On Facebook someone read my post from Monday and asked me some questions. What is to follow was my response to these questions.
You have asks several and very important questions that everyone that calls themselves “Christian” should be asking. If some were for your own personal dilemma or to cause other readers to think I don’t know, but I will assume for the response which Christ Himself would address if He was responding to your questions.
The question was asked:
“How much must we hate someone to let them die in their sin?”
In the past when the Bible was more widely read and understood by most in the population, which itself could not occur until after the mass production of the King James Version of the Bible, I would say it was a type of hatred. But in today’s society where few can in any honesty say that they have truly read the Bible and take the word of what they hear form a pastor or priest once a week, as to truly “knowing” the Bible. Most in today’s religious sector that call themselves “Christian” are the lukewarm, which is so disliked by Jesus Christ Himself that he says he would rather we deny God then to be lukewarm. (Revelation 3:14-22)
Due to their own lukewarm life they do not realize that they are not one with Christ, but are living in a false relationship with who they think God and His Son are.
Many that do know of the true relationship with Christ are driven by the Holy Spirit to reach out to the masses, be they lukewarm or cold. There are other that are awakening to their “hot” understanding of the teaching of Jesus and His disciples. They ask this very question that you have asked. I know I did and as a result I was guided to write a blog in an attempt to awaken those that are the “lukewarm.” That is my calling. For we are in the age of the seventh letter to the churches within the book of Revelation.
When someone is “hot” for Christ they are unable to sit on their laurels of their salvation and they seek even through hardship to help others awaken to the truly eternal life which can only come by placing God at the core of their everyday life 24/7/365.
Matthew 22:36 – Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.
The question was asked:
“Dare I say if I don’t promote the Gospel of Christ and people around me die in their sin, does that make me a murderer at heart?”
Per 1 John 3:14 – If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. 15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. 16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. 23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.
“We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.”
Matthew 28:18 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
I think this answers your question.
The question was asked:
“If I have knowledge of a way for others to live eternally with God, yet don’t share it, haven’t I missed the entire Gospel myself?”
Yes.