 |
| Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > General Chat > Interpret this Scriptural Episode | Forum Quick Jump
|
| 
One Love
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 9/20/2010 9:42 AM (GMT -6) |   | | John 15
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Let everyone give a perspective. 
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. | | Back to Top | | |
 |
One Love
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 9/20/2010 9:52 AM (GMT -6) | | Something I see immediately:
For a Christian disciple, choosing to "love one another" like Christ (God) loves us is the way that we "abide" in His love. That seems very clear from the text. Jesus himself commands his disciples to "love one another."
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
What this means to me is twofold:
1) To choose not to "love one another" is a choice against the directly spoken will of Christ and the nature of God (who IS Love). It's a Lordship issue, again.
2) To choose not to "love one another" is a choice to cut oneself off from full perception and reception of God's love for oneself. One cannot fully "walk in the Spirit" without opening oneself to giving out love to their neighbor. One's openness to give out love reflects the fullness of love that one has been given by God already. Such a person has "love to spare", as it were.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 9/20/2010 9:56:10 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
|
One Love
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 9/20/2010 10:01 AM (GMT -6) | | |
Random Thought:
Being as Communion <=> Personhood as Intimacy.
Basically, a human being isn't really "person" unless that being has intimacy with an other. Using Asher's Buberian terms, a human being that only thinks of the other in "I-It" categories is an "individual", not a "person" in the truest sense. Only when the human being's very identity is based upon an "I-Thou" relationship with it's Creator and fellow creatures is it's personhood fully realized.
As I think about it...the "I-It" thinking necessarily leads to domination, myopic perspective of others, and oppression of others...while the "I-Thou" thinking necessarily leads to empathy, seeing others on their own terms, and liberation of others.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 9/20/2010 10:23:37 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
|
One Love
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 9/20/2010 11:03 PM (GMT -6) | | D: For a Christian disciple, choosing to "love one another" like Christ (God) loves us is the way that we "abide" in His love. That seems very clear from the text. Jesus himself commands his disciples to "love one another."
T: Could we better say: Abiding in Christ's love for us is the way that we love one another?
What do you think about the difference? Is it important?
In other words, we don't love others in order to accomplish our abiding. We abide and then love. It's abiders who love, not lovers who then abide.
There is a sense where we, in fulness of knowledge of God's love (Ephesians 3:14-20), overflow with God's love to others. In abiding in that "overflow", we love one another. At the same time, the openness to that "overflow" is directly related to our openness for choosing to "love one another" in fulfilling Christ's commandments. Look at the Scripture...
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
It seems like the abiding in Christ's love has the prerequisite of choosing to "love one another". And it makes sense. Christ's choices to keep to the Father's Will opened him to be empowered by the Father's Love for him in the Spirit. It's the same way with us. Yes, the "overflow" of Christ's love will empower our ability to "love one another", but Christ will not make that choice FOR us. WE have to choose to "love one another" and then trust that Grace (God Himself working in us) will be sufficient for us in our weak ability to "love one another."
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 9/20/2010 11:06:05 PM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
|
One Love
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 9/22/2010 3:43 PM (GMT -6) | | | | |
| Forum Information | Currently it is Monday, November 09, 2026 11:00 AM (GMT -6)
There are a total of 97,718 posts in 6,040 threads.
In the last 3 days there were 0 new threads and 0 reply posts. View Active Threads
|
Forum powered by dotNetBB v2.42EC SP3
dotNetBB © 2000-2026 |
|
|