Love Your Enemies ?

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AJ Castellitto

Puritan Board Freshman
Just wondering about our Christian witness & loving our enemies....

We are called to love our neighbor/enemies but we believe Jesus does not ? That would be because of His spiritual insight, correct?

Just think of the verse where Jesus looked upon the rich young ruler and loved him

Also thinking of David Wilkerson & Nicky Cruz.... (Would it be wrong to express 'Jesus loves you' or 'I love you' to a non-believer? the way Wilkerson did to Cruz?)

How are we to display our love & ensure theological superiority does not overwhelm a neophyte ?
What is it to love our neighbor and not spare hard truths ?
How do we avoid a conditional or guarded goodwill offer(witness) of the gospel?

Thanks!
 
We are to love God and love our neighbor (first and second tables of the law). Jesus himself summarizes the law in these two great commands (Matthew 22:37-40).

Our neighbor is all-inclusive, both those who return our love (friends) and those who don't return our love (enemies). What this means with respect to the latter is that we are to do good even to those who spitefully use us (Matthew 5: 43-48), not repaying evil for evil but good. We do this even with the prayer that it might bring conviction to them (Romans 12:17-21).

It is quite true that we don't know the reprobate from the elect and part of our doing good to all involves our prayer that the Lord turn them from sin and hatred to Christ and love. For this same reason, the gospel is freely offered to all and the warrant for faith is the command to all to come to Him. We do not have God's knowledge of all and are in never in the position of God who loved Jacob and hated Esau. Even then, God does has a love of benevolence over all His creation, including the reprobate.

Hopefully, these thoughts help you in your thinking.

Peace,
Alan
 
Thank You!

I notice many Christian agree with hard truths but as soon as you utter Calvinism they flea,

I would think the harder truths are further expounded later but the upfront essential is we are sinners, dead in tresspasses and need repentance but more than that we need a Savior!
We are to love God and love our neighbor (first and second tables of the law). Jesus himself summarizes the law in these two great commands (Matthew 22:37-40).

Our neighbor is all-inclusive, both those who return our love (friends) and those who don't return our love (enemies). What this means with respect to the latter is that we are to do good even to those who spitefully use us (Matthew 5: 43-48), not repaying evil for evil but good. We do this even with the prayer that it might bring conviction to them (Romans 12:17-21).

It is quite true that we don't know the reprobate from the elect and part of our doing good to all involves our prayer that the Lord turn them from sin and hatred to Christ and love. For this same reason, the gospel is freely offered to all and the warrant for faith is the command to all to come to Him. We do not have God's knowledge of all and are in never in the position of God who loved Jacob and hated Esau. Even then, God does has a love of benevolence over all His creation, including the reprobate.

Hopefully, these thoughts help you in your thinking.

Peace,
Alan
 
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