In I Thessalonians 3:12, Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonian converts was that the Lord would cause them to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men. The basis of our love for one another in the Body of Christ is our mutual union with Him by virtue of the baptism of the Holy Spirit of which we, as believers, are all partakers (2). As we recognize our union together in Christ, then the righteousness of God in Him causes us to love one another in spite of personalities, likes and dislikes.
But what about loving all men? On what do we base this? We base our love for all men, women, teens and children on the fact of the unlimited atonement, which renders all men savable. We perceive all who are saved as “in Christ” and therefore new creations (3); however, we must view all who are not saved as candidates for the saving grace of Christ (4) because He is the propitiation not for our sins only, but “for the sins of the whole world” (5). Jesus, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man (6). Therefore, we are debtors to love all men and to reveal to them the Gospel (7) which is the very power of God unto salvation (8). The Father, indeed, desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth (9).
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