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| Measuring Christ |
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Do we measure Christlikeness, or amount of Jesus in a person, by their knowledge of Scripture and the spiritual issues of the day? Clearly not, as Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that their knowledge of Scripture gained them nothing (John 5:39-40).
Do we measure one’s Christlikeness by the length of time they’ve called themselves Christian? Common sense says not necessarily. It does take time to grow in Christian maturity after all. Yet Scripture also contains warnings not to become stale (Rev 3:2) or go backwards in the faith (2 Pet 1:10). These warnings wouldn’t be necessary if all we needed to become Christlike was “time in.” Thus mere passage of time alone does not guarantee a stronger walk with the Lord.
Do we measure one’s Christlikeness by their vocabulary, level of intelligence, or the way they sound when they talk/write about spiritual matters? Common sense again says no! We are told very plainly in Scripture that human wisdom can be empty. Human wisdom and experience is actually one of the greatest sources of pride, which, when questioned, can quickly turn to indignance and condescension.
Along the same lines, do we measure one’s Christlikeness by the gentleness of their voice or the sweetness of their words? When a person tells you they love you, does that alone prove the sentiment is a fruit of the Spirit? Many a wife has been cheated on by husbands who insisted they loved them with the sweetest words. True love never says, “take my word for it”, never rests on the words “trust me."
It actually seems to me that a person who has a vast knowledge of scripture and church history, has called themselves a Christian for many years, is extremely intelligent and has a vast spiritual vocabulary, and communicates with great gentleness, claiming love as their motive, could be an extraordinarily dangerous counterfeit! I’ve seen a person with all of these, and yet one key ingredient was missing.
Self-sacrifice seems to me to be the greatest measure of Christlikeness in a person. True love is sacrificial. Don’t all other measures seem as though they are easily counterfeited? But just try to counterfeit self sacrifice…
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| To add a comment to "Measuring Christ" |
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| October 10, 2008 |
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| Very true brother. Our motivation for service ought to come from our knowing Him and then serving Him. Only then will be be motivated by His character rather than our flesh. |
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| October 10, 2008 |
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| I actually preached on this week-http://www.mychurch.org/blog/284414/The-Lord-appears-to-Abraham |
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| October 10, 2008 |
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| Yes Sir To Lay down to Help others until in Hurts Helping...We are to Be Our Brothers Keepers. |
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| October 10, 2008 |
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Well, this isn't scripture, but Ralph Waldo Emerson said:
"Self-sacrifice is the real miracle out of which all the reported miracles grow."
Just think on those words and just see how true that is....when we truly die to self and GIVE...see what miracles take place.
Great Post Brother Mike! I am always encouraged by your words. |
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| October 10, 2008 |
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He was That First Sweet Fragrance & Perfect example of Self Sacrifice Paying Restitution for another.
This Truly Heals & Restores others....When we pick up the Tab so to speak.
Jesus Paid the Tab.......& when He Blesses us We also....are enabled to self sacrifice & Redeem &
pay restitution's.....The Tab also. |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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Greetings Dearest Mike: "But just try to counterfeit self sacrifice" Indeed. In-deed! JamesAD62
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Live Jesus. Be Church. |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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| It is so true dear Mike. I think that you could be a preacher one day. |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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I have a flashlight that is always on. I follow it everywhere it goes. But I seldom really need it because it always avoids the dark. At night it stays inside my brightly lit house. I never get to sleep in a dark room.
This flashlight has a strange quirk. It almost always quits working whenever I find myself in a dark place in life.
Christianity is not being a light on a chandelier that impresses all who see it. It is being a flashlight turned off and put away in the house unused, unnoticed for long periods of time. But when the power is lost in the house it is turned on and used to help others to see. When the power returns the flashlight returns to its' place and is forgotten until it is needed again.
Self is the first flashlight sacrifice the second.
We measure Christ by how much we give up. Christ measures us by how much we give.
Ever take out the trash? Are you getting rid of it or giving it up? Is it a sacrifice or are you glad it is gone?
Mike, ever take your family out? Was it a sacrifice or a joy? Are you glad you went or wish you didn't have to?
