Parsing

Galatians 5:19-21 English Standard Version

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 John 4:7-11 English Standard Version

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

For the moment allow me to parse the nature we are born with and address only anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and envy. These things inherently oppose love.

We need not teach a child to do any of those things and merely need to emphasise them as facts of life. Generational hatred is easy to foster because the flesh readily accepts its own nature.

Love on the other hand is not taught. Love needs to be shared and experienced in a manner where its benefits outweigh the alternatives.

Ephesians 3:19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *