Several weeks ago we studied the subject of "Tearing Down Strongholds." In that study we learned that most of our struggles are fought on the battleground of our mind. Our fears, our doubts, our desires, our emotions, our concerns–these are things we often cradle in the depths of our mind–a place in which we are the only ones who have the key to unlock them. We store them away, trying to keep them safe from anyone who might find opportunity to use them against us. Often times, satan will use these as weapons to try and steal our faith and destroy our hope. He will try to convince us that our shortcomings will ultimately lead to our demise. This is why we must realize that our strength is in Jesus Christ, not in ourselves. Something we must do is to arm ourselves with a sound mind. We must cast off our former ways of thinking and trust in God’s word. We must be fully persuaded that God is true and the final authority over every thought, every conviction, and every philosophy. Through the teachings of the apostle Paul, we will look at 3 areas where we can strengthen ourselves in Christ if we will allow ourselves to be "fully persuaded".
We must be persuaded of God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promise. (Romans 4:18-22)
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Even though hope had abandoned Abraham, he still believed the promise of God. He was "strong in faith" and was fully persuaded that God was going to perform what He had promised. Because he believed God, Abraham was accounted as righteous.
We must be persuaded that nothing can separate us from God’s love. (Romans 8:33-39)
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When the enemy tries to bring charges against us, we can be sure that God is a righteous judge and He is the only authority we should be concerned with. Through Jesus, we can overcome any thought, any fear, any doubt, or any false accusation that is contrary to God’s promises. We are justified with God through the blood of Jesus, not because we did anything to deserve it, but because He loves us. God testified to His love by giving His only Son for our sins, even though we were undeserving of it (Rom 5:5-9). We should be fully persuaded that, if Jesus loved us that much, there is nothing that can separate us from Him.
We must be persuaded that God is able to keep us. (2 Timothy 1:9-12)
1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
God called us, we did not just decide to serve Him one day. If He called us, I’m quite confident that He has a plan for us and that He will take us to the completion of that plan. We should stand as boldly as Paul and proclaim, "I am not ashamed of who I am, for I know whom I have believed, and I am fully persuaded that He is able to keep me, no matter what may happen to me or where I may find myself. I know God is the One who called me and that He is able to take me to the fulfillment of His purpose."
Conclusion
The word persuaded is defined in different ways in the Strong’s Concordance. One of the ways it is defined is to mean: to rely (by inward certainty). I believe this best describes the concept of this message. If we will learn to truly rely on God with an inward certainty and believe that He is faithful to fulfill His promises, that He loves us and nothing can ever take us from His hand, and that He is able to keep us until we have ran the course He has planned for us, then we will walk more confidently as His children. The enemy will no longer have any influence over us, because we will find our strength in Christ and know that His grace is sufficient for us.
--John Burkett
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Sunday, October 15, 2006
The Mind of Christ
Philippians 2:1-8
2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,2:2 Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
vs 1-2 In the previous verses (1:28-30), there is an exhortation to be mindful that the privilege of bearing the name of Jesus brings the reward of tribulation. If we, as the Children of God, find our consolation in Him, if we are comforted by His love, if we know the fellowship of His Spirit, and if we experience deep affection and great mercy because of His compassion, we should share this same joy with one another. Paul even proclaimed that this type of unity among the believers would have made his joy complete (fulfilled).
vs 3 Don’t do anything for selfish ambition or to exalt yourself above others; we should humble ourselves before one another and delight in seeing the success of others–even above our own promotions.
vs 4 We shouldn’t be so consumed with our own needs, but should be mindful of the needs of others. If we are God’s Children, we should realize we are not going to lack anything that we need. We should have a heart for the needs of those less fortunate than us. All of our efforts shouldn’t be so self-centered that we don’t have compassion for those who are truly in need.
vs 5 Let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus. This is something we must choose to do. We must desire to have the mind of Christ.
v 6-8 What mind was (is) in Jesus?–Jesus, who is the fulness of all that God ever has been or ever will be, did not come to earth as a great ruler or dignitary, but He took upon Him the form of a servant, made in the likeness of man–the Creator took upon Himself the role of the creature. He humbled Himself–He, as a man, had to take complete control of His human nature–all the wants, fears, doubts, desires, etc. that a human experiences–and bring them under subjection to the obedience of God’s will. Even to the point of the gruesome death of the cross for a world that did not want Him.
