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NASB | James 2:8 ¶ If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 2:8 ¶ If, however, you are [really] fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, if you have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit]" you are doing well. [Lev 19:18] |
Subject: Church is kidnapped to Sodom! |
Bible Note: Greetings Melanie! You said: "I guess, I try to think of how Jesus would react and while Paul had no problem being harsh, Jesus never was. If a man or woman repented, He forgave. He didn't demand the consequences demanded by the Law." I was curious, did you have some particular instanc e in mind where Paul was harsh toward someone who had truely repented? The reason I ask is that I don't recall any instance where Paul was ever harsh toward those who had repented. Now, he was very blunt with those who had not repented, as was Jesus. In fact, Scripture does tell us how Paul responded toward those who had repented. 2 Cor. 7:8 says, "Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it?I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while? 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter." 2 Cor. 2:5 says, "If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent?not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven?if there was anything to forgive?I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." So, according to Scripture, Paul recognized the value of repentance and wrote that we should reaffirm our love for those who have repented. Rather than advocating and acting in harshness, Paul instructed Timothy, "Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." (2 Tim. 2:25-26). Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |