Love Thy Body / Love Thy Neighbor

2 tiered personhood theory

Person VS Body

What is valued VS what physically exists

We don’t want to see this separation. We see dangerous things happen when we separate the body from things we value

-Abortion

-Racism

Do you know the main teaching of how the world was created before Moses wrote the book of Genesis?

Genesis 1:26 ESV

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Hold up … think about how revolutionary this would have been to them?

Not only are people valuable, but they are made in God’s own image

When we judge people based on OUR PREFERENCES — we are undermining the Image of God in their lives

Ugh they’re dumb - they’re public schoolers

Ugh they’re just a bunch of sinners

Ugh they have terrible taste in music

Ugh they dress like a trash can threw up on them … idk whatever

Hold up … who are you to judge those that are outside the church?

1 Corinthians 5:12–13 ESV

12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

You should hold your brother accountable, but you shouldn’t judge an outsider - someone who isnt even in your circle.

God is going to be the one who judges the World — not us!

There are 2 books of revelation

The book of God’s Word — The Bible

And the book of God’s World — Creation. What our eyes witness in nature and in design

Romans 1:18–20 (ESV)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

People are without excuse.

Creation itself speaks of the glory of God

Our bodies themselves, speak to the Glory of God

There is special revelation, which is God communicating specific things - this is what we see in our Bible and why we have our Bibles

But there is also General Revelation - the earth itself points to God and to a Creator

There is nothing that has been made that has not had a Creator

Psalm 19:1–4 ESV

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,

Our bodies are a part of nature

Humans - saved and not saved - are a part of God’s creation

Everyone is without excuse. God will judge them and they are without excuse

But that’s God’s job - not ours.

We are morally obligated to treat people in a way that helps them fulfill their purpose.

Its on us to love the World and to SPEAK THE TRUTH in Love.

So how do we Love Thy Neighbor?

Pray for them — God will judge them

Speak the Truth in Love — help them find purpose (only found in Christ)

Remain teachable — Pride smells and repels everything