Increasing and Abounding Love

[KeptByTheWord]

Just opened my browser to the multitude of posts today concerning an "open letter" of rebuke, and then the multiple responses. I don't want to take sides in a situation I know very little about. Rather, I want to consider the importance of love as this situation unfolds.

I Thessalonians 3:11-13
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Paul said we need to increase and abound in love one toward another AND TOWARD ALL MEN. Without love to one another, and to ALL MEN, we will not increase in holiness, or be established in our hearts.

The greatest commandment Jesus left us was this one:

Mark 12:29-31
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
There is none other commandment greater than these.

May we remember and take to heart the words of Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.

[Carl]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Just opened my browser to the multitude of posts today concerning an "open letter" of rebuke, and then the multiple responses. I don't want to take sides in a situation I know very little about. Rather, I want to consider the importance of love as this situation unfolds.

I Thessalonians 3:11-13
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Paul said we need to increase and abound in love one toward another AND TOWARD ALL MEN. Without love to one another, and to ALL MEN, we will not increase in holiness, or be established in our hearts.

The greatest commandment Jesus left us was this one:

Mark 12:29-31
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
There is none other commandment greater than these.

May we remember and take to heart the words of Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.

Thank you! Its been a rough day on the forum. I usually look in for some encouragement and understanding (and humor). This was more brutal than the preterist debates .

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Carl

Thank you! Its been a rough day on the forum. I usually look in for some encouragement and understanding (and humor). This was more brutal than the preterist debates .

Yes, I agree.

[KeptByTheWord]

Somehow I'm not surprised that this thread has not garnered the attention of the other "open letter" threads...

... and it only serves to prove my thought posted on other threads that Pharisaical discussions get far more attention, than any issues of the "heart"....

[Evang.Benincasa]

Eat more bacon, look in your coffee cup before you sip, and live in peace.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Eat more bacon, look in your coffee cup before you sip, and live in peace.

I can live by 2 out of 3 of those...

[Abiding Now]

Thanks for the post. I have learned to be a real Christian is to love at all times.
Pro_17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
I struggle at times to love some folks. Pray for me.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Abiding Now

Thanks for the post. I have learned to be a real Christian is to love at all times.
Pro_17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
I struggle at times to love some folks. Pray for me.

Yes, having love one for another, and for all men, can be tough for our flesh, but the spirit indeed is willing. We should all pray one for another too. I will pray for you, and hope you'll pray for me

[Abiding Now]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Yes, having love one for another, and for all men, can be tough for our flesh, but the spirit indeed is willing. We should all pray one for another too. I will pray for you, and hope you'll pray for me

I have prayed for you and I will continue.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Abiding Now

I have prayed for you and I will continue.