Love is it Important ?

[AndrewG]

Please post your thoughts on this topic 

[AndrewG]

On behalf of Sherlene

Good statement - Is love important?

God is love (1 John 4:8,16). That makes it not only important, but essential!

But people have been really confused about what love is. Paul spells it out in 1 Corinthians 13 and Jesus lived the demonstration of love in His life on earth. I think a lot of people forget that when Jesus showed us how to recognise the Father's character (John 14:9), He revealed true love in action.

It seems that some Christians tend to think that God has some good parts in Him - that is, most of His acts are good - but that He also has some nasty parts to His character - that is, times when He just 'cracks' and destroys sinners or commands others to do it for Him (Deut 20:17).

A couple of questions come to mind:

Can the One True God be loving 99% of the time, but unloving for 1% of the time?
Do we have to redefine love - so that it includes some evil traits in it, to justify that God is love?
Do we try to make excuses for God's nasty or even erratic behaviour when really we think it is a really evil thing to command babies to be destroyed (1 Samuel 15) or do we palm off these atrocities by claiming that God can do anything He wants to, because He is God. If so, that logic sounds only as reasonable as saying that "the biggest bully can do anything he wants to." Why? Because he is loving? No, because he's too powerful to argue with. We don't generally respect bullies for their bullying! Why should Christians respect a bullying god who does violent, and nasty things? A bully is not showing love for his fellowman when he assaults another person, nor is he expressing love when he commands someone else to do the violent deed on his behalf. Why should Christians believe that just because 'god' is doing the bullying, it's okay and it's loving?

I think the evidence reveals that God is not a bully. He is never nasty under any circumstances - and that He performs no violent acts towards anyone - ever. God is 100% loving -nice all the time.

That's not to say that the wicked will not die. It is however saying that God does not originate violence toward them, neither does He originate their death.

I'm interested in your thoughts.
Sherlene2

[AndrewG]

Hi sherlene I think in order for us to truly understand God we must know in our minds, that the character of God is not evil in any way for if God is Good and Evil then how can we trust him, with what he teaches us with his spirit? can we understand that God uses evil to prove that sin should be rejected.
I believe the answer is NO, so many people reject God on this lie!! they think that God is not so loving, and that if they do not believe there is a God, it will not effect them at all.
This is sad and a misrepresentation of Our wonderful God.
Jesus came to show us a loving father he proves that the Old Testament mosaic laws were not inline with his (God's) character, and that forgiveness is the way to salvation.
what else can i say that God is Love so we must intern forgive and love, for that is the key that unlocks the heart and opens our spiritual life with God.

[AndrewG]

To know God and to Love God and to understand that God Loves us we must have faith in scripture and to come to a conclusion that the bible speaks the truth we must first ask why should we believe the bible
Here is some helpful information

Archaeological Evidence Supporting the Bible

How much of the Bible is inspired? Can it be trusted to provide answers to our questions? Does it contain truth?

The Bible contains 66 books written over a 1500-year period of time by 44 different authors. The authenticity of its stories and of the people that lived in its history has been authenticated by the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1948, dating back to 150-170 BC, and containing all or parts of the Old Testament books except the book of Esther. Many other discoveries have helped vindicate many details of the Bible that had been scoffed at by higher critics.

The Cyrus Cylinder discovered in 1879 records Cyrus' overthrow of Babylon and his subsequent deliverance of the Jewish captives.

The Rosetta Stone discovered in 1799 in Egypt by Napoleon's scientists, and written in three languages - hieroglyphics, demotic and Greek - unlocked the mystery of the hieroglyphics which have helped confirm the authenticity of the Bible.
The Moabite Stone discovered in 1868 at Dibon, Jordan, confirmed Moabite attacks on Israel as recorded in 2 Kings 1 & 3.

The Lachish Letters, discovered in 1932-1938, 24 miles north of Beersheba, described the attack of Nebuchadnezzar on Jerusalem in 586 BC. Another evidence of the Bible's inspiration is found in its cohesive unity. In more than 3000 places, the Bible declares itself inspired. It does not contradict itself.

The Prophecies
There are at least 60 Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled by Christ in the New Testament. But there are more than 300 references to the Messiah in the Old Testament, and these were written over a 1500-year period. Conservative scholars estimate that the last Old Testament book was written around 450 BC. But those claiming a later date cannot possibly push that date closer than about 250 BC - the reason for this being the Greek translation of the Old Testament which was completed during the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus (285-246 BC). This is an historical fact and it places a span of at least 250 years between the Old Testament predictions and their fulfilment in Christ. See Truth Matters by Professor Walter J. Veith for some of the more important ones.

Some have suggested that these prophecies were accidentally or coincidentally fulfilled by Jesus. According to the science of probability, the chance of any one human being up until the present fulfilling a selection of just eight of these prophecies (including the one on crucifixion) is one in a hundred thousand million million.
How Do We Study the Scriptures?

When we study the scriptures, we need to study wisely and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Jesus). "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim 2:15 The Holy Spirit sent by God guides us as we study. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth..." John 16:13. As we open our hearts to the Spirit's influence and compare spiritual things with spiritual, God will guide us. (1 Cor 2:13) Before studying the Bible, we should always ask God’s Spirit to be with us so that we can rightly discern what the Word is trying to tell us.

When studying the Bible, we must compare scripture with scripture, ("For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line: here a little and there a little." Isaiah 28:10) and as we do we will discover truth.

[AndrewG]

On behalf of Sherlene

Wow. You must've been typing for a long time!

Thanks for all that info Andrew. I have seen a list of 300 Messianic prophecies that identify Jesus as the Messiah. That is more than ample evidence to convince me that the Messiah was Jesus of Nazareth.

Regarding the accuracy of the Bible as we know it today, Ellen White makes this comment in Early Writings p 220
“I saw that God had especially guarded the Bible; yet when copies of it were few, learned men had in some instances changed the words, thinking that they were making it more plain, when in reality they were mystifying that which was plain, by causing it to lean to their established views, which were governed by tradition.”

While Ellen White does not say which people introduced changes into the Biblical text, it is not inconceivable that Jewish writers (along with others) adjusted certain writings to lean more to their established views which were governed by traditions. However, rather than be concerned by the fact that some writings were added to the text, Ellen White states, "I am instructed to say to our people, Let us follow Christ. We may safely discard all ideas that are not included in His teachings” (Pacific Union Recorder, 31 December, 1903).

When we study the life and words of Jesus, we see the Father's character revealed and incorrect doctrines exposed. It is very interesting to say the least.

Thanks again,

smile.gif
Sherlene