When I was younger I made the sacrifice of time to pray and read my bible. I don't make that sacrifice anymore.
Oh, I pray and read my bible but it certainly isn't a sacrifice. It is a privilege, a joy, to talk and listen to GOD. Sometimes I don't get as much sleep as I need cause I spend too much time with GOD. Kinda like when I was dating my wife, Cathie. I fell so in love with her I wanted to spend all my time with her. It was not a sacrifice I made but my hearts' desire.
I did not win Cathie's love by how much I gave up, how much money I spent, how I dressed, or even how I looked. She first noticed me at work, a quiet guy with too long hair who sat alone at work reading his bible. Our first "date" was when she found out I had hitchhiked home from a revival the night before. She asked me if I needed a ride and I said yes and then went and told my pastor that I had another ride, lol. Hey, a guy like me didn't get to spend time with a girl as pretty as she is.
Self sacrifice is not an investment. There are no guarantees. It is not a gimmick. It is not something you do but something you live. It is a living sacrifice, whole hearted, and gets GOD's attention. Is that unreasonable?
12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, (w)holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.
.....peace..... |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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| Right on Bro.! |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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Sacrifice! GOOD POST MIKE, I love this little saying
"OTHERS LORD, YES OTHERS!, Let THIS MY MOTTO BE, HELP ME LIVE FOR OTHERS THAT I MIGHT LIVE FOR THEE" Doing for others is one of the greatest sacrifices one can make "CHRIST DID IT!" |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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Good morning MyChurch! It's gonna be a busy Saturday!!!
Dave, how about the Lord's timing? I sense the Spirit at work!
Melanie, I definitely see the walk of LOVE in you!
David, yes, in this sense we ARE our brothers' keeper! (Though it's easy to confuse this role with "setting our brother straight, which doesn't involve much self-sacrifice at all!")
Keith, I like that saying.
Thanks Megan, though I have no aspirations to preach. But to share the truth, as I see it, yes!
Gordon, always glad to trigger a good word from you.
Thanks James, and Doyle - from the bottom of my heart!
Valarie - Emerson must have known Christ, to recognize the importance and source of self-sacrifice. Thanks for posting the quote....a great one!
Michael...beautiful! |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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| Amen Mike, amen! |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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| HMMMMMM how's that for some food for thought! Great post and a big fat AMEN!!!!! |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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Good morning Mike. Blessings to you and your family today.
Love in Action. Let me practice that everyday. |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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| No greater love than this....the greatest of these is love....all will know you are my disciples if you love one another. |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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| Bro Todd: ya summed it up, amen!!!!!! |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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| For a recent example of the former description, see John Loftus' recent book Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity. This work came on the heels of his previous confessional book, Why I Rejected Christianity: A Former Apologist Explains. But why Loftus confirms in his debates these childish arguments for his atheism bespeaks the fact that these Evangelicals-turned-atheists are falling from grace on grounds other than intellectual. Indeed, Jesus said it all when He stressed that we are to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind (Mark 12). The illustration of the body of Christ possessing many parts but all having equal worth shows quite vividly how the individual Christian is to conduct her life for Christ.
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| October 11, 2008 |
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Thanks CindyLou...what you've shared with us here of your life sure seems to proclaim self-sacrifice.
Angela, thx and I also liked your post on a similar topic, death to self.
Loren, God has a way of shaking his followers by the shoulders to get their attention. May we all be more attentive of his calls to serve others, putting ourselves last.
Bro Todd, at least one of those scriptures came to my mind, AFTER posting this. Shame on me for leaving out God's word! And thanks to you for putting it in!
Shandon, sounds like a couple of difficult reads. If only all of us Christians were immediately and permanently gripped by the Spirit, sacrificially loving everyone around us... Can you imagine how fast the Gospel would spread? |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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| Dan...amen. Teachers/pastors/leaders are definitely held to a higher standard. God bless ~ |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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| ps... Yes, self-sacrifice is most definitely NOT for the "lay people" only!!! lol |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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| Mike, there is no shame or condemnation to those that are in Christ. We are the body of Christ. You shared what the Holy Spirit revealed to you. I was just building upon it line by line precept by precept. You are a blessing keep sharing God's love with us.. |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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| excellent! |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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Excellant word .....This make so much sense!! I dont think its possible to fake self
sacrifice... the faker would gain nothing for themselves and so... would avoid it at all costs.
