LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
Mark 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
You have to wonder where this soul is at this present moment! He was an orthodox Jew, schooled in the law. But he was given opportunity to have a personal conversation with the very Word of Life Himself – the Lord Jesus Christ! And he had a more spiritual mindedness than most of his fellows. He saw more of the spirituality of the law and not just the letter. And for this he received a very blessed accommodation from the Lord. For it is recorded for us to read of him that, “he answered discreetly.”
And that was a vocal commendation from the very Voice which had spoken, “Let there be light,” that this man was “not far from the kingdom of God.” We don’t know any more about him than this. To imagine that he was brought into that kingdom is mere conjecture. But we do have this statement from our Lord that wherever he resides at this present hour, he was “not far from the kingdom of God” at that present moment.
Wouldn’t you like to be able to receive that commendation at this very hour of your life that the Lord Jesus assures the same of you? Then you must come to see the spiritual work of the law within your own heart as well. You must come to understand that it is not the “do’s” and “don’ts” of religious practice which God requires, but to fulfill these two great commandments in the reality of your inner spirit, made evident by your outward manner of life. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
For every born again believer, without exception, has both the love of God supremely in their hearts, along with the love of their neighbor! And every one who has these two true, spiritual loves within their hearts, no matter what their religious affiliation, is a true believer! Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian church of the singleness of the true Christian faith. For even though he speaks of the difference of the “measure of faith,” he clearly sets forth the “oneness” of that faith in us all. For although we have developed into a variety of outward expressions, having been incorporated into different religious identities, there is only one faith and one Lord! Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
For there is only one faith which was only once delivered for the elect to be made saints. Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
The Lord did not come in order to establish religious denominations! He came to establish faith. John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. John 11:52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
It is the Harlot church represented as having many heads. And her many denominations and cults all have their separate and individual beliefs, so that they can never come together. In them there can be no “oneness.” Revelation 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
The true church has but one Head, the Lord Jesus Christ! Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
For how do you think the holy angels shall identify each and every believer in order to gather them together at the end time, without the loss of one? Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. We do not have a bar code upon our foreheads! They shall not be looking for a certain type of uniform! Nor for a cross hanging on a chain around their necks; nor for a fish hook on their lapels! They shall be looking for those who spiritually ‘fit the pattern’ of their Lord Jesus. We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Has it never occurred to you that this Covid-19 pandemic was the work of the Lord to separate the religious from the comforts the deceptions of religious practice in order to force them individually to solely depend upon his Person? What do you think these verses refer to? Hebrews 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
And truly those who do not now immediately seek to reinstate religious practice as usual, would be, at the least, criticized by those insisting upon regaining their traditional order. But did not our Lord say that his true church should be “hated of all men” for his name’s sake? And just where is that hated church today? Where are those who, like Him, are “despised and rejected of men?” Luke 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
But as religionists are accustomed to do, their religious practice is fortified by choosing out and often repeating, though misapplying separate verses, they would here bring out Hebrews 10:25. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” How many pulpiteers have used that verse on how many delinquent church attenders, to try to get goats to adhere to sheep conduct?
But what do the following verses state? They state that this willful action makes void the atonement! Are you sure you want to trot out this ofter misused verse to prop up physical assembly? Are you sure you want to tell that absentee that God has now made void the atoning work of Christ due to their delinquency? That they are going to Hell for missing a church service? Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Dear Readers, that Hebrews 10:25 verse is not speaking of going out from church attendance! It is speaking to those Hebrews who were going out from the faith! Leave it in its context!
We are instructed by Christ two times not to believe religionists when they assuredly proclaim the very place where Christ is to be found! For he clearly stated that he would be found only where those who mount up with eagles wings are spiritually feasting upon his very Being! Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. He was not here just instating a tradition ordinance of the church. He was here instructing the individual believer as how he was to maintain spiritual life, as if he was to feed off Him, as he is represented by the Tree of Life!
Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
For as in the natural birth, the child is brought out of the mother’s body, then cast back upon that very same body to find sustenance, so it is in the new birth! How did our first parents lose the right to the Tree of Life? It was by eating. Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And how is it that the redeemed of the Lord recover themselves to fellowship with God? It is by hungering after righteousness, and feeding from Christ, our Bread if Life! Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Be careful! Strong delusion is upon us!
Pastor Gene Breed
June 14, 2021