What does loving your neighbor look like in today's world?
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quietthinker
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What does loving your neighbor look like in today's world?
For me, the story of 'The Good Samaritan' makes this obvious.
But if a believer can and does sin during their life, then why is it wrong to call them a sinner? Both the believer and unbeliever can ask forgiveness at any time.
John says the believer cannot sin. By your own admission, you don't believe that. Neither do others in this thread. So how do we resolve the disagreement that we have with John?
+++++I suppose that's what Christianity has come down to these days.
Do you profess to no longer sin ?
Lambano
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We can identify as "Children of God"!
3 See what great the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.
Lambano
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@Riven, 1 John 3:9 says those ("naturally") born of God do not and cannot sin; see the Son of God for an example. 1 John 3:1-2 says we're adopted. Our assignment as adopted children is to learn to live up to our identity as Children of God. That is what the whole letter of 1 John is about.
Does that make sense?
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Lambano
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That question seems to be important to you. Can you tell us why?
If both are defined as SINNERS,,,then what's the difference between a child of God and an unbeliever?
1 John 3:1
1See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!
We can commit sin:
1 John 1:6-9
6So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
8If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Are believers living in spiritual darkness?
or are we living in the light?
If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves.
If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive them.
Does an unbeliever ask forgiveness for his sins?
How does he ask forgiveness to a being he doesn't even believe exists?
John said a child of God can sin.
John said a believer cannot PRACTICE sin.
Is there a difference between practicing sin and committing a sin?
Please post where I stated that we no longer sin.
I've already replied to this.
To you, I believe.
The latter.
Some do. Many do not.
He won't unless he changes his mind.
In the eyes of God? I don't know that there is a difference. But if you're asking me, I think practicing implies that a person is complicit. It's about intent. Do you think God takes intent into account?
I could honestly use some help loving my neighbors. My in laws are supposed to be coming over today. This morning I woke up dreading it. I won't make excuses. I am fixing my attitude before God even as I get ready.
I can't grandstand about loving people if I can't be hospitable to my own family.
I can't grandstand about loving people if I can't be hospitable to my own family.
What a beautiful post, sister. This is reality. God sees and is working and building His heart in you. Because you're real with Him, you've given Him room to work.
Btw, I can relate. I have to be reminded (by God) that those people who cut me off in traffic are people who need Christ and His love just like anyone else I've shown kindness to. We're faced every day with opportunities to let God expand His work in us.
How would we show love in that situation? ...by not honking at them, but praying for them. Maybe they were in a hurry or preoccupied with an emergency, or some situation that has them not paying attention or short tempered.
Or, what about that person/persons who deliberately ran me off the road? (It happens on a fairly regular basis.) God help/s me to love and pray for them, too. They are in bondage, and need Christ.
Love is usually humbling isn't it? It's rarely glamorous. Sometimes it's being willing to do menial tasks and changing dirty daipers. Sometimes its being patient with someone who's chaotic and often changes plans. It's caring for people where they're at.
It's everyday opportunities just like you said. Im so glad God can use those in our lives.
The visit went as well as it could have. I'm thankful. It felt like they didn't want to leave. Im glad everyone felt good at our home.
@TLHKAJ
Thank you for encouraging me.
So blessed to read this! And you're welcome ...loving seeing God at work in your life, sister.
And we've come a long way and you have not understood the point
of the conversation.
It's wrong to call a child of God a sinner because it does not distringuish him from a sinner.
I've posted a lot of scripture...looks like scripture doesn't matter.
YOU are a child of God that sins.
You are NOT a sinner.
This is a sinner:
1 John 1:
6So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.
This is a child of God:
7But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
This is what a child of God does when he sins:
8If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
John says a believer will not PRACTICE sinning.
A believer will not live in sin/make a practice of sinning.
1 John 3:9
9Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s lifea is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.
Children of God do not make a practice of sinning.
Because they are not sinners.
Agreed.
Believers are living in the light.
Sinners are living in darkness.
No use for an unbeliever to ask forgiveness.
If he does, it means he is beginning to believe in God.
Exactly.
God takes intent into consideration.
It is one thing, for example, to say something nasty to someone due to anger felt in a moment (for whatever reason).
It is different to do this specifically to be hurtful, to cause harm to the other person.
1 John 1:9
9But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
God is faithful.
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