Ahhhhh I feel much more confident now hehe ... I love that feeling. Thanks Mike
God bless you..... =) |
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| October 11, 2008 |
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Mike You had responded to David's comment....
yes, in this sense we ARE our brothers' keeper! (Though it's easy to confuse this role with ......
..........."setting our brother straight, .........
which doesn't involve much self-sacrifice at all!")
I absolutely agree & add some thoughts....
Example of a Good Shepherd......Is a Man that is like a Body Guard...Like the Secret Service....
The assigned Servant to Protect.
A body guard may at some time knock down the one that he is protecting to avoid getting Shot.
Imagine pushes the Valued President of the USA to the Ground the President Falls ...
The President does get hurt, but minor.
Ripes His Pants & skins His Knees....But the shot Missed Him...& Maybe the Body guard takes the Bullet.
The Real Shepherd ...The True Shepherd is The Guy that will take the Bullets for the Flock.
He faces The Lions & Bears...Imagine You are Defending the Flock & Yelling at The Lions & Bears,
The Sheep Hear the Yelling & think The Shepard is Yelling at them.
The Measure of that quality [self sacrifice] might be 110%....90%....70%...or...10%.
The Real Man of God...Tends to the Well Being of the Sheep. Making sure that they are doing well & Safe.
Some May have a Mixture of Motives in part self sacrifice & for themselves also.
Not all good intentions have great motives or Pure Motives.
What I was getting at was [ Holy ] is Being [Fenced in] barbed wire & electric fences, & that might hurt
the sheep they might get a small scar or...
cut & scared from the barbs & shocked by the Electric...But Not shot by the Bullets,...
Not Eaten by the Lions or Bears or Wolves.
A Good Shepard some times ...May Feel that what He sees Fit & proper in order
to protect the Flock is...Just Like any good Parent would be about protecting their children.
Setting someone Straight can be correct Like The Good Parent Knowing Better.
& also a Know it all & self appointed ...that their only concern is Your Money $ Mainly. Or other
wrong motives also.
Or Spun into Motives that are for the Best interest of the Them the Shepherd ,
& Not for the interest of the Sheep.
Hence Wolf in [Shepherds] Clothing .....is by far worse than Wolf in Sheep's clothing.
Discover The Real deep motivation of the Shepherd. You will know them by the their fruit.
A Real Shepherd Lays His Life Down...Helps & Protects, Guards Others at His Expense of Harm.
Helps ...Really Helps is ....There for You....Close not distant.
Those first will be last.
Those last will be first.
Great participation & Great comments Keep them involved in thinking & commenting Mike...LOL
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| October 12, 2008 |
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Thanks GrammyB!
Robin Joy...I'm excited that this blog sat so well with you! Love your new name too!
Michael, great thoughts, thanks for sharing them. This has certainly stirred you, :-) |
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| October 12, 2008 |
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| You'll know them by the FRUIT they bear ;o) |
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| October 12, 2008 |
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Stirring is.....The Best Thing for Christians !
Like The Agitator in a Washing machine that is what does the Cleaning.....soap & water alone would
never do the cleaning !
It is The Stirring !
Keep Stirring Well....Mike !
Love Ya ! |
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| October 12, 2008 |
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| Then Samuel said, "Is the LORD as delighted with burnt offerings and sacrifices as he would be with your obedience? To follow instructions is better than to sacrifice. To obey is better than sacrificing the fat of rams.(gwt) |
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| October 12, 2008 |
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| 1 Samuel 15:22 is the previous scripture I noted and then Ecclesiastes 5:1 says..Watch your step when you go to the house of God. It is better to go there and listen than to bring the sacrifices fools bring. Fools are unaware that they are doing [something] evil. |
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| October 12, 2008 |
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I Love this Post ...Stir Me Up..LOL......Awesome
Self-sacrifice seems to me to be the greatest measure of Christ-likeness in a person. True love is sacrificial. Don’t all other measures seem as though they are easily counterfeited? But just try to counterfeit self sacrifice…
Beautiful Line Mike & so True.....We Must Sacrifice All ...to Be Christlike at all.
