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‘Natural Affection’- a Matter of Works

newton3005

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‘Natural Affection’- a Matter of Works

The following website gave feedback on Bible Verses dealing with natural affection:


Oddly, none of the verses this website quoted from, directly mentions “natural affection,” though the Verses that Peacemaker points out, Romans 1:31 and 2 Timothy 3:3 in one of his posts, mentions it in the following Bible versions of those Verses: KJV, ASV and the Darby Bible.

In any event, when the phrase “natural affection” is inputted in the above website, the verses it offers up seems odd at first glance, if you can accept that “affection” is an instrument of love, and “natural” depends on the context that affection is demonstrated, in our case here, in terms of God.

One of the Verses offered up is Leviticus 18:22 which says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” Where is the natural affection in that? The answer would be that under God, natural affection is encompassed in everything denoted in the two great commandments of Jesus described in Mark 12:30-31. The first is to love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.

How do you love God? You love Him when you carry out his good works. In a sense, in the context of natural affection, Verses like Leviticus 18:22, which is one of God’s Laws, condensed within the two great commandments mentioned above, serve as a warning that the act of a male lying with a male is not one of God’s Good Works. As Jesus says in John 14:15 that if you love him you will keep his commandments, so, if we love God we will keep His.

Another Verse that promotes natural affection, which the website mentions, is Genesis 1:27 which says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” As 1 John 4:16 says, God is love. If we are in God’s image, we are love too, at least in our case to the extent that we use it. Our love is demonstrated by the natural affection we have for God and for others. Natural affection is an act, so in terms of God, it is a matter of works. To this point, one of the other Verses mentioned in the website under “natural affection” is Matthew 7:21 which says, ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven...” Saying you love God is not enough; you need to carry out the works He set out for you to do. If you carry out His Works, you are demonstrating a natural affection for Him and for your neighbors.
 

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Natural affection is distinct from sexuality. A child curling up with a teddy bear to sleep is displaying natural affection, but we would hardly accuse the child of bestiality. Likewise, a cat can show natural affection for me by choosing to sleep on my lap.

Natural affection is also distinct from love. The most loving thing for a engaged couple to do is refrain from too much intimate contact before marriage, lest they be tempted to sin. Natural affection would have them cuddling and engaging in other intimate contact. There are numerous other instances where natural affection needs to be withheld because the other party will take advantage of the affection to hurt the giving party.

Matthew 10:16-18 said:
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. 17 But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
 
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Peacemaker1

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when the world had god made known to them, they did not and do not glorify him as
god, they worship corruptible man, so god gives up the world to uncleaness, through the lusts of their own hearts.

they turn the truth of god into a lie by their actions, they serve and worship created men, not the creator.

this is where we hear of god giving up the world unto vile affections, which are all against what is natural.


because it became known the world has no interest in keeping the knowledge of god, the world is given over to a reprobate, morally abandoned mind, filled with all unrighteousness.

Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful, who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death.



Romans 1.21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:



Romans 18 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.






love is when it is sincere, and not pretending, being kindly affectioned to one an other, which the world without natural affection cant understand.

being of the same mind one to another, is not being given over to a reprobate mind, as the world is given over to.




Romans 12.9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.




if anyone is to be risen with Christ, they set their affections on things above, not on things on earth, natural affection to the world is there own pleasures, to god it is to please others, and not your own selves.

remembering god left the world to vile affections through uncleanness, they mortify themselves to not be uncleanness and excessive affections, because the wrath of god comes on the children of disobedience for these things.




Colossians 3.1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:



now men of this whole world are lovers of their own selves, their natural affection is all to themselves, their love is not sincere, they pretend to love and have affection for others, with a form of godliness that denies the power, as their evil actions deny the truth of god, of the love our lord and saviour Jesus Christ appeared to all men, not the old testament, not cats.




2 Timothy 3.2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
 
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newton3005

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when the world had god made known to them, they did not and do not glorify him as
god,...
Oh, NOW you tell us. Just quoting two Passages in your OP doesn't cut it, hence my initial response to your OP. IMHO, in God's World, "natural affection" is a function of something. Question is, is it s function of glory, of loyalty, of love, of works, of faith, or perhaps a little of everything?
 
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Peacemaker1

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Oh, NOW you tell us. Just quoting two Passages in your OP doesn't cut it, hence my initial response to your OP. IMHO, in God's World, "natural affection" is a function of something. Question is, is it s function of glory, of loyalty, of love, of works, of faith, or perhaps a little of everything?
your questioning is the lack of natural affection, hence being without understanding.



Romans 1:31
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

2 Timothy 2:23
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.




if you want to continue to question, i will give answers your way...



Proverbs 26.4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
 
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Peacemaker1

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Matthew 7:1

as i told to all, without natural affection is when they are without understanding, as understanding is kindness, look below and see if anyone can pick up on the kindness.


Psalm 141:5
Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.


Proverbs 9:8
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Proverbs 13:1
A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

Proverbs 24.23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

Proverbs 27:5
Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Proverbs 28:23
He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

Ecclesiastes 7:5
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

1 Timothy 5:20
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
 
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