To
understand the straight forward scripture in the closing of the Book of I
Corinthians; or the First Epistle, we should take time to remember the many
reproofs and rebukes the Lord inspired Paul to write to this rather carnal
group of believers. There was much
strife and contention, there was much need for growth and Christian maturity;
just as there is in all new, or baby Christians. It seems to sum it all up, in
the words we read in vs. 22 “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him
be Anathema Maranatha.” There are two
main Greek words in the New Testament used for our English word [love].
One is the word meaning: unconditional love; just as the Lord has for
us, as we read in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.” The word for love means: to love, to feel and exhibit esteem
and goodwill to a person, to prize and delight in a thing.
We do have a
command to love the Lord in this way, in all of the synoptic gospels: “Master,
which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This
is the first and great commandment.
Here, we are
commanded to love the Lord, with this unconditional love; a love feast, love
from the heart. It is not the same word
used in I Cor. 16; but rather the word is [phileo]:
to approve of, b) to like, c) sanction, d) to treat affectionately or kindly,
to welcome, befriend. It is very similar to our English word: like. The
Corinthian church, and then every Believer is admonished to know that the key
to Christianity; which if applied, would end the strife and division in
churches; would end the desire to be seen first; and many other contentions; is
to love the Lord.
But while we’re commanded to love the
Lord with all our hearts; to at least have the latter type of love for Christ
is demanded with a curse as punishment, if we do not. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ,
let him be Anathema Maranatha. The word
Anathema means accursed; as accursed from Christ, which is the sentence upon
everyone who dies without being born again. We must take this passage, and
realize, with such a punishment on those who do not even like the Lord Jesus, and
approve of Him and His way of life; they do not have the Lord Jesus in their
hearts.
Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.”
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