In the Old Testament, Israelites were taught not to hate their brothers: I am Yahweh. You must not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. You must openly tell him, your neighbour, of his offence, this way you will not take a sin upon yourself. You must not exact vengeance, nor must you bear a grudge against the children of your people. You must love your neighbour as yourself. I am Yahweh. - Lev. 19:17-18 - This emphasis is continued and is made even more positive in the New Testament.

The love of brothers or sisters for each other; the love of fellow Christians for one another, all being children of the same Father in a special sense. Occasionally the New Testament uses the word brother to refer simply to another human being, whether a Christian or not a Christian or to one's fellow countryman. Usually, however, it is used of a fellow believer in Christ. This is true of all places where the concept of brotherly love and brotherly kindness appears.

And the King will answer, "I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me". - Matt. 25:40 -

What I want to say now is no pretence; I say it in union with Christ - it is the truth - my conscience in union with the Holy Spirit assures me of it too. What I want to say is this: my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my owm flesh and blood. - Rom. 9: 1-3 -

Believers are exhorted to be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, to let brotherly love continue, to 'love the brotherhood' and to 'love as brothers'.

Do not let your love be pretence but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should and have a profound respect for each other. - Rom. 12:9-10 -

Continue to love each other like brothers and remember always to welcome strangers for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. - Heb. 13:1-2 -

These remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. - Acts 2:42 -

The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common. - Acts 4:32 -

Finally: you should all agree among yourselves and be sympathetic; love the brothers, have compassion and be self-effacing. Never pay back one wrong with another or an angry word with another one; instead, pay back with a blessing. That is what you are called to do, so that you inherit a blessing yourself. - 1Peter 3:8-9 -

Brotherly love should be the hallmark or badge of a Christian. 'By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples'. - John 13:35 -

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -