We were in Galatians again in Sunday school which gave us the evidences of hearts that are unregenerated.
Gal. 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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.”
I’ve heard preachers say that we’ll be surprised in heaven when we look around for someone and discover they’re not there. I’ve also heard estimates that perhaps even 50% of our church members are unsaved. I’m sure you’ve done it yourself, wondered if so-and-so were really saved. Sometimes you just have doubts based on their actions. We know that only God can be the true judge, but He’s listed for us behaviors that indicate an unregenerated heart. Let’s just look at hatred:
(I John 2:9-11) “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”
Basically, if you truly hate a brother or sister in Christ, the Bible says you are walking in darkness.
(1 John 4:20, 21) “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
There you have it. If we hate others, we are not of God. This isn’t talking about a temporary outburst of anger that we repent of later, or ill feelings that last for a short time. These verses are talking about a life-style of hatred – a deep down despising that would like to see that person fail or be hurt. This is a person who spreads rumors or lies about the person he/she hates, tells others about their failings and/or wishes they were dead. Realize, fellow believers, that if you are listening to a story about another brother/sister in Christ that is damaging, that you are not only contributing to the sin of gossip, but you are allowing that person who’s telling the story to hate his/her brother outwardly. It is very easy to tell when someone hates another person. Just hearing what they say about them is enough. So why do we listen to someone who doesn’t love God?
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