Jesus Christ, Lord Master of the universe at the Almighty’s decree, was not vague. He said love your enemy.
He meant it.
He said to turn the other cheek.
He did it.
He said to not resist him who is evil.
He died doing it.
He was murdered for following the commands of our Father who is in heaven. Holy is His Name.
He said if His kingdom was of this world, which it is not, His servants would be fighting. What else do we need to know? Repent, obey…or perish…more words from Jesus the Son of God and Savior of your soul.
Wait a minute. Perish? For killing your enemy? Well, let’s see what the Word of God proclaims.
#1. Are you a son of your Father? Who qualifies for this supreme eternal title?
Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect (perfectly mature as a saint), as your heavenly Father is perfect (flawless as God).”
#2. Indeed, overcomers are sons of God. But who qualifies as an overcomer?
Revelation 21:7-8 “He who overcomes (the world’s ways) will inherit these things (eternal life and its benefits), and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
#3. What do overcomers actually overcome? So, if they fail to overcome, they perish and have their name erased from the book of life? Yes.
Revelation 3:5-6 ‘He who overcomes (the world’s ways) will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
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Following below the posts are quotes from the early church and its leaders…
LOVE YOUR ENEMY, 3 YOUNG MEN, & A GRAIN OF WHEAT [MONDAY MANNA ISSUE 141]
The three young men were virtually inseparable that long, hot summer. The budding love that radiated from their times together was apparent to all. And it was, as always, the work of the Holy Spirit as He once again proved able to bring glorious praise to Jesus through the Father.
The young men couldn’t have been more different from each other. None of them knew Jesus when they first met.But the initial unity in the diversity needed to be protected and nourished in…(read more by clicking the link above)
THE MARINE, NAVY SEAL, HITLER & GOD’S KINGDOM: A TRUE STORY [MONDAY MANNA 45]
Mike was a policeman, and a simple thinker, Larry remarked. “And another thing, Marc.” “Yes?,” as I awaited his response. “He’s a Marine.” “Now?” “Oh, no. But you remember, once a Marine, always a Marine!” It would prove to be a harbinger of things to come later that night at the dinner table.
WHY DID DIRK WILLEMS TURN BACK TO SAVE HIS ENEMY? [AT THE BATTLE FRONT 98]
Late in the winter of 1569, Dirk Willems of Holland was discovered as an Anabaptist, and a thief catcher came to arrest him at the village of Asperen. Running for his life, Dirk came to a body of water still coated with ice. After making his way across in great peril, he realised his pursuer had fallen through into the freezing water.
Turning back, Dirk ran to the struggling man and dragged him safely to shore. The thief catcher wanted to release Dirk, but a burgomaster – having appeared on the scene – reminded the man he was under oath to deliver criminals to justice. Dirk was bound off to prison, interrogated, and tortured in an…(read more by clicking the link above)
AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT FINALLY FOLLOWS JESUS [MONDAY MANNA 88]
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I’m Sam Waters along with Roland Panna here at the Badger News Forum. Welcome to this special Saturday night program that has everyone wondering what is on the mind of President Gary Forest as he brings his message from Camp David, Maryland.
“Well, Roland, this is an unusual night. The President late last night requested 30 minutes of prime time to deliver yet another parting address to the American people. He already said goodbye formally this week at the White House. What’s your take on all this?” …(read more by clicking the link above)
JESUS FOR AMERICAN PRESIDENT? HIS GLOBAL TV INTERVIEW [MONDAY MANNA 163]
Welcome to this special Tuesday night edition of ‘Meet The Presidential Candidates.’ Our broadcast here is being picked up globally.
“Tonight is most unusual…most unusual indeed. Historic, I might add. Never before have Roland and I interviewed such a…a…a American Presidential candidate and his VP choice that is as controversial…and as intriguing…as this one. Not even close!
