by Liberty... I know it can be confusing at times but when you read the New Testament for meaning, not by "numerical verses" which were added by more recent man but in full context you will see that all responsibility is personal. Individual. All relationships with Christ and others are personal. Individual. This isn't by command but by human design and thats by Christ.
According to the Word no man can get to Heaven because he's with a group. There are no group tickets sold for that event but they do offer individual tickets for free if you choose to follow. If it's not in ones personal heart it has no value to God in Heaven. That go's for all things, even good deeds and giving. MT 6: Whats done before man is reward by man whats done only before God ( secret ) is rewarded in Heaven. Because the value is in the heart felt purpose not the act. Anyone ever talk about what good things they have done? You may get your praise and recognition by man but according to the Word....you will have received it in full (on earth).
In the same way our forgiveness to those who sin against us has to be PERSONAL and from our INDIVIDUAL heart because we will be forgiven in the same way we forgive.
Yes there are references to groups of Christian churches to how to operate and such and Yes Christ referenced their failures and calls some out in Revelations but as a group who's members were individually infected with sin.
Now, it can't be any other way. It's all personal responsibility. All relationship with Christ are personal. All forgiveness to for each other must be personal. No church, or preacher or priest or GOVERNMENT makes any difference. That is how the human mans brain, social physics were all created. Because each of us have been given a different heart each has a been given Personal Responsibly. A government can't be compassionate or caring or Christian because it has no individual heart and soul thats required to feel that sentiment. Each citizen can though and that's the only place the responsibility sits. Trying to squeeze heart felt emotions out of a ink printed name on paper of a group ( GOVERNMENT) is as stupid as trying to start a fire with water.
Just like Bobby Knight said folks if you don't master the fundamentals you'll never understand how to play the game and you will constantly loose. Now that the fundamentals are understood let play ball.
People who break the law of the land the Word tells us to "live by " have a certain PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY to the society that prescribes the penalty. If you are fined for speeding and then you say " I've seen the light and will never speed again" The judge will say " Good, then you won't have to pay the 100 buck your paying now again". The judge may PERSONALLY forgive them but the agreed upon ( voted for) system we established as a civil society to live by must be kept in order for it to exist. And God tells us to live by it.
Jesus referenced warnings of prison/jail for those who commits crimes against another but he never condemned the jail or prison or even the need for them. His Word also says uses shame if Christians can't deal with their own so the worldly law doesn't have to.
He also told us in His Word to not forget those in the prison but He didn't ever condemn the jails or prison because He's the one who designed the fallibilities of man so we can have things to overcome and be able to make the PERSONAL CHOICE to repent of those fallibilities and follow ( CHOOSE) Jesus. Other wise it would be by default and that wouldn't be from the PERSONAL heart.
When you show compassion to those in prison by visiting and accepting them as real humans in conversations and relationships it can mean a lot to them. There are vast numbers of people in a prison ministry that are doing that every day just like Christ says. Through these relationships prisoners are shown that God has not forgotten them. They are of the same value to Him as anyone and His offer is still on the table. And, if they repent and accept Christ as their Savior the the price paid on the Cross covers their ticket cost too, just as it would anybody else's. Oh what a beautiful day that will be.
Now, Jesus has a witness in a prison where he can be of great value to the Lord. Like Jonah he may not want to go that route but if God needs him there, who are we to try to take him away from there.
Since Jesus tries to teach us in His Word that the value of life is found in Heaven and that His Reward is Heavenly, not on earthly. What we are doing here is not a reward but hard work, tough choices and Personal Responsibility as we prepare other for His kingdom. Kinda like .. we already have the ticket paid for and we are waiting for the train. So while we're waiting we are showing others how to get in on the free ticket thing and inviting them to take the trip with us. Some are standing on the train platform in Indy, Some on platforms at a Haiti orphanage, some on platforms in Iraq and yes some are waiting on the platform at the Indiana State Prison. I rejoice for them too for they have overcome and received the reward of eternal life. They also have a richer harvest field more plentiful than any. If we try to take that away from Him...........That reminds me of what Jesus said to Peter when he did something very similar and tried to save Jesus from the wrath of the law........" But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s " Can you find that in the Book of Matthew ? . (Read Matthew in full for context.)
WOW, I'm really glad Peter didn't get his way and help Jesus out of that....aren't you ?. Go and read Matthew and see...
Humm.... I wonder if our founders understood that God given Personal Responsibility thing is the only way it would work when forming this nation on His principles ?
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I would have given more Scripture verses (Verses meaning numerical marked phrases added to the Bible by more recent man) but I would rather people read the books and letters in context because that's where truth and understanding will be found.
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