02/25/17 THREE CONCEPTS TO KEEP IN MIND

02/25/17 THREE CONCEPTS TO KEEP IN MIND

#1 CHRISTIANS MUST AVOID DIVISION AND SEEK PEACE with family, friend and foe, when it is possible. This takes self denial, even at the cost of personal loss, but we must never deny Christ or His word.

* Matthew 5:9
(9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

* Luke 17:3-4
(3) Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
(4) And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

* Romans 12:18-21
(18) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
(19) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
(20) Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
(21) Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

*Hebrews 12:14
(14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

#2 CHRIST AND HIS WORD DIVIDES BELIEVERS from family, friend and foe, and believers must not avoid, resist, reject this division. It is part of the cost of discipleship.

* Matthew 10:34-39
(34) Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
(35) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
(36) And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
(37) He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
(38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
(39) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

* Luke 12:51-53
(51) Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
(52) For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
(53) The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

#3 CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS ARE stronger and deeper with faith family than with natural family.

* Mark 3:33-35
(33) And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
(34) And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
(35) For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother

* Luke 9:23-26
(23) And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
(24) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
(25) For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
(26) For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

* 2 Timothy 2:12-13
(12) If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
(13) If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.