Many Christians today seem to be confused over abhoring sin and hating people. Every day I see self-professing Christians going out into the world and hating the very sinners that they are supposed to be taking the Gospel to.
There is no place in the scripture where Jesus told you to go out and condemn sinners, but rather to take the Gospel, or Good News, that a Savior has come to redeem them from their bondage in sin.
Mark 16:15 - And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclam the gospel to the whole creation."
Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and ofthe Son and of the the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
When the woman taken in adultry was brought to Jesus (John 8:3-11) he did not condemn her, showed that all were sinners and all needed forgiveness. He then forgave her sins and told her to go on and to sin no more.
We should note that the Apostle Paul's letters were sent to the various churches, not to the the temples of false gods, nor to the government, nor to even the non-converted Jews. Pauls letters, or epistles, are commandments for the Church.
Paul took the Gospel to non-believers, then after their conversion he continued to reinforce the Gospel, along with setting up most of the rules for the Church. When you read Romans 1, Paul is describing the state of the world, and warning Christians not to take part in it. Remember, the letter was addressed to the Church.
In Acts 24 and again in Acts 26, Paul testifies first before Felix and then before King Agippa and Festus. In both instances Paul spoke of the sins, salvation, and the resurrection. In Acts 26:22-23 Pauls states what he was preaching. Part of Paul's message was that there is a resurrection of both the just and the unjust, and that the only way to be just was to accept the atoning work of Christ Jesus, and those who do not accept that work will be punished.
But notice; at no time did Paul condemn Felix, Agrippa, or Festus; he presented the need of the Gospel, the Gospel's conditions of salvation, and the punishment of those who ignore or deny the Gospel.
Would today that Christians should act the same. Too many Christians spend too much time hating those who sin, rather than taking the Gospel to them!
If you have the right to vote, vote for those who will follow the Lord in their rule. Vote for laws that uphold righteousness. But just because you know something is sin, and can vote against it, does not give you the right to condemn the sinner. Only God has that right! Remember this verse:
1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Folly : "Moronishness" : Strong's 3472 : Silly, foolish, or absurd.
Saved : "Preserved" : Strongs 4982 : Not in the process of gaining salvation, but preserved due to salvation. Preserved refers to physical and spiritual as we follow God's plan for us
The prohibition on sin is tied directly to the Holiness of Almighty God. Those who have not reconciled themselves with God, through Christ Jesus, will continue to be sinful creatures, and until the Holy Spirit touches them, and calls them to Christ, they will continue to see Christianity as foolishness. The sinfull nature of man requires that the Holy Spirit bring to them their need of redemption through Christ.
We are to live our lives separate from worldly things, and we will talk more about that in the next message. But we are to go out into the world and preach the Gospel, not condemn sinners.
When I hear Christians talking about hating gay people or trans people, I wonder about their true connection to Jesus Christ.
The true Christian sees sin in the lost and their heart is broken! Through prayer, telling the Gospel, and their person testimony, as Paul did in Acts 26, the true Christian show love for the lost, and does all in their power to lead the lost to the Lord. Once these people are saved the Holy Spirit will work in them to bring change from sinful acts to Godly acts.
God wants all of his creation saved, but with free will, not all will accept. As the end of the age nears, fewer will be saved, but those who are will need to be strong.
You cannot hate those who do wrong and serve God. You must show the love of God to a lost and dying world!
Pray that God will bring you to the place where you love sinners so much that your only desire is to take the Gospel to them
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