Using “ALL”
To Displace Racial Hatred
By Bob W.
Lovelace
God’s
Desires That “ALL” Come To Repentance
Dear reader, I’ve capitalized the word “ALL” to make a point that will
certainly aid one in seeing the racial hatred manifesting itself today. Throughout
the New Testament the message is the same; it is God’s will that ALL men seek
after and find Him (Cf. Acts ch. 17 vs. 27). This is
true because God is impartial concerning salvation. Hear Peter, “The Lord is
not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL
should come to repentance” (2 Pet. ch. 3 verse 9).
God, we are taught, is the Father of spirits (Heb. ch.
12 vs. 9). This statement that God is the “Father of spirits” appears to be a
reference to the human soul. The “soul” is the most important part of man (Cf.
Matt. ch. 10 vs. 28). Question: Where is the place
for racial hatred in God’s desire that ALL come to repentance and be saved?
“ALL”
Have Come From Adam
The Bible explains that ALL men have come from Adam, the first man (Cf. I Cor. ch. 15 vs. 45). Since Adam and Eve were husband and wife at
the beginning, Eve is said to be “the mother of ALL living” (Cf. Gen. ch. 3 vs. 20). Moreover, ALL today have descended directly
from Noah, his wife, and his three sons and their wives as recorded in Genesis
concern The Flood (Cf. Gen. ch. 7 vss
13-16). The Genesis record states that God destroyed ALL of mankind expect Noah
and his family; only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive
(Cf. Gen. ch. 7 vs. 23; I
Pet. ch. 3 vss. 20-21).
Dear reader, I have not inadvertently used “ALL” in the statements above.
Understand that ALL humans today, as well as ALL who will ever live, have descended
from Adam and Eve. Moreover, those alive today have ALL descended directly from
Noah and his three sons. Above all, EVERY person possesses a human spirit that
is separated from the body at death, James said (Ja. ch. 1 vs. 26). It is man’s
spirit that is re-born as a result of the new birth (Cf. Jo. ch. 3 vss. 5-6). Question: Would one ever be so prejudice
to think that salvation was just for their particular race? Answer: Not if they
accept the above desire of God for ALL men everywhere! Can one not see the
common bond of humanity in the above?
The
Gospel Is For “ALL” Men
Concerned reader, Jesus commissioned His apostles to preach the Gospel to EVERY
creature. Hear Jesus, “Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to EVERY creature. [16] He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark chapter 15
verses 15-16). Friend, there is only one message of eternal salvation for ALL
of mankind. Hear Paul, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is
the power of God unto salvation to EVERY ONE that believeth; to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek. [17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall
live by faith” (Rom. ch. 1 vss. 16-17). Question: Who
is so full of hatred that they would desire salvation but hope one of another
race would be denied the same opportunity God gave them?
A
Jew Preaches Salvation to a Gentile
Consider Peter, a Jew, and his message to Cornelius, a Gentile, who was the
first Gentile convert. Peter said to Cornelius and his household (Gentiles),
“Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: [35] But in every
nation he that feareth him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with him. [36] The word which God sent unto the
children of Is., preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)” (Acts chapter 10 verses 34-36). (Note: After
reading this article should you desire to learn more about the examples of
conversion in the New Testament click here
.) Christians of various backgrounds and races were all united together
in one body, the church (Cf. Eph. ch. 2 vs. 16). This
common membership is without the distinctions of “race” that fill so many with
strife and hatred (read Eph. ch. 2).
ALL,
Both Jew & Greek ,Were Made One New Man - A
Christian!
Concerned reader, Paul, who was himself a Jew, was sent by Christ to minister
for the greater part to Gentiles (Cf. Gal. ch. 2 vss.
6-9). However, he did preach to both Jews and Gentiles and concerning Salvation
he said, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. [27] For as many of you as have been baptized
into Christ have put on Christ. [28]
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is
neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Cf. Gal. 3 verses 26-29).
To the church at Ephesus Paul said, “For he is our peace, who hath made both
one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; [15] Having
abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in
ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace”
(Ephes. 2:14-15). Here, all who are in the body of Christ, the church, are said
to be just a Christian, nothing more and nothing less!
ALL
Who Manifest The Works Of The Flesh Will Perish!
Dear reader, the sheer amount of racist comments being made on any topic these
days is astounding. Such is simply hatred, or carnality, and is identified in
the Bible as a “work of the flesh.” Concerning these lusts Paul said, “Now the
works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,
emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of
the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians
chapter 5 verses 19-21).
The word “manifested” in the foregoing scriptures simply means “made known” or
easily seen! One thing about a racist is that they seldom hide the carnality
that goes with such. All of you who spew out your vile
racist comments with human pride, and carnal venom, are simply displaying what
you truly are to the world! People, the fore going list of the works of the
flesh (carnality) includes “hatred” of one’s fellow man. Such hatred is
manifested in racist comments. All such speech, both verbal and written, comes
from “within the heart,” Jesus said. Hear Jesus, “For out of the heart proceed
evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies: [20] These are the things which defile a
man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man” (Matt. ch. 15
vss. 19-20). Such are defiled and their hearts are not pure! Above all, you
will notice that “the bottom line” in the above warning is that all who
continue to practice such as these will be lost eternally! Paul admonished
Christians saying, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice:” (Cf. Eph. ch. 4 verse 31).
If you cannot divest your soul of this racist hate then you are a detriment to
those whom you claim to love, as well as to your own soul. Moreover, if you continue
to lead them in this wrong direction you will be responsible for their
damnation! “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch,” Jesus
said. We are warned by God not to be deceived into thinking that such is
acceptable to Him although it may appear so to man.
Dear reader, the above condemnation of hating one’s fellow man, as well as
other sins, is clear (Cf. Rom. ch. 3 vs. 23; ch. 6 vs. 23). To tell another that they are sinning and
the wages of sin is eternal death is helpful, not hurtful! Jesus’ message is
“repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark chapter 1 verse 15). People simply
must be told about Sin and be taught that all sin is against God. “Sin is
lawlessness,” John said (I Jo. ch. 3 vs.4). Paul
said, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of
God,” (Rom. ch. 3 vs. 23). Hear Paul, “The wages of
sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord” (Rom. ch. 6 vs. 23). Christ was manifested to
take away sin. Thus Peter preached, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts ch. 2 vs. 38).
The Bible approach of “repentance” (a change of will that leads to a change in
one’s conduct) applied to the matter of Hatred is simple, truthful, and
consistent. You will notice by the above list (Gal. 5 vss. 19-21) that God has
no favorites! God’s warning in the Bible is for ALL who are immoral. They must
be made aware that they will not inherit eternal life, but rather eternal
condemnation in Hell! This message of “repentance” is for more than just the
idolaters, adulterers, fornicators and sexually immoral in the world. Concerned
reader, God does not tell the adulterer to abandon his ways, the fornicator
his, the drunkard and extortionist theirs ---- then allow those with polluted
hearts and minds to spew out racist hatred with impunity!