In Matthew 7:21, Jesus 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.” What is God’s Will? The Bible lays out certain behavior that is pleasing to God. But since ALL scripture is breathed out by God, it follows that we can’t pick and choose the parts we like while disregarding the others, it would seem. So, it seems to appear that the Will of God is to abide by everything in the Scriptures.
The New Testament consolidates the Laws of the Old Testament. Jesus said that the whole Law and the prophets can be summed up in two commandments…that we love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and we love eachother as we love ourselves. So, the New Testament tells us that we don’t have to abide by each of the 400 sum-odd Laws in the Old Testament to love God. And Jesus’ two commandments infers that loving eachother and loving God are two separate things. So what is left for us to show our love for Him?
The Old Testament, too, commands us to love God with all our heart, soul and might. But is there anywhere in the Old Testament that says we are to share His love with others, with the context of His love comprising the Laws he gave to Moses? Well, Isaiah 42:6-7 sys “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, A LIGHT FOR THE NATIONS, TO OPEN THE EYES THAT ARE BLIND…” So, there is a duty even in the Old Testament to share God’s Love with others, as there is in the New Testament in which Jesus says in Matthew 28:19 to “Go…and make disciples of all nations…” In a sense, then, Jesus’ directive did not add to prophets such Isaiah.
At the very least, then, sharing the knowledge of God and His Goodness with others is indicative of our loving Him. And in loving our neighbor as we love ourselves as the Bible states in Leviticus 19:18 and 19:34, and in Jesus’ second commandment, it is inevitable that we will, through our words and actions, enlighten our neighbors of God’s Love for us.
There are certain groups of people who presume to have a superior knowledge of God yet does not do His Will by extending their love to their neighbors, instead keeping to themselves under a twisted philosophy of ‘Live and let live.’ They are as the Levite and the priest who, in Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan, walk on by as they see a man in distress. Would God receive them as enthusiastically as he would receive those who share His Love with strangers?
The New Testament consolidates the Laws of the Old Testament. Jesus said that the whole Law and the prophets can be summed up in two commandments…that we love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and we love eachother as we love ourselves. So, the New Testament tells us that we don’t have to abide by each of the 400 sum-odd Laws in the Old Testament to love God. And Jesus’ two commandments infers that loving eachother and loving God are two separate things. So what is left for us to show our love for Him?
The Old Testament, too, commands us to love God with all our heart, soul and might. But is there anywhere in the Old Testament that says we are to share His love with others, with the context of His love comprising the Laws he gave to Moses? Well, Isaiah 42:6-7 sys “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, A LIGHT FOR THE NATIONS, TO OPEN THE EYES THAT ARE BLIND…” So, there is a duty even in the Old Testament to share God’s Love with others, as there is in the New Testament in which Jesus says in Matthew 28:19 to “Go…and make disciples of all nations…” In a sense, then, Jesus’ directive did not add to prophets such Isaiah.
At the very least, then, sharing the knowledge of God and His Goodness with others is indicative of our loving Him. And in loving our neighbor as we love ourselves as the Bible states in Leviticus 19:18 and 19:34, and in Jesus’ second commandment, it is inevitable that we will, through our words and actions, enlighten our neighbors of God’s Love for us.
There are certain groups of people who presume to have a superior knowledge of God yet does not do His Will by extending their love to their neighbors, instead keeping to themselves under a twisted philosophy of ‘Live and let live.’ They are as the Levite and the priest who, in Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan, walk on by as they see a man in distress. Would God receive them as enthusiastically as he would receive those who share His Love with strangers?
- 1
- Show all