Salvation in a nutshell

Phd.

God died on the cross to save mankind. However, he choses to save only those he has chosen. He gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit so that they will be saved and will be able to believe in Him and His words, the true God Almighty, the Alpha and Omega. Who was, Who is, and Who is to come.

Salvation then is a process of selection and not of your own doing or of your own works or of your own choice. It is a gift from God. God choses whom He wants to save. Not because you are special but because of His mercy.

God has to choose. For no one will ever believe in Him. No one is righteous. No, not one. They will instead believe a false teacher, a false prophet, a false doctrine, a false gospel, a false Christ and a false religion. Some believe God does not exist. Some believe a supreme creator, but not the God of the Bible. Some believe there are different paths to salvation, not only in Jesus. They are so many beliefs, but no one by default will believe in the true God Almighty. Even the Jews. God was right in front of them, yet they rejected him outright and crucified him.

It is time and time again tested to be true. For the Israelite were with God for a long time and they have forsaken Him and followed other gods. Without God's Holy Spirit, none will believe. Even Adam and Eve chose to believe in the Serpent, the anointed Cherub who was with them in the garden of Eden. Angels who can see God, chose to rebel. A third of them followed the Serpent. It is not because God created inferior creatures, rather, the creatures had that power of the freedom of choice or freewill. We are not like animals who have no awareness of choice, devoid of freewill. We are not plants or bacterias. We are creatures who have the power of freewill, just like God.

So, why doesn't God give the gift of the Holy Spirit to everyone? The question then should rather be, why wouldn't you choose God? If you don't choose God after He has preached to you and you rejected the gospel, why would God be obligated to select someone who has rejected Him? God does not owe you anything at all. God does not force or coerce anyone to believe in Him. You are free to do whatever you want.

Thus, the purpose of the gospel then is to serve as proof that men in their own doing have rejected the gospel. The other purpose is to show God's mercy by giving those whom he has selected, the gift of the Holy Spirit so that they will believe and thus be saved.

So, when we share the gospel to the world, do not be dismayed or get discouraged when someone opposes you or throw insults at you. You are merely a witness to the proof of someone rejecting the gospel out of his own conscious freewill and you are proof that God had mercy on you.

The same with the Israelite. Although, they are numbering in the billion (Jews are only in the tribe of Judah), God will select a few from the 12 tribes, only 144,000 of them will be given the gift of the Holy Spirit so that they will believe. They will weep and mourn when they see the Son of God whom they have pierced coming in the clouds with great power and glory in his second coming.

God made salvation available to all and does not desire anyone to be lost. The invitation is open to all, 24 hours a day. But, no one wishes to come.

All that is left is God's mercy.

sophion

Phd. wrote: »

God died on the cross to save mankind. However, he choses to save only those he has chosen.

this is sort of like the Apprentice right? no matter how hard you try in the end its all up to Trump

rambler

A hardline calvinist. hehehe..

That's okay, but I'm neither calvinist nor an arminian. I believe in free will in a limited sense, and God's sovereignty in a larger sense.

But you are right, in the wider picture of things, God is sovereign, and He has determined it all before the foundation of the world.

almario38

aida wrote: »

....

Complexity of salvation

Matthew 24:21 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.”


Salvation is not as easy as the Natural Man understands it. “Great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Of course this pertains to the life of the chosen since they represent the world. We read how difficult or complex salvation is when we read about the life of Job, Paul, and the other elect of God (Hebrews 11:36-38). Christ revealed this to His Disciples making them to exclaim:


Matthew 19:25 “When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”


Yes, for the sake of the elect God shortens their trials and tribulations and takes their physical life and bring them to Paradise - the 2nd Heaven

Simplicity of salvation

Again the simplicity of salvation with God’s divine providence is not as easy as the Natural Man understands. We read about how the thief at the right hand of our Lord on the cross was saved. However let us remember the two thieves represent ALL people in the “language” of our Lord. With the fall of man, who is not a “spiritual thief and a robber?”


John 10:1 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.


Does not this clearly point to the following?


Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”


Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. “


Who among people therefore can claim passing through this kind of “door”?


John 10:7 “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.”


Hence, very clearly the two thieves at the right and left hand of Jesus as they are laid on the cross represent all people. In the beginning they both mocked Him.


Let us listen to them.


Matthew 27:38 “Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save…”


Matthew 27:44 “The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.”


But look! Later:


Luke 23:40 “But the other (thief at His right hand) answering rebuked him (thief at the left), saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”


In this brief moment in the life of the thief at the right hand, he demonstrated the first step of salvation enunciated by Jesus in:


Matthew 18:3 “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”


Concomitant with this kind of humility, this thief that represents the chosen of God recognized JESUS as Simon Peter did in Matthew 16:16-17. It is not “with flesh and blood, but by the revelation of the Father.” Hence no longer are they subject to the sharp rebuke of our Lord that many people to “do not see.”


John 8:19 “…Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”


This thief heaped the reward of humility that our Lord Jesus demonstrated to the chosen in His role as Son.


Luke 23:42 “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”


Seeing the humility (but it is not easy to humble oneself according to our Lord’s standard of humility) of the thief at His right hand, if only he was given a longer life to live, he would have “passed the test for trials and tribulation” with ease. Thus, no longer did our Lord want to see these with His “all-seeing eyes.” Therefore on the same day He took him in paradise. God applies the “level of ease or difficulty of salvation” to the chosen, tailored to their degree of humility. All these is made possible with His “all-seeing eyes.”
...../QUOTE]

psalm 56:10

Jagon

objectively, calvinist belief wins

subjectively, it's arminian.

honestly, I find this century old debate rather old.

the current high-peak truth that every believer must realize about God's salvation is that it has something to do with 1.) Sonship, 2.) Defeating His enemy, and 3.) His glorious expression in the entire universe.

we are saved not merely because He doesn't want us to burn, not merely because He is merciful, not merely because He loves us.

God is God, He can practically do anything He wants, He is glorious in Himself, but what is more glorious is if He can make a mortal with a separate mind, become the same as He is. In all His creation, even the angels, nothing can express God. This is why He created man, He gave man its own will and has placed man in front of the Tree of Life, so that man can choose to eat LIFE from God, with this LIFE man is being transformed into God's children, with the same LIFE and nature of God.

Why go through all this trouble? God wants man to execute His judgement over His enemy Satan. You see, God can easily defeat Satan simply by snapping His finger,

but where is the glory in that?

So God decided to create something that is mortal, imbued with His essence and nature, to defeat Satan. He even let Satan interfere just to show that man has his freewill and is weak, a weak being defeating a powerful Satan, with the help of God, is indeed glorious and praiseworthy to God.

This is Salvation, in a nutshell

Phd.

We should not forget that salvation is all about the extension of life ∞. It's all about knowing what happens after we die. It's all about the transcendence to a higher form of existence. We do not know what substance we shall be after we die. But one thing we know is that when we see the Son of God, we shall be the same as him. We were created flesh after the image and likeness of the first Adam. We shall be in the new creation, like the Son of God after his image and likeness as the second and last Adam.

To the carnal man of this world without the Holy Spirit, this is but foolishness to him. A mere Hollywood sci-fi movie. For he can grasp only the reality of this world. He sees things are temporary, therefore, his life is temporary, fully accepting his fate. Life is short for him, therefore, drink, eat and be merry, for you only live once.

The Son of God came to save the world to extend the life ∞ of men. But, such notion of extended life ∞ being shared freely from a higher intelligent being is only foolishness to the foolish. He prefers to perish to become dust. For dust he is, dust he shall return.

KidlatNgayon

The Bible teaches the Importance of the Church of Christ to Man’s Salvation

________________________

It is true that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior and not the Church, however, the Bible clearly teaches that it is the Church of Christ that the Lord Jesus Christ will save. Thus, if it is important to accept the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, it is also important to accept the true Church of Christ that He will save come Judgment Day.
________________________


CONTRARY TO POPULAR belief, the Holy Bible clearly teaches the importance of the Church of Christ to man’s salvation. Yes, it is clearly written in the Bible. This article aims to show the teachings of the Bible regarding the importance and value of the Church of Christ in attaining salvation come Judgment Day.

How important is the Church of Christ to man’s salvation according to the teachings of the Holy Scripture?


CHRIST BUILT HIS CHURCH AND PROMISED THAT DEATH WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT

The Lord Jesus Christ established His Church when He was still here on earth or in the first century AD. In His declaration that He will establish His Church, He also proclaimed how important the Church He is going to establish. This is what the Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew 16:18:

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18 NIV)

The Lord Jesus Christ said, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Would Christ build the Church if it were not important to man’s salvation? The Revised Standard Version explains what Christ meant in saying “the gates of Hades will not overcome it”:

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 RSV)

This is how important the Church that the Lord Jesus built, “the powers of death shall not prevail against it.” It is said that death will not prevail against the Church founded by Christ because those who died in Christ as members of His Church will be raised to life first:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” (I Thess. 4:16, NKJV)

Those who died inside the Church of Christ will be included in the first resurrection. The Bible further explains how important it is to be included in the first resurrection:

“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6, Ibid.).

The Lord Jesus promised that the powers of death shall not prevail against the Church He built because those died inside His Church will be included in the first resurrection, and the Bible declared that “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the resurrection” because they will reign a thousand years with Christ and the “second death” has no power over them. The “second death” referring to is the eternal punishment in the “lake of fire”:

“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” (Rev. 20:14, Ibid.).

Those included in the first resurrection will not be cast into the lake of fire, instead, they will be raised again to enjoy eternal life:

“Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to judgment.” (Jn. 5:28-29, NLT)

The “eternal life” that will be enjoyed by those included in the first resurrection is the life in the New Jerusalem, the Holy City, having no more death, mourning, crying or pain:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Rev. 21:1-4, NIV)

Concerning the members of the Church of Christ who are still living when Christ returns, they will no longer die but along with those who will be resurrected first, they will meet the Savior to be with Him forever:

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (I Thess. 4:16-17, NIV)

Thus, blessed are those who belong to the Church that Christ established because they will be included in the first resurrection come Judgment Day and the second death, that is, the eternal punishment in the lake of fire, shall have no power over them, instead, the Savior Himself guarantees that they will rise again to enjoy eternal life in the New Jerusalem, the Holy City, where there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain. For this reason, the Savior Himself commanded those who want to be saved to enter His Church:


“I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe.” (John 10:9, REB)

Christ said, “anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe.” The fold the Lord Jesus referring to is the Church of Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa)

Thus, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself commanded those who want to be saved to enter the fold through Him, or to enter the Church of Christ, the Church He established.


TESTIMONIES OF THE LORD GOD AND THE APOSTLES REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST TO MAN’S SALVATION

The Lord God also testified the importance of the being a member or being inside the Church of Christ. In Acts 2:27 this is what the Bible says:

“Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (KJV)

Even Apostle Paul testified that the Church is important for man’s salvation. This is what Apostle Paul said:

“For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body.
“Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.” (Ephesians 5:23 and 25, TEV, emphasis mine)

Apostle Paul testified that the Church is the body of Christ, and Christ is Himself the Savior of the Church. Apostle Paul further testified that Christ loved the Church and gave His life for it. Thus, it is true that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior and not the Church, but the Bible also testified that the Church is the one that will be saved by the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.


IT’S THE WILL OF GOD THAT ALL BE GATHERED
TOGETHER IN CHRIST THROUGH THE ONE BODY
OF CHRIST OR THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

Because of the importance of the Church of Christ for man’s salvation, it is the will of God that all be gathered together in Christ:

“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” (Ephesians 1:9-10, KJV)

How the will of God that all be gathered together in Christ be fulfilled? Apostle Paul explained this in Romans 12:4-5:

“We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body.” (TEV)

The will of God is that all be gathered together in Christ, this is fulfilled when “all joined together to each other as different parts of one body,” thus, “though are many, we are one body in union with Christ.” The body referred to is the Church of Christ (cf. Col. 1:18; Romans 16:16). Thus, it’s the will of God that all be gathered together inside the true Church of Christ.


“SALVATION IS FOUND IN NO ONE ELSE”

How about those who say that they already accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior but not members of the Church founded by Christ. What does the Lord Jesus Christ says to those who call upon His name but failed to fulfill the will of God? In Matthew 7:21-23, this is what the Lord Jesus said:

“Not everyone who calls me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God's message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!' Then I will say to them, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!” (Matthew 7:21-23, TEV)

Others believe that all churches are of God and Christ, thus everyone will be saved whatever his religious organization he belongs to as long as he believe in Christ. Are all churches are of God and Christ? Can we find salvation outside the Church of Christ? This will not be answered by opinion but by the truth written in the Bible. This is what the Bible says in Acts 4:12 and 10:

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, NKJV)

It is the Bible who said that there is no salvation in any other. The Bible testified that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” How are those that will be saved by Christ called in His name? In Acts 20:28:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa)

The true Church is called after the name given by God, or called in name of Christ, the “Church of Christ.” How important is this name? The Bible said, “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” How important it is that church you belong to called in the name of Christ or the name “Church of Christ”? The Bible further testified that “Salvation is found in no one else” (cf. Acts 4:12, NIV). These are the words of the Bible not ours.

Truly, the Bible teaches that the Church of Christ is important in man’s salvation. The Church is not the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ is, but the Church of Christ is the one that the Lord Jesus Christ will save come Judgment Day.


Abbreviation of Bible Versions used:
KJV - King James Version
Lamsa - George M. Lamsa's Translation
NIV - New International version
NLT - New Living Translation
REB - Revised English Bible
RSV - Revised Standard version
TEV - Today's English Version

http://theiglesianicristo.blogspot.ca/2013/03/the-importance-of-church-of-christ-to.html

rambler

^Simplicity of salvation daw, pero ang gusto lang naman talagang tumbukin ay umanib sa INC cult para maligtas.

I never for once mentioned on this board which denomination I belong because to me that is only secondary to the main message of the gospel: JESUS CHRIST. Christ is salvation. He holds life and He holds eternity. Yan ang totoong simpleng mensahe ng gospel.

At the Second Coming, when everything is dark and in disarray, the sign of Christ, the cross will be splashed dramatically in the heavens. This is a clear sign of the defeat of His enemies: the antichrist, atheists, humanists, agnostics, and even regional cults like the INC, Jehovah's Witnesses, Adventists, etc.

KidlatNgayon

rambler wrote: »

^Simplicity of salvation daw, pero ang gusto lang naman talagang tumbukin ay umanib sa INC cult para maligtas.

I never for once mentioned on this board which denomination I belong because to me that is only secondary to the main message of the gospel: JESUS CHRIST. Christ is salvation. He holds life and He holds eternity. Yan ang totoong simpleng mensahe ng gospel.

At the Second Coming, when everything is dark and in disarray, the sign of Christ, the cross will be splashed dramatically in the heavens. This is a clear sign of the defeat of His enemies: the antichrist, atheists, humanists, agnostics, and even regional cults like the INC, Jehovah's Witnesses, Adventists, etc.

Yun ang talagang simple at malinaw. Nasa biblia yan at hindi yung kagaya ng mga doktrina nyong parang walang patutunguhan!

Hindi ba ganyan dapat ang dahilan kung bakit na nariyan sa kinabibilangan mong relihiyon? Dapat sigurado ka at malinaw sa yo ang lahat, otherwise, para ka lang nagpapadala sa agos!

Phd.

In the last decade, "I" have been persuading people who are in the wrong path (cults, other religions) to realize their errors. "I" have showed them verses for countless of times where they have erred. "I" have reasoned with them time and time again in the hopes of changing their mind and gaining a believer for the Lord. I've become tired and worn out because arguments kept on repeating itself. It seems like I am going against an unmovable rock. I'm not so sure "I" have even gained someone.

Then, one day, I've realized it has always have been "I", "me" and "myself". I wanted to gain somebody for the Lord with my own effort, in the hopes of saving someone for my own merit to the Lord. Like a salesman trying to meet his quota for his church he is a member of.

I was wrong.

God makes the selection. You are merely his mouth piece. No matter how hard you do it, you will never succeed. You are going against an immovable rock. People will never change. They will never hear. They will refuse to understand. They will reject you. They will mock you. You are simply witnessing the proof of men's enmity towards God and his truth.

We are to preach and not to persuade. Share and not to coerce. Reason only three times, but not to waste time. If they listened, it's because God had made it so. The glory then is for the Lord and not yours. For there is only one Saviour and we're simply not.

God has been rejected even by his own people, what makes us think we have the persuading power to convince them otherwise?

God was even rejected by his own disciples. There were more than 12 of them from the beginning. Many of them left him and no longer followed him. He chose 12, but one of them is a devil. God selects. Even selecting one whom he knew beforehand would betray him. He simply let him as he is in his greed. He will have mercy on whom he will have mercy. He will harden those he will harden.

God is sovereign above all. He even lets his enemy do his bidding for him. For God knows all men. He will make use of them for his purpose.

Jagon

Phd. wrote: »

In the last decade, "I" have been persuading people who are in the wrong path (cults, other religions) to realize their errors. "I" have showed them verses for countless of times where they have erred. "I" have reasoned with them time and time again in the hopes of changing their mind and gaining a believer for the Lord. I've become tired and worn out because arguments kept on repeating itself. It seems like I am going against an unmovable rock. I'm not so sure "I" have even gained someone.

Then, one day, I've realized it has always have been "I", "me" and "myself". I wanted to gain somebody for the Lord with my own effort, in the hopes of saving someone for my own merit to the Lord. Like a salesman trying to meet his quota for his church he is a member of.

I was wrong.

God makes the selection. You are merely his mouth piece. No matter how hard you do it, you will never succeed. You are going against an immovable rock. People will never change. They will never hear. They will refuse to understand. They will reject you. They will mock you. You are simply witnessing the proof of men's enmity towards God and his truth.

We are to preach and not to persuade. Share and not to coerce. Reason only three times, but not to waste time. If they listened, it's because God had made it so. The glory then is for the Lord and not yours. For there is only one Saviour and we're simply not.

God has been rejected even by his own people, what makes us think we have the persuading power to convince them otherwise?

God was even rejected by his own disciples. There were more than 12 of them from the beginning. Many of them left him and no longer followed him. He chose 12, but one of them is a devil. God selects. Even selecting one whom he knew beforehand would betray him. He simply let him as he is in his greed.

God is sovereign above all. He even lets his enemy do his bidding for him. For God knows all men.

good for you.

He will make use of them for his purpose.

which is?

KidlatNgayon

Phd. wrote: »

God makes the selection. You are merely his mouth piece. No matter how hard you do it, you will never succeed. You are going against an immovable rock. People will never change. They will never hear. They will refuse to understand. They will reject you. They will mock you. You are simply witnessing the proof of men's enmity towards God and his truth.

This is correct per:

Acts 2:47
Berean Study Bible
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

And in fact:

Ephesians 1:4
Berean Study Bible
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love 5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,…

We are to preach and not to persuade. Share and not to coerce. Reason only three times, but not to waste time. If they listened, it's because God had made it so. The glory then is for the Lord and not yours. For there is only one Saviour and we're simply not.

Correct again! As the bible says:

Matthew 10:14
English Standard Version
And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.

God has been rejected even by his own people, what makes us think we have the persuading power to convince them otherwise?

This is correct again. But keep on with bringing to people the Good News as commanded:

Mark 16:15
New Living Translation
And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

If you are preaching or bringing the news to your loved ones and friends, you simply cannot give up, you must keep trying for love until their hearts soften and their minds open.

Matthew 5:44
English Standard Version
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

^ "enemies" here means enemies in faith.

How about you - why don't people listen to you, what is the good news that you bring to them, is it the one prescribed in the bible?