JESUS Said!

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 JESUS Said!

When JESUS said, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” “Lay down your life for your friend.” “When someone slaps you on the cheek, turn to him your other cheek.” “When someone asks for your coat, give him your shirt also.” “When someone asks you to help them go a mile, help them go two miles.” “It is better to give than receive.” “Love your enemies.” “Do good to those who spitefully use you.” He was not talking about Christian or even religious behavior, He was talking about human nature! The nature that all people of every culture, of every time period should exhibit because we all are made in The Image of GOD! (Study the Gospels).

When JESUS said, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword!” He also said that our enemies would be our family and friends. That when we were persecuted in one city to flee to another. We see this in the ministry of Paul throughout Acts, not only Paul but Peter and Phillip also; led by HOLY SPIRIT they left or stayed in the places where they were accepted or persecuted (Study Acts and James 4:13-17).

When JESUS said “Lay down your life, take up your cross and follow Me.”  What was His cross? His cross was the sins of the world - past, present and future; the sin nature of humanity. “For GOD made JESUS Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become The Righteousness of GOD in CHRIST.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (my paraphrase). So what is our cross? It is our sin! Paul was always conscious of his sin, that he persecuted JESUS by persecuting His Followers throughout Judea and was in the process of expanding his persecution when JESUS revealed Himself to him. He truly repented and never again persecuted those who believed in JESUS but he always strove to overcome his conscience by his obedience. “Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.’” Luke 14:23 “For if we are beside ourselves, it is for GOD; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For The Love of CHRIST compels us, because we judge thus; that if One died for all, then all died.” 2 Corinthians 5:13-14 (Study 1 Peter 2:18-25).