"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries
THE HUMAN SANCTUARY AND TEMPLE OF GOD, part 12 quotes
1) The Emotion of Love Dealing With Fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Some of the very same principles of truth we learned last time in how to manifest and express unselfish Godly love to our neighbors, friends and strangers can also apply in our dealings with our Christian brothers and sisters. But there is big difference between these two groups of individuals.
Neighbors, friends and strangers are not related to you as members of your family, and so there is no strong bond of family union attaching you with them and them with you. But this is not the same with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Even though there is no blood relationship between them, yet through their common connection with Jesus Christ there is in a way a strong and lasting bond of family union attaching them with one another.
“For we are members of his [Jesus Christ’s] body, of his flesh, and of his bones....For we are members one of another.” Ephesians 5:30, 4:25.
“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:5.
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many....But now are they many members, yet but one body....Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 20, 27.
Since each one of us are part of the body of Christ, and each of us together make up His body, then we are closely inter-related with each other in Jesus Christ. This means that we are all connected together as members of the same family, because now in Christ we share a strong bond that attaches us one with another.
2) This strong family bond and union between all those who have accepted Jesus Christ and are in Him is likened in the Scriptures in two different ways.
The first is likened to the strong bond of attachment in one flesh between a husband and a wife.
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish....For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:23-27, 31-32.
These verses reveal that Jesus Christ is the husband of His wife, and His wife represents His church which is composed of all who have joined themselves to Him. As such, then all church members are closely connected and related with one another in this body of Christ, just as a wife is closely connected and related as one flesh with her husband. Thus we are all family members of one body in Christ, and therefore are all equal with each other irregardless of race, nationality, color, cast, age or even gender.
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:27-28.
The second way in which the Scriptures likens this strong family bond of union between all those who have accepted Jesus Christ and are in Him, is in the family relationship dealing with children.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:3-6.
“And [I] will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18.
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26.
By accepting Jesus Christ as our Saviour by faith, God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ then becomes our Father, and we become His children. Since we now have the same Father as Jesus does, then Jesus becomes our Elder Brother and we all become His brothers and sisters. This further means that since we are all the children of God and are all the siblings of our Elder Brother Jesus, then we are all closely connected, inter-related and attached to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ!
“For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister”. Matthew 12:50.
“Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace”. 2 Thessalonians 2:16.
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Colossians 1:1-2.
“John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;...I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ”. Revelation 1:4, 9.
“I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.” Romans 16:1-2.
Through Jesus Christ we are all inter-related to each other as brothers and sisters, because we are all the children of the Most High and members of His royal family, and thus fellow heirs of glory and everlasting life.
“I [God] have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” Psalms 82:6.
“[We are all] fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his [God’s] promise in Christ by the gospel...[and in] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Ephesians 3:6, 9-11.
3) How soon does this close family relationship begin of us becoming brothers and sisters to one another in Christ Jesus?
“And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” Acts 9:10-20.
These verses reveal that as soon as Saul accepted Jesus Christ as His Lord and Saviour, he immediately became a child of God, a brother to Christ, and thus a brother to all other Christians. And you will also notice that Saul became a true brother before he had boldly preached Christ to others! This clearly shows us that it is through our individual connection with Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Elder Brother, that we immediately become a brother or sister to all others who have accepted Christ by faith, and it is not by our witnessing of Christ to others that makes us brothers and sisters. Direct connection with Christ is the key to this relationship, as well as our salvation, and not by our words alone! So as this is true, then through Christ we are all related in a very close fellowship with one another, being united and attached together in one single huge family with God as our Father and Christ as our Elder Brother. But this close attachment to God our Father and fellowship with one another only remains legitimate as long as we remain in Christ Jesus.
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:3-7.
4) Our Elder Brother Jesus Christ clearly recognized this great need among His followers and siblings to truly live as real brothers and sisters to each other, and thus He then commanded each of us to show unselfish love to one another.
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35.
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love....This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends....These things I command you, that ye love one another.” John 15:9-10, 12-13, 17.
Our Elder Brother Jesus Christ who is also our King and Lord has commanded all of His followers and fellow siblings to love each other as He has loved us! This means that we are not to love one another as little or as greatly as we may feel like, but are to love one another in the same full and complete unselfish way as Christ love us! And may God fully forgive us all for failing to truly love one another as He has loved us!
