“Christian Ethos in Action”. The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me), as the reader and disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament. First, we will be confronted with various situation and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.
Today we are confronted with love, hate, neighbors, enemies, prayer, persecution, good, and evil. Let’s begin:
Matthew 5:46 – For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love (ag-ap-ah’-o; to love; wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem) 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 makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect (tel’-i-os; having reached its end, complete, perfect; (a) complete in all its parts, (b) full-grown, of full age, (c) especially of the completeness of Christian character), as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)
REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:
“I have heard that it was said, ‘I shall love my neighbor and hate my enemy.’ But I say I must love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me, so that I may be a son of my Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if I love those who love me, what reward do I have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if I greet only my brothers, what more am I doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? I am, therefore, must be perfect, as my heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:41-48)
“It is for freedom’s sake that we are being made free”.
Please, let’s pray for one another along this way.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
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