Paul instructs us to have this same mind, this same willingness to deny ourselves for the benefit of others.
Colossians 3:12-15
3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
v 12 We must put on these things. This is another exhortation for us to make the choice to be changed in our mind and attitude. We must put on the mind of Christ and let the peace of God rule in our hearts (v15).
v 13 Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. If we have the mind of Christ, we will do the works of Christ. Just as Jesus was willing to overlook our faults to give us the opportunity for forgiveness, we should also be willing to show mercy instead of judgement.
v 14 Put on charity. The power of love is the only thing that can keep us in perfect adhesion. Willing to overlook failures, willing to help one another with burdens, being kind to one another, humbling ourselves toward one another, being patient with one another, forgiving our brother’s trespasses against us–doing these things are what will keep the body of Christ in unity.
v 15 We must let the peace of God rule our hearts. When we delight in God’s Word, we will allow it to be the governing authority of our heart and mind. As we become more aware of His ways and His thoughts, we will realize that our ways and our thoughts are foolish. We will realize that we have been “called out” of the world and translated into His Kingdom. And be ye thankful!
I can only imagine the expression on the faces of the self-righteous Pharisees when they proclaimed to Jesus, “Abraham is our father” and Jesus replied, “If you were the children of Abraham, ye would do the works of Abraham.”(John 8:39) How that word must have cut to the quick of their heart. They could not avoid judging within their own minds to see if their lives could size up to the example set forth by Abraham. This same challenge is given to us as the seed of Christ. Of course, we can never be the perfect example that He is because everyone of us have already fallen short, but we can judge our heart against His Word. If our actions and our conversations reflect those of Jesus, we can be sure that we are well on our way to having the mind of Christ.
John Burkett
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The Faith Delivered unto the Saints
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Definition of contend: (Webster’s Dictionary)
▸ to strive in combat; fight
▸ to strive in debate; argue
▸ to hold to be a fact
What is the faith which was once delivered unto the saints?
▸ 1Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:
▸ Galatians 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Our faith lies in this:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of a virgin into this world, gave Himself to be crucified on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin, was buried, and on the third day was raised from the dead. He ascended into heaven and will physically return again to restore all things to His chosen people and eternally condemn those who, according to 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, “received not the truth that they might be saved, those who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness”and those “that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
This is the message that we must contend for–we must hold to be a fact. There is no other message that can bring hope for a world lost in sin. There are no programs of religion, no traditions of men, no accomplishments of effort or any such thing that can deliver us from the strength of sin–only Jesus and His cross! All else is futile and can only give false hope. This is the message that the saints of God have always professed and held to be true. This is what we preach and the only thing we will put our hope in–Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
1Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1Co 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;1 Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God...
1Co 1:30 ...But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Paul goes on to say in the second chapter of 1 Corinthians that no man’s eye has ever seen, no man’s ear has ever heard, nor has any man’s heart has ever received anything from God unless God revealed it. The only way man can understand the deep truths about God is by the Holy Spirit. Man can attain a glib understanding of thoughts and historical facts from the Bible, and may dimly paint a picture in his mind of a superficial creator–God character, but he can never come to a true understanding of God unless he cleanses the thoughts of humanity with the blood of Jesus Christ. Unto them which are called, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, all that we ever thought of as wise suddenly becomes foolish. The cross becomes our hope and our glory and our boasting, we realize that all of our past efforts have been for nought.
– John Burkett
Definition of contend: (Webster’s Dictionary)
▸ to strive in combat; fight
▸ to strive in debate; argue
▸ to hold to be a fact
What is the faith which was once delivered unto the saints?
▸ 1Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:
▸ Galatians 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Our faith lies in this:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of a virgin into this world, gave Himself to be crucified on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin, was buried, and on the third day was raised from the dead. He ascended into heaven and will physically return again to restore all things to His chosen people and eternally condemn those who, according to 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, “received not the truth that they might be saved, those who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness”and those “that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
This is the message that we must contend for–we must hold to be a fact. There is no other message that can bring hope for a world lost in sin. There are no programs of religion, no traditions of men, no accomplishments of effort or any such thing that can deliver us from the strength of sin–only Jesus and His cross! All else is futile and can only give false hope. This is the message that the saints of God have always professed and held to be true. This is what we preach and the only thing we will put our hope in–Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
1Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1Co 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;1 Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God...
