his steps closely. And if we follow his steps, we too will suffer persecution and hatred.
MATTHEW 10:24-25
““A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his lord. It is enough for the disciple to become as his teacher, and the slave as his lord. If people have called the householder Beeĺzebub, how much more [will they call] those of his household so?”OBJECTS OF HATRED
MATTHEW 10:22
“And YOU will be objects of hatred by all people on account of my name; but he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved.”Why the hatred?
JOHN 15:17-20
“If the world hates YOU, YOU know that it has hated me before it hated YOU. If YOU were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because YOU are no part of the world, but I have chosen YOU out of the world, on this account the world hates YOU. Bear in mind the word I said to YOU, A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute YOU also; if they have observed my word, they will observe YOURS also.”Notice that we are told why the world would hate true Christians–because they are no part of Satan’s world.
The early Christians were hated, persecuted, and many of them killed.
Satan was the instigator of this persecution.
Does not Satan still rule the world? (John 14:30; 12:31; 16:11)
Is not the world still lying in his power? (1 John 5:19)
Is he not still the god of this system of things? (2 Cor 4:4)Should true Christians therefore not expect to be persecuted for their conviction and beliefs? The following scripture answers:
2 TIMOTHY 3:12
“In fact, all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted.”True Christianity would even cause a division in families.
MATTHEW 10:34-37
“Do not think I came to put peace upon the earth; I came to put, not peace, but a sword. For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a young wife against her mother-in-law. Indeed, a man’s enemies will be persons of his own household. He that has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; and he that has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me.”I’m wondering how these truths have played out in your lives.
I'm wondering what has brought the persecution on and how you face it?david
Hi,
Rom 8.1
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”
“Judge not and you shall not be judged”Why is it that christian forums reverberate with the sound of judgement and condemnations when we are meant to be a brotherhood of love?
In regards to “Christian” circles I believe it is because for the most part we are blind to our own faults, but quickly see them in others, and instead of approaching that brother (or sister) with fear and trembling, we do so arrogantly. At this point God's Spirit is not involved, and therefore love is not part of the process.
I desire to love all of you as God does, while hating some of the things, that some of us (myself included) do. I'm not there yet, may the Lord forgive me and I pray that He helps us all to be so focused on Him that we will respond as He does.
My prayer is and has been for years that my life would be pleasing to the Lord. I do not believe that this can be obtained without the fellowship and correction from other believers.
If you live you life truly different then those in worldly circles, they will see God through it, and I believe it brings condemnation on those with worldly values and they hate us for being that (unconsious) reminder of what they know to be true (but refuse to accept).
If you hate the master you will hate those who represent him.
Hi,
Followers of Jesus are persecuted.
But are all who are persecuted thereby shown to be followers of Jesus?Definitely not.
But if you aren't persecuted, or don't come against various trials because of your beliefs, you may want to ask yourself some hard questions.All who profess Christ and have made him Lord are persecuted. Because if Christ is Lord then you walk as he walked. People don't like that because they hated him first so they will also hate you.
Just to be clear David about how I feel about JWs.
They are more scriptural accurate than the average Churchianity out there. I honestly don't agree with a large number of their teachings from scripture and therefor can't claim them to be the “one true church.”
Rather, I see it more likely that many of them are very likely to be fellow saints. I disagree with heiscomingintheclouds that JW's can't possibly be born again. I think every single denomination on the planet can have saints within it. Not because of the church but because of the individuals relationship with God.
Some little old lady who loves the Lord and is doing the best she can to serve him. She has worked hard her whole life and only has an 8th grade education. She reads her paraphrased bible often and tries to understand the best she can. She prays and talks to God while she sews and rocks in her chair. She listens and trusts her nice pastor every sunday and on wednesday nights.
If she is truly relying on Jesus then nobody here will ever convince me that this old lady is Hell bound because she doesn't know the truth about the trinity or whether or not there are 3 baptisms or whether she should only give Jesus obesience or if she should worship on saturday instead of sunday.
Thank God for his mercy and grace and the simplicity that is found in Christ.
Hi Mercy,
There is a way and Hebrews 4 pleads for us to be found in it and be raised in the first resurrection.
But 1000 years later God will show His great mercy too to all those who have shown mercy to His sons.
And if any places remain at the table He will fill them with His friends from the highways and byways.Hi,
Yep.
There is the way and those in it are not judged in the final judgement, only the tribunal of Christ, but have already passed from death to life. The final judgement is one of the sheep and the goats and is according to works done to the brothers of Christ. Note that the sheep are awfully surprised at their election.“When did we see you..??”
What specifically has lead you to interpret it this way?
I see what you are seeing, but this concept blows my mind. It is new to me.
Hi,
David was God's beloved.
He knew the heart of God.
Michal was of the world.
God took note.
2Sam 6
14And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
21And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
22And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.”
LOL .. so David… are you saying, that because a lot of people hate the JW's, that this is proof that you guys are the true brethren of Christ? hehehe
Hugs
Quote (david @ April 10 2006,19:28) Regarding persecution, Peter said:
“In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely.” (1 Peter 2:21)
We are to follow his steps closely. And if we follow his steps, we too will suffer persecution and hatred.
MATTHEW 10:24-25
““A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his lord. It is enough for the disciple to become as his teacher, and the slave as his lord. If people have called the householder Beeĺzebub, how much more [will they call] those of his household so?”OBJECTS OF HATRED
MATTHEW 10:22
“And YOU will be objects of hatred by all people on account of my name; but he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved.”Why the hatred?
JOHN 15:17-20
“If the world hates YOU, YOU know that it has hated me before it hated YOU. If YOU were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because YOU are no part of the world, but I have chosen YOU out of the world, on this account the world hates YOU. Bear in mind the word I said to YOU, A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute YOU also; if they have observed my word, they will observe YOURS also.”Notice that we are told why the world would hate true Christians–because they are no part of Satan’s world.
The early Christians were hated, persecuted, and many of them killed.
Satan was the instigator of this persecution.
Does not Satan still rule the world? (John 14:30; 12:31; 16:11)
Is not the world still lying in his power? (1 John 5:19)
Is he not still the god of this system of things? (2 Cor 4:4)Should true Christians therefore not expect to be persecuted for their conviction and beliefs? The following scripture answers:
2 TIMOTHY 3:12
“In fact, all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted.”True Christianity would even cause a division in families.
MATTHEW 10:34-37
“Do not think I came to put peace upon the earth; I came to put, not peace, but a sword. For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a young wife against her mother-in-law. Indeed, a man’s enemies will be persons of his own household. He that has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; and he that has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me.”I’m wondering how these truths have played out in your lives.
I'm wondering what has brought the persecution on and how you face it?david
Hi David:Those scriptures that you quote relative to persecution of those who are disciples of the Lord Jesus have been very true in my life as I have striven to obey my Lord, but also, I have made many mistakes which has some times contributed to the misunderstanding. But some of what I have been through has been genuine persecution because of my walk with the Lord.
Jesus has given us given us God's Word and his example of how to deal with this persecution. He said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy. BUT I SAY UNTO YOU LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THEM THAT HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THEM WHICH DESPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU…” (Matt. 5:43-44) And He said, “Ye have heard that it hat been said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth: BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, RESIST NOT EVIL; BUT WHOSOEVER SHALL SMITE THEE ON THY RIGHT CHEEK, TURN HIM THE OTHER ALSO”. (Matt. 5:38-39)
“And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God”. (John 3:19-21)
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord, if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not sin: but now they have not cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not sin: but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. BUT THIS COMETH TO PASS, THAT THE WORD MIGHT BE FULFILLED THAT IS WRITTEN IN THEIR LAW, THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE”. (John 15:18-25)
God Bless
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