tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1229609452775822805.post9170669983411121507..comments2023-05-03T23:13:12.196-10:00Comments on ΑΓΑΠΗΣΕΙΣ: Blessing and Cursing our BrothersZephyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03535537338626840403noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1229609452775822805.post-50055768268657937892007-08-17T18:29:00.000-10:002007-08-17T18:29:00.000-10:00Yes, I agree that a clear vision of God's goodness...Yes, I agree that a clear vision of God's goodness towards us moves us to extend that grace and mercy towards others. And a necessary component of understanding how much God has loved us is to have a good awareness of ourselves with all of our sin. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us! <BR/><BR/>But it's not just our understanding of our sin and God's kindness that motivates us to love others. Most importantly, God changes us. He gives me a new heart. He not only created us by the powerful word of his mouth in the beginning, but he also recreates us in the now time through the word of truth that he breathes into our souls.<BR/><BR/>And this is where I must ask in the spirit of the Johannine letters... I<BR/><BR/>If we don't love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, is that a sign to us that we are not becoming children of the Father like Jesus continues in Matthew 5:45?Zephyrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03535537338626840403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1229609452775822805.post-3259448541304632772007-08-17T16:56:00.000-10:002007-08-17T16:56:00.000-10:00Ben, I think your reference to the words of Jesus ...Ben, I think your reference to the words of Jesus in the passage of Luke gets at the heart of this issue. It is deeply unfortunate that this pastor of the Gospel does not know what spirit he is speaking from as he thereby distorts people's perception of God's goodness and grace. It seems to me that there is a strong correlation between our understanding of our standing in grace and our willingness to extend mercy to those around us, including our enemies. Stated directly, if we were to see the depth of God's goodness toward us all the pettiness of our fallen egos would be swallowed up such that our hearts would move freely in love and mercy toward all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com