Posted by Everyone is familiar with the bible passage John 3:16 which states; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” As simple as this passage is it is one of the most misunderstood misinterpreted passages in the bible. God is Love and therefore everything He says and does comes from Love “as He Himself Defines Love.” Since God is Love it stands to reason that He is the authority on the subject, and we can only comprehend love as God defines it. This is true because God’s love is connected to His character.
John goes on to say that God did not send Jesus into this world to condemn it, but to save it but through Christ. Ever since the historical account of Adam and Eve and their own disagreement with God’s instructions, the world has had a history of misunderstanding, misinterpreting and misapplying just about everything He says. Rather than complying with God’s instructions realizing that no one knows what is best for humanity better than He does; we seek to redefine His intentions and apply our own inadequate substitutes. This has always proved disastrous to society throughout history… the evidence is overwhelming, until of course we reinterpret the historical record with our own cultural bias.
Genuine Love can be a lonely place
Jesus who is the personification of Divine Love often found himself at odds with a world that had it’s own ideas about the matter. Even the religious leaders of the day opposed him at every turn because they to had redefined the meaning of love, thus changing the picture of what following God’s instructions looks like. Jesus did nothing but demonstrate what following God actually looks like, he went about doing good to people, alleviating human suffering by healing those who were oppressed by the powers of darkness. Because He taught the truth about Love and Faith as God had defined it, He was persecuted.
For fear of reprisals from a society who had their own ideas of truth, as well as those religious leaders who redefined it, many simply either remained silent about God’s love, or had a change of heart to side with the crowds. Even the Roman government could not escape the redefinition of Love and truth (the historical record speaks for itself). Things were so confusing that at his interview Pilot asked Jesus “what is truth?” Imagine asking that question when the answer to it was standing right in front of him.
It was in this environment that the Church was commissioned to speak God’s Love in truth with all humility. People being people, the same confusion in the world was also introduced into the Church by those who had their own ideas and agendas. Once again like sheep tend to do, those who were called by God began going their own way. The ensuing disunity and confusion caused a variety of differing teachings to arise in the Church compromising it’s effectiveness as a light to a dark and hurting world… Enter the Apostle Paul.
United We Stand
1 Corinthians 1:10
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
The genuine biblical Church is a supernatural Church for sure, with supernaturally transformed people who are partners together with God for the purpose of conducting Kingdom business on earth as it is in heaven… and that business is demonstrating the genuine love of God as He defines love.
It is imperative that the Church be in absolute agreement in thinking speaking and living out the written Word of God thus being united together under Christ, being the prophetic voice of reason by speaking truth in love. Paul began this letter on a high note of encouragement before addressing some serious issues of disunity the Church was grappling with at Corinth. Disunity always derails the Church from it’s mission neutralizing it’s effectiveness.
Issues of disunity in the Church are no different today. It’s always difficult to be united with one voice whenever there are leaders in the Church who depart from obeying the simple written instructions of God’s Word by interpreting it in the light of their own cultural bias. This gives rise to others who, following their leaders wayward example, begin adding their own differing views and opinions of God’s Word from their varied backgrounds and beliefs.
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Paul had to address disunity in the Church on many occasions. To the Church at Rome he writes; “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” Romans 15:4-6.
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Follow Christ
Those of us who are genuine biblical followers of Christ must all speak the same thing: There should be no division among us; we are to be perfectly joined together in the same mind united together under Christ. Disunity compromises the Church’s effectiveness in demonstrating the blessings of truth to a hurting wandering world, and disconnects us from the power source of heaven.
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Let us not follow the example of those who have not surrendered their hearts to Christ to follow Him explicitly according to God’s written Word. Let us instead live in the light of God’s Word building each other up until we all come into the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God to a mature person. Let us not be immature, tossed back and forth carried about with every wind of doctrine built on the shifting sands of human opinions. Keep in mind that the Scriptures teach that the genuine biblical Church is the centerpiece of God’s plan of redemption, and is the only hope for this world.
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I encourage you my brothers and sisters who are genuine biblical followers of Christ to always speak the truth in love, adhere unswervingly to God’s written Word, walk in His Presence and Power, whatever the consequence seek your approval from Him alone, reap His blessings, and Be Encouraged.
In the end all things will conform to the plans of God who works all things in conformity to the purpose with His own will.
The JSP Journal 