During this season of our Lord’s birth, it is important we remember from whence we came. How do we walk in our faith toward believers, toward unbelievers? How are we supposed to treat others? Should we focus on an unbeliever’s sin? Should we point those sins out? Today, let’s reestablish the balance of our Christian walk so that we show the world the love of Christ in the balance of faith and grace.
Scriptures:
John 3:16: 16 “ForGod so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoeverbelieves in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 ForGod did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order thatthe world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemnedalready, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people lovedthe darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20Foreveryone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light,lest his works should be exposed. 21 Butwhoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seenthat his works have been carried out in God.” Berean
Matthew 7: 1-12: 1 Do not judge, or you will be judged. 2 For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 12 In everything,
then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the prophets. Berean
Galatians 5: 1-12: 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. 2 Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole Law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the Law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love. 7 You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth? 8 Such persuasion does not come from the One who calls you. 9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be. 11 Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves! Berean
Galatians 5:12: I just wish that those trouble makers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves. NLT
Galatians 5: 13-15: 13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire Law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out, or you will be consumed by each other. Berean
1 Corinthians 6: 1, 9-11: 9Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. NIV
Romans 1: 18-24: 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. NIV
Romans 14: 1, 2, 5, 10, 14, 16, 17,19-22: 1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions. 2 For one man has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables. 5 One man regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 10 Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 14 I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 16 Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 19 So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble. 22 Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. Berean