Only when We Care Enough About Everybody else First & Before Ourselves are We Christlike.
Then We Set Out To Help & Heal Hurting & Broken Hearted People.
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| October 12, 2008 |
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Amen Marjay, the FRUIT of the Spirit is... love, sacrificial love (or it ain't love at all).
Jimmie, Jesus said "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." So I agree, obedience is key! How did Christ love? Self-sacrificially. And the sacrifices mentioned in those verses, were anything but sacrifice of self.
Linda, so beautifully said, thank you! |
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| October 12, 2008 |
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WHOA!!! I'll be chompin on this for a while...GREAT WORD!!!
But just try to counterfeit self sacrifice… |
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| October 13, 2008 |
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Brother Mike love is just ONE of the FRUIT of the spirit....you also must have joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..against such there is no law...And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affects and lusts.....Again...we shall know them by the FRUIT they bear...all of them ;o) |
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| October 13, 2008 |
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| Thanks Marjay! Being fruit, they don't necessarily all come at once, nor do they all come in the same quantity. They are the fruit that the Spirit bears in us when we are filled (influenced). I emphasized love, b/c it fit the blog, but thanks for pointing out that the others are just as important! :-) |
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| October 13, 2008 |
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| Thanks LaT, we chomp together! :-) |
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| October 13, 2008 |
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Hi Mike
What you said makes me think of how Paul's life went. He left behind all the religious stuff he knew and counted it dung compared to the knowledge of knowing Jesus. There were probably few who would challenge his word being so well taught but the fruit in his life was quite barren. There was quite a contrast there with Stephen who was a follower of Jesus who laid down his life while Paul looked on with approval.
I don't know if you should be a preacher or not like was mentioned by another brother but you do have a call on your life to speak into lives. Your real Mike and somewhat like Robin in the fact that your transparent.
Take Care |
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| October 13, 2008 |
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| Praise GOD for this blog and the many comments.........as you have done this onto one of these, you have also done it unto me.......have you fed someone that was hungry, have you clothed someone that had little or nothing to wear.....have you given shelter to someone that had no place to call home....have you forgiven someone for their trespasses against you or your family members, have you apologized to them for your trespasses against them or their family members........... (without blasting it to the whole world, or looking down on them) I love you much. continue to encourage, love, give hope and inspire others to be a man/woman after GOD's own heart. |
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| October 13, 2008 |
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| Norman, thank you for your comment, very very blessed by it. Good point too, very interesting. Paul would have probably said he was loving the Lord sacrificially, as he sought to destroy "The Way" (Christ's followers). Yet Stephen demonstrated TRUE sacrificial giving, by laying down his life. Stephen was also among the first deacons, so he was accustomed to sacrificing himself for the needs of others. You're right Norman, quite a contrast! |
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| October 13, 2008 |
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| wonderful ,,,keep up the good words .you,r friend through christ .theresa |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| I did not have time to read all the comments. grrr. Anyway, wonderful, wonderful blog. I never understood, even back when I was a wahh wahh baby Christian, how people could proclaim to be Christians yet do nothing to serve the Lord except warm a chair/pew. No fruit, ya' know what I mean? Great blog as usual, Mike. |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| I can tell a true one from a counterfeit by the fruit they bear.......in whatever season, though they are white nuckling life and pressing into God with all they have just to get through the trial...they bear fruit...though they fall, they bear fruit from it..... |
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| October 15, 2008 |
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| Thank you Theresa, Coreena and Cheryl. It appears many of us look at the fruit of the person, the fruit of self-sacrifice speaking the loudest. The first fruit of the Spirit listed in Gal. 5:22 is LOVE (agape). As we know, there are several words for love in Greek (the original language the New Testament), but one word in English. So subtle shades of meaning in the original text are lost in the translation into English. Agape is a special kind of love, a love characterized by sacrificial service, and the determination to persevere in these acts. |
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