One decree from Pharo, written in 3 different languages, was the key to unlocking ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Hieroglyphics appeared to be a simple form of communication by which pictures were used to convey a message. Yet this illustrated language had proven to be most baffling, that was until the Rossetta stone was discovered.
Now by simply comparing a language that we know to a language being debated, we can understand the precise meaning of the Egyptian text.
The Bible also seems to present a simple and clear message for mankind to understand and learn from.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." - John 3:16-17
Yet it is obvious from all the various Christian denominations, debates within seminaries and amongst theologians, that the Biblical message may not be so easy to grasp.
Simple Christian words such as repentance, sin, and even love, seemingly (through observation) remain beyond our comprehension. Polarization occurs as we try to make sense of these terms, with some Churches meeting on Saturdays, some flying rainbow flags, some very casual, and some very ceremonial.
Repentance:
"From the time Jesus began His ministry, He preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - Matthew 4:17
But repentance was not a new concept, even throughout the Old Testament God had called people to REPENT.
"Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin." - Ezekiel 18:30
Job says, "I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." - Job 42:6
The obvious question is, repent from what... to what?
Some Churches say, repent from not keeping the seventh day sabbath, some say from not loving everyone as they are, some say from pomp and circumstance, some say from not showing proper reverence.
All understand that sin is the object of God's call to repent, but why do we stumble over a word which contains only 3 letters?
Sin:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest command. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." - Matthew 22:36-40
If sin is defying God's will, as given to us through His decrees and law, then anything short of loving God with all that we are is sinning. Any deviance from the greatest command is to be found guilty of defying all of God's commands, precisely because ALL of His commands emanate from the greatest of them.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23
"Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." - Psalm 51:5
We all stand guilt ridden and depraved until we understand... loving God with ALL.
Love:
Jesus proclaimed, "A new command I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." - John 13:34-35
Love is not a mere sentiment or emotion, symbolism without substance.
Love without action, just as an action without love, is meaningless and futile.
Every person on God's earth receives His love.
"He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." - Matthew 5:45
We can love others or love ourselves only because God first provided the love for us.
What we do with God's love is the issue concerning sinning or not.
Because to "love God" is obviously done by loving like God ('as I (Jesus) have loved you, that you also love one another').
Jesus taught, "Greater love has no man than to lay down (deny) his life for another."
Hate is not the opposite of love... Apathy (withholding God's love to our self while disregarding someone in need) is the opposite of genuine Godly love.
"Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2
Rossetta:
How can we know with absolute certainty what Scripture (God's inspired message to mankind) actually means? By merely inserting Jesus's ACTION in place of a word which appears simple.
What one word best describes Jesus?
Would you say... Love?
Yet did Jesus love Himself?
"Greater love has no man than to lay down His life for another."
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,"
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength."
"And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
The best single word to describe Jesus is... Selfless.
Jesus wants His disciples to become like He is, to be restored to the original "image and likeness" of our Creator. So, every instruction that He gives is meant to achieve that very objective. To move us towards Christlikeness, which is the sanctification process (cleansing selfishness from us) resulting in transformation (becoming ever more selfless like Jesus).
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." - Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34
"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." - Luke 14:27
Self-denial and bearing one's own cross are both exercises in defeating selfishness.
We must echo the words of John the Baptist, "He (Jesus) must increase, but i (John) must decrease", selfishness subsides while selflessness thrives.
Through the leading and power of the Holy Spirit we must walk in His way, living and loving selflessly which in turn grows our faith in the One who promised to provide for us selflessly.
Actions speak a language louder than words, so try this.
Every time you read...
SIN, substitute selfish.
LOVE, substitute selfless.
REPENT, substitute going from selfish to selfless.
These simple substitutions, from words we easily understand to words which are debated and defined in many different ways, will unlock God's true meaning and intent.
What was the iniquity which caused Lucifer to be cast down... Selfishness.
What was the action which caused Adam and Eve to fall... Selfishness.
What temptation was Jesus subjected to in the wilderness... To be selfish.
What attribute distinguishes wheat from tares... Wheat provides for others; tares take for self.
What grapevine branches will be pruned away... Those which don't produce for others.
What divided those on His right and on His left... Selflessness and Selfishness.
What does the cross signify... The greatest display of selflessness for all of eternity.
An infant is selfish from birth, children and teenagers are selfish, young adults to senior adults are selfish. All people have behaved selfishly and fallen short of the pure selflessness of God.
Jesus compares a rich man finding the way of Christ to a camel threading the eye of a needle, because the attribute which people hoard wealth and possessions for me, my, and mine, is selfishness.
Selfishness so easily entangles us because the world, flesh, and devil all appeal to our fallen nature... Selfish. The world makes selfishness appealing, the flesh desires, while the enemy of our soul whispers, "you deserve, just do it, you got this".
Every example of human failure given to us in Scripture is a result of Selfishness.
Every example of righteous behavior is a result of Selflessness.
Israel was blessed when Selfless and cursed when Selfish.
The United States of America has been the most selfless (and most blessed) nation in human history. No other people have shed the blood of their sons and daughters, not for the sake of conquest, but for the possibility of freedom for others. But as selfishness thrives in America's prominence, peace and prosperity, Christians are becoming ruled over by our enemies... Precisely because we've abandoned our first love, the love for others.
"For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." - Revelation 3:17
Clarity : Revelation through Christ
"To love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength", is to love like He loves... Selflessly.
This is why the second is likened unto it, "To love you neighbor as yourself".
When the King of kings and Lord of lords was obedient unto death, even death upon a cross, for our sake; He manifested selfless love to the utmost and purest degree which forever earned Him the title of "the Christ". - Matthew 16:16
Christ's greatest love was focused on those who needed redemption, thus fulfilling the Greatest Command of Loving the Lord our God will all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, all our strength.
Can we behave selflessly towards God directly, by burnt offerings and sacrifices?
"Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams." - 1 Samuel 15:22
Jesus showed us what it was to obey, then commanded us to do likewise.
"A new command I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." - John 13:34-35
We have no other way to love a God who needs absolutely nothing, than to simply follow His example and love as He loves... Selflessly.
"Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it unto Me." - Matthew 25:14
"We know that anyone born of God does not keep on behaving selfishly; the One who was born of God protects him, and the selfish one (satan) cannot touch him." - 1 John 5:18
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