1Co 1:30 ...But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Paul goes on to say in the second chapter of 1 Corinthians that no man’s eye has ever seen, no man’s ear has ever heard, nor has any man’s heart has ever received anything from God unless God revealed it. The only way man can understand the deep truths about God is by the Holy Spirit. Man can attain a glib understanding of thoughts and historical facts from the Bible, and may dimly paint a picture in his mind of a superficial creator–God character, but he can never come to a true understanding of God unless he cleanses the thoughts of humanity with the blood of Jesus Christ. Unto them which are called, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, all that we ever thought of as wise suddenly becomes foolish. The cross becomes our hope and our glory and our boasting, we realize that all of our past efforts have been for nought.
– John Burkett
Sunday, October 01, 2006
A More Excellent Way
Matt 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
Matt 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matt 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight
Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Mark 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins...
Mark 1:7 ...And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
Mark 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
Matt 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
Matt 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali
Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
There are 3 things I want us to take note of from these passages:
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect...10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins...10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all...10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more...10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching...
The work of Christ is:
The first two were done through His shed blood at Calvary, the third is done by the Holy Ghost. What John (Old Covenant) could not do through an outward work, Jesus does through an inward work. Jesus said, “except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John3:3) We must all be “born again”, this is not a natural, outward work that can be done by man, it can only be done by the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17-18:
5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Paul also said we should covet earnestly the best gifts, but yet, he said, “I will show unto you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31). He then goes on to tell us in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 what that “more excellent way” is–it's charity (love). True charity (love) only comes from God through Jesus. Only the Spirit of God can change our selfish nature and cause us to care about others–even our enemies. We know this because it’s not in us to love those who don’t do good to us, only God has that kind of love– Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. John Burkett
Matt 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matt 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight
Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Mark 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins...
Mark 1:7 ...And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
Mark 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
Matt 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
Matt 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali
Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
There are 3 things I want us to take note of from these passages:
- Mark tells us the ministry of John is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- John baptized Jesus–Jesus came up out of the water, leaving John standing in the Jordan River
- Jesus began to preach after John was put in prison
- John, as the last prophet under the law, signifies the passing away of the Old Covenant
- Jesus, as the Son of God, is bringing in the New Covenant
- He baptized with water–this was an outward work which left them waiting for something more. (just as the Old Covenant did)
- He was a voice crying, “prepare ye the way of the Lord”– much in the same way the Old Testament provoked them to examine the sin in their lives (and they tried to cover it).
- He pointed to Jesus–John told the Pharisees & Sadducees (the religious elite) that there righteousness wasn’t good enough, that there was one coming after him whose fan was in His hand, and He would purge His floor and separate the wheat from the chaff.(Matt 3:11-12) Throughout the Old Testament, The Law and the Prophets reveal the sinful nature of man and man’s need of a Savior.
- He said He came to preach the gospel to the poor, heal the broken-hearted, preach deliverance to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19)
- He made the appeal--"come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."(Matt 11:28)
- And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.(Mark 1:17)
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect...10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins...10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all...10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more...10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching...
The work of Christ is:
- The shedding of His blood as the sacrifice for sinful man (the just for the unjust)
- The reconciliation of man to God through His sacrifice
- To change the nature of sinful man by putting His laws into our minds and hearts
The first two were done through His shed blood at Calvary, the third is done by the Holy Ghost. What John (Old Covenant) could not do through an outward work, Jesus does through an inward work. Jesus said, “except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John3:3) We must all be “born again”, this is not a natural, outward work that can be done by man, it can only be done by the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17-18:
5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Paul also said we should covet earnestly the best gifts, but yet, he said, “I will show unto you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31). He then goes on to tell us in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 what that “more excellent way” is–it's charity (love). True charity (love) only comes from God through Jesus. Only the Spirit of God can change our selfish nature and cause us to care about others–even our enemies. We know this because it’s not in us to love those who don’t do good to us, only God has that kind of love– Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. John Burkett
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