How does God expect us to behave and act?

NOTE: If not properly interpreted, the Bible can be used to justify any position or action. Over the past few centuries, certain passages of Scripture have been used to justify slavery, and racial and ethnic discrimination. Horrors have been perpetuated based on these verses and in the name of God. These passages were taken out of the context of the overall biblical narrative, the work of God through history, and His moral values described in the Bible.

Read the following verses and reflect on what the Spirit of God is saying through His written Word.

Bible text(s)

1 John 2

11If we hate others, we are living and walking in the dark. We don't know where we are going, because we can't see in the dark.

1 John 2:11CEVOpen in Bible reader

1 John 3

15If you hate each other, you are murderers, and we know that murderers do not have eternal life. 16We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. That's why we must give our lives for each other.

1 John 3:15-16CEVOpen in Bible reader

1 John 4

19We love because God loved us first. 20But if we say we love God and don't love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don't love the people we can see? 21The commandment that God has given us is: “Love God and love each other!”

1 John 4:19-21CEVOpen in Bible reader

John 13

34But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you.

John 13:34CEVOpen in Bible reader

Mark 12

31The second most important commandment says: ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is more important than these.”

Mark 12:31CEVOpen in Bible reader

Colossians 3

13Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.

Colossians 3:13CEVOpen in Bible reader

Ephesians 4

32Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.

Ephesians 4:32CEVOpen in Bible reader

Exodus 22

21Do not ill-treat or abuse foreigners who live among you. Remember, you were foreigners in Egypt.

Exodus 22:21CEVOpen in Bible reader

Leviticus 19

33Don't ill-treat any foreigners who live in your land. 34Instead, treat them as well as you treat citizens and love them as much as you love yourself. Remember, you were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 19:33-34CEVOpen in Bible reader

James 2

Don't favour the rich and powerful

Warning against having favourites

1My friends, if you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you won't treat some people better than others.

James 2

8You will do well, if you obey the most important law in the Scriptures. It is the law that commands us to love others as much as we love ourselves. 9But if you treat some people better than others, you have done wrong, and the Scriptures teach that you have sinned.

James 2:8-9CEVOpen in Bible reader

Proverbs 24

More sayings that make good sense

23Here are some more sayings

that make good sense:

When you judge,

you must be fair.

Proverbs 24:23CEVOpen in Bible reader

Philippians 2

3Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. 4Care about them as much as you care about yourselves

Philippians 2:3-4CEVOpen in Bible reader

When you read/study the text

WHAT DOES IT SAY? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

When determining the meaning behind each verse, there are a number of rules for Bible interpretation:

Christ is the rule – All Scripture speaks of Christ, so seeing Him is the key to understanding the passage. Don’t read too much into it – If the plain sense makes common sense, seek no other sense.

Definitions – Carefully uncover the meaning of words as used in their context.

Application – The entire Bible is written for us. It is inspired and profitable, and we’re supposed to read all of it, listen to it, and apply it in our lives. However, not all of the Bible was written directly to us.

Context – A text without context is a pretext. Sometimes we presume the meaning. How does the text fit within the verses preceding and following?

HOW DOES IT APPLY? Write down any thoughts, insights, or questions that you may want to think about and study further.

Canadian Bible Societyv.4.24.4
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