My Neighbor Myself

 

In Whom there is no Jew nor yet Greek, there is no slave nor yet free, there is no male and female, for you all are one in Christ Jesus.

Paul to the Galatians 3: 28, Concordant New Testament 

In all of my years in the mainstream church, I was led to believe that there was a unique difference between myself and the world around me.  See, I was a sinner, but saved by the blood of Jesus.  Those in the world around me, on the other hand, were the ones NEEDING to be saved.  The unknowing and unchurched among us were simply sinners lost in the world.  It was our task as believers to bring them to the Lord.  Indeed, there have been countless discipleship and ministry programs designed to bring the wayward unto Jesus.  The Christian church has always been good at labeling people.  In their domain, the world is divided between sinners and believers.  We celebrate the believers and pray for the sinners.  But what if the church got it wrong?  What if we've been sold a bill of goods?  The scriptures tell us that ALL are created in the Fathers likeness, both male and female {Genesis 1:27}.  The apostle Paul takes that one step further by declaring that in Christ there is no Jew nor Greek.  No slave nor free {Paul to the Galatians 3:28}.  So, is there really a difference between myself and my neighbor?  Not really.  Both have been created in the Fathers image.  Both were created for and by Christ Jesus {Johns Account 1:1-3}.  Knowing this, we soon realize that the divisions created by those in the mainstream church are not what the Father intended for His children.  Believers and sinners, it's all a label created by man-made religion.  First off, where are there sinners?  Do we continue to believe that those not involved in the mainstream church are lost in sin?  The truth is that Jesus took our sins upon Himself and nailed them to the cross with Him {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  Therefore, as Paul proclaims, we are to consider ourselves to be "Dead indeed" to sin {Paul to the Romans 6:11}.  Tell me again where those sinners are.  Despite being assured in the scripture that all were created through Christ Jesus, I do not recall a single sermon ever uttered in the mainstream church which did not label humanity as the lost and the saved.  

So Elohim created humanity in His image; in the image of Elohim He created it: male and female He created them. 

Genesis 1: 27, Concordant Old Testament 

Have you ever known the Lord to play favorites?  To be unjust in His actions?  Paul proclaims that with God there is no partiality {Paul to the Romans 2:11}.  So, can we assume that it was never the Fathers intent that His children be labeled as saved and lost?  I would agree with that.  When we look upon our neighbors, we should see Christ.  When we look into that mirror, we should see the same thing.  For we are all in union with He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  But what of those among us who behave badly?  Those who by all indications have forsaken God for the riches of the world.  Are they any different from us?  No!  The only difference between them and ourselves is that we realize who it is that we are in Christ.  It's that simple.  There are those who have been created in the Fathers likeness yet do not realize this truth in themselves.  They are not lost in the Fathers eyes, just unaware.  There is no doubt that realizing this truth can change the way that we look upon the world around us.  Instead of laboring to "save" the lost, why not simply introduce them to who they really are in Christ?   

~Scott~