Since we all together make up the body of Christ, then if we indeed show true unselfish Christ-like love for each other member of Christ’s body, then by doing so we are actually showing our love for Christ. And in addition to this we are also showing our love for God as our mutual Father who gives us the ability to “live, and move, and have our being” and thus to show love in the first place (Acts 17:28)!
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40.
But f we do not show true Christ-like love for each of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and members of His body, then we are actually not showing our love for Christ, and in addition are not showing our love for God as our mutual Father!
“Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” Matthew 25:45.
5) What happens if we refuse to love one or more of our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith as Christ loves us? By not loving one another, we are directly breaking the explicit command of Jesus, and are also revealing that we really do not love our Lord! And if we do not love our Lord by not loving one or more of our fellow brothers and sisters, then we are actually showing that we hate them! And if we choose not to repent of this hatred, but instead continue on in this unloving pathway, then what will our growing and festering hatred for our Lord and one another lead us to do?
“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end [in keeping God and Christ’s commandments in loving Them and each other], the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:10-13.
What will your lack of expressing and manifesting true unselfish Christ-like love for all of your fellow brothers and sisters in the faith lead you to do? Your lack of love will lead you to express and manifest hatred towards your brothers and sisters in Christ, and then you will betray them! And in betraying one or more of your own brothers and sisters, you are also betraying your Elder brother Jesus Christ whose flesh and body you all are a part of, as well as God your Father whose children you all are! And what is another name for one who betrays his own family members?
“And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him [Jesus] unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him....and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.” Mark 14:10-11, Luke 6:16.
Too wilfully betray and turn traitor against your own family members or even the nation you are a part of, would make you into one of the greatest enemies of your family or nation. So then if you betray and turn traitor against your fellow Christians in the same faith, you would become one of the greatest enemies of your own brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as your own Lord and Husband Jesus Christ, and your own Father - the Almighty God! This great sin would also show that you in direct sympathy and league with Lucifer, who was the first great betrayer and traitor of his heavenly family! And with you then being in union and of one mind with that apostate master and architect of the greatest rebellion against God and Christ and the angelic family this universe has ever seen, then there will be no limit as to how deep into apostasy and sin you will go! You will even find yourself being willing to work in harmony with those whom you know are servants of Lucifer in order to more fully manifest your hatred towards your one time fellow brothers and sisters, and thus the holy and infinite Godhead as well, in your desperate efforts to exalt yourself as supreme over them! And thus by doing so, your destiny will be fixed for time and for eternity in the lake of fire!
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.” Hebrews 6:4-8.
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-31.
There will be nothing you can do to avoid being eternally destroyed if you determine to wilfully betray and turn traitor against one or more of your fellow brothers and sisters in the faith, no matter how many clever and carefully hidden agreements you might make with Lucifer himself or with any other fallen agents of his!
“Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD...Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report. For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it [or in other words, there is nowhere to hide]. For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act [of a God of love actually destroying the majority of His own creation that turned traitor against Him and His Son].” Isaiah 28:15-21.
“...the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8, 10-12.
And to think that all this sad traitorous and destructive pathway ending in everlasting death began because you willfully chose not to express and manifest true unselfish Christ-like love for all of your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ!
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love....If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us....and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him....If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." 1 John 4:7-8, 12, 16, 20-21.
If we truly have Christ-like love for each and every one of our brothers and sisters in the faith, then God is in reality dwelling in us. But if we have hatred for one or more of our brothers and sisters in the faith, then it is not God who is dwelling in us, but Lucifer is instead the ruling power in our lives!
6) I hope you can plainly see that if you choose to obey your Lord Jesus Christ’s command to love all of your fellow brothers and sisters in the faith as He has loved you, then by continuing to do so you are indeed showing your love for Jesus and your Father, and you will indeed be saved!
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand [who had done His will], Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”. Matthew 25:34.
But if you should instead choose to disobey your Lord’s command by not loving one or more of your fellow brothers and sisters in the faith as Christ has loved you, then by continuing to do so you are indeed showing your hatred for your Saviour and God your Father, and you will indeed be lost!
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand [who refused to go His will], Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlating fire, prepeared for the devil and his angels...And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Matthew 25:41, 46.