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!