…“Well, Roland, what do we say about having Jesus Christ and his choice of Vice President, the apostle Paul, on the show?” (read more by clicking the link above)
A DECLARATION OF DE-PENDENCE VS INDEPENDENCE [DEAR BRETHREN 15]
Dear brother and sister in Christ,
We certainly love you all with the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus. Lately, we’re seeing an emphasis on your personal identify with the militant American church that claims Jesus. That causes us great concern for your standing with God.
First off, we hope all those who claim the lordship of Jesus as “little Christs” (Christians) will agree with His Holy Scriptures that we are… (read more by clicking the link above)
THE SYSTEMS OF MAN, JULY 4TH, & IDOLATRY OF PATRIOTISM [AT THE BATTLE FRONT 103]
Brothers and sisters,
“When we as believers enter the world’s systems, we surrender our power and privileges as citizens of the kingdom of God.”
So writes brother Rick Frueh. How true.
The Word of God calls them zealots…over-the-top murderous zeal for the fatherland. The book of James was an admonition to believers who were still using inflammatory speech to stir people up and then killing Romans as their enemies in order to gain dominion over these… (read more by clicking the link above)
WHICH “IN-DEPENDENCE DAY” DO YOU CELEBRATE? MAN’S OR GOD’S? [AT THE BATTLEFRONT 90]
Dear friends,
As followers of Christ by His mighty Holy Spirit, are we in-dependence on Him? Or are we independent of Him? Our eternal destiny is dependent of this one fact. Can we safely proclaim that a pagan who is independent of God is in rebellion?
What follows is an excellent piece by David Neal on “Independence Day.” (read more by clicking the link above)
A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST IS AN AMERICAN NO MORE – BY TIM PRICE [AT THE BATTLE FRONT 122]
With the topic of just cause in a war against Iraq, which the mere suggestion is fraught with error, we should ask is there such a thing as a “just cause” for war as Saint Augustine suggested? From a Christian perspective the only answer can be, is if God were waging it Himself! Yet this still does not deal with the modern mindset many believers have that there is cause for an altercation with Iraq and that we are just…
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We who formerly used to murder one another do not only now refrain from making war upon our enemies, but also, that we may not lie nor deceive our examiners, willingly die confessing Christ. Justin Martyr (A.D. 160) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg.176
If we are commanded, then, to love our enemies, as I have remarked above, whom have we to hate? If injured, we are forbidden to retaliate, lest we become as bad ourselves: who can suffer injury at our hands? Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg. 45
We who were filled with war, and mutual slaughter, and every wickedness, have each through the whole earth changed our warlike weapons – our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into implements of tillage – and we cultivate piety, righteousness, philanthropy, faith, and hope, which we have from the Father Himself through Him who was crucified. Justin Martyr (A.D. 160) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg.254
No new covenant was given, but they used the Mosaic law until the coming of the Lord; but from the Lord’s advent, the new covenant which brings back peace, and the law which gives life, has gone forth over the whole earth, as the prophets said: “For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem; and He shall rebuke many people; and they shall break down their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks, and they shall no longer learn to fight.”… the law of liberty… caused such a change in the state of things, that these [nations] did form the swords and war-lances into ploughshares, and changed them into pruning-hooks for reaping the corn, [that is], into instruments used for peaceful purposes, and that they are now unaccustomed to fighting, but when smitten, offer also the other cheek. Irenaeus (A.D. 180) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg.512
For when they know that we cannot endure even to see a man put to death, though justly; who of them can accuse us of murder or cannibalism? …But we, deeming that to see a man put to death is much the same as killing him, have abjured such spectacles. How, then, when we do not even look on, lest we should contract guilt and pollution, can we put people to death? Athenagorus (A.D. 137) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.147
Above all, Christians are not allowed to correct with violence the delinquencies of sins. For it is not those that abstain from wickedness from compulsion, but those that abstain from choice, that God crowns. It is impossible for a man to be steadily good except by his own choice. For he that is made good by compulsion of another is not good; for he is not what he is by his own choice. For it is the freedom of each one that makes true goodness and reveals real wickedness. Whence through these dispositions God contrived to make His own disposition manifest. Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.581
