Galatians 3:28 (NKJV) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
God has chosen to see us in Christ and He loves us unconditionally. He is not gender or racially biased. The Bible says there is neither Jew nor Greek, because all of us are accepted in Christ. Therefore, there should be no racial prejudice or segregation in church. In fact, racial diversity in church speaks powerfully to the world!
James 2:2-3 (NKJV) For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,”
There should be no preferential treatment towards the rich in church, and nobody should feel entitled to it. Instead, we should view ourselves as stewards of God’s blessings and be prepared to give someone a lift if we have a car. Walking in strife, division, anger, vengeance, bitterness, contentions, and hatred, instead of choosing to walk in love is walking in darkness.
1 Corinthians 3:3 (NKJV) For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
We should avoid excluding or gossiping about people within the body of Christ. The Bible teaches us not to look at the speck in someone’s eyes while forgetting the log in our own eyes. When we realise that there is a log in our own eyes, we will be gracious and extend Agape love towards others.
Philippians 2:1-3 (NKJV) Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfil my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord of one mind.Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
It is inevitable for church members to have their own opinions with regards to the direction of the church, but those walking in Agape love will humble themselves to flow with the vision and strategy of the church and contribute their gifts in one accord. We should never do anything out of selfish ambition, be conceited or divisive, because that is what Lucifer did by leading the angels away from God.
God expects us to love others, and we should be growing progressively in unconditional love, which always seeks the highest good of others; it is the self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return and does not consider the object’s worth—it is a love by choice.
Sermon Series: How to love? (Part 2)
在教会里行出无条件的爱
加拉太书3:28并不分犹太人、希腊人、自主的、为奴的，或男或女，因为你们在基督耶稣里都成为一了。
神选择在基督里看待我们，祂无条件地爱我们。祂没有性别或种族偏见。圣经说不分犹太人也不分希腊人，因为我们都在基督里被接纳。因此，在教会中不应该有种族偏见或区分。事实上，教会的种族多样性对世界有强大的说服力!
雅各书2:2-3 若有一个人戴着金戒指，穿着华美衣服，进你们的会堂去，又有一个穷人，穿着肮脏衣服也进去；你们就重看那穿华美衣服的人说“请坐在这好位上”，又对那穷人说“你站在那里”，或“坐在我脚凳下边”。
在教会里不应该优待富人，也不应该有人觉得自己有权享受优待。相反，我们应该把自己看作是神的祝福的管家，如果我们有车，就准备好让别人搭车。行走在纷争、分裂、愤怒、报复、苦毒、争竞、仇恨之中，不行走在爱之中，就是行走在黑暗之中。
哥林多前书3:3你们仍是属肉体的，因为在你们中间有嫉妒、纷争，这岂不是属乎肉体、照着世人的样子行吗？
我们应该避免排斥或议论基督身体内的人。圣经教导我们，不要只看别人眼中的刺，却忘了自己眼中的梁木。当我们意识到自己眼中有一根梁木时，我们就会宽厚地以Agape无条件的爱待人。
腓立比书2:1-3所以在基督里若有什么劝勉，爱心有什么安慰，圣灵有什么交通，心中有什么慈悲怜悯，你们就要意念相同，爱心相同，有一样的心思，有一样的意念，使我的喜乐可以满足。凡事不可结党，不可贪图虚浮的荣耀，只要存心谦卑，各人看别人比自己强。
教会成员对教会的方向有自己的意见是不可避免的，但那些在Agape无条件的爱中行走的人会谦卑地跟随教会的异象和战略，并一致贡献他们的恩赐。我们不应该做任何事出于自私的野心，自负或分裂，因为这是路西法所做的，带领天使远离神。
神希望我们爱他人，我们应该在无条件的爱中逐渐成长，这种爱总是为他人寻求最深的益处;这是一种无私的爱，无偿地付出，不求任何回报，也不考虑对象的价值——这是一种爱的选择。
讲章系列:如何去爱?(第2部分)
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