The process of sanctification (the ongoing part of “becoming” a Christian) is a matter of growth, and that developing the Christian graces - the greatest of which is charity, or love (1 Cor. 12:31 -13:13) - - requires careful cultivation that is ongoing as a child of God matures.
One passage which describes this cultivation is found in 2 Peter 1:4-8; which concludes with the following statement: “For if these things be IN YOU, and ABOUND, they make you that ye neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v 8). Love is most assuredly one of the things that gives evidence that one is a child of God. And if love is present in the life, then the things Peter here lists, can be said to "be in" that person. But remember, that Peter said that these things must also ABOUND. In order for these things to "abound" they must be cultivated. In order for love to grow (abound); it must be cultivated...nourished...fed. Then, and only then will love RULE in one's heart.
But, think about this...
Hatred must also be cultivated if it is to grow. Hatred is NOT a Christian grace, nor should it be; BUT IT HAS TO BE ALLOWED TO BUILD AND GROW IF IT IS TO TAKE OVER ONE'S HEART. It may well be a “natural” thing in some respects; but it is incapable of growing out of control on its own.
For it to be that way, one would have to accept the implication that man is by his very nature evil - - which is certainly NOT the case. The reason we know this to be true is because God created man IN HIS IMAGE. This means, that, like as God, man can freely choose. God did, in creating us in His image. He didn't have to, but FREELY CHOSE TO!
This decision was made before we did good or evil. God purposefully, of His own free will, CHOSE to make man in His image. He didn't have to. He could have been "mindful" of something else in His creation, but He CHOSE to be mindful of man (Psalm 8:4 ~ Heb. 2:6). Being in God's image...having free will, (from God) man can choose good or evil (or, to love or to hate). Whichever he chooses, if it is to rule, it has to be nourished; fed and cultivated! It won't happen without nourishment. A man must choose whether to allow hatred to grow in his heart and consume his soul, or to cultivate love and the other Christian graces.
Hatred is a form of lust that a man allows by his choices; choices to nourish that lust. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15)
Let us remember that we are in control of which virtues (or vices) we cultivate and allow to grow in your heart. We're in God's image. May we choose to obey God, and cultivate the love He has shown us, by treating one another as He treats us.
"For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." (Eph. 5:29-30)
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