Our Relationship with God

  
All I Have Commanded, Chapter 1
by Dan Bentley and E. Jay O'Keefe
  

Important Note: The “one liners” for each command are provided in order to get a quick grasp of the entire category of commands. They can be read at a single sitting, which we recommend doing. But they are not a substitute for the full text, which we suggest you read from the Scriptures in its context. We also recommend that you read the Preface before studying this chapter.

FROM JESUS

MATTHEW
5:33-37 Fulfill your promises. Don’t make any vows or promises which presume on the future. Such vows are evil.
5:48 Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
6:2-4 Do your giving in secret and your heavenly Father will reward you.
6:5-8 Don’t pray to be seen by men. Your Father already knows your needs. Pray in secret and He will reward you.
6:7 Do not pray with meaningless repetitions as the heathen do.
6:9-15 Pray like this, “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your Name,” etc., the Lord’s prayer.
6:14-15 If you forgive men their sins against you, your Father will forgive you.
6:14-15 If you do not forgive men their sins against you, neither will your Father forgive you.
6:16-18 Don’t fast to be seen by men as fasting, but by your Father who sees in secret, and who will repay you.
6:25-34 Do not worry about what you will eat, drink or wear.
6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
7:7-11 Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.
7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide that leads to destruction, and the way is narrow that leads to life.
7:24-27 Those who hear My sayings and do them are like the wise man who built his house on a solid foundation.
7:24-27 Those who hear My sayings and do not obey them are like the foolish man who built his house on sand.
9:36-38 Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into His harvest.
10:32-33 Whoever confesses me before men, I will confess before My Father in heaven.
10:32-33 Whoever denies me before men, I will deny before My Father in heaven.
11:28 Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
11:29-30 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls.
16:24-26 Whoever wishes to become My disciple must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.
22:17-21 Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.
22:36-40 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. This is the great and foremost commandment.
22:36-40 And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself.

MARK
11:25-26 When you pray, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your heavenly Father may forgive you.
11:25-26 If you forgive others, your Father will forgive you, but if not, neither will your Father forgive your sins.

LUKE
14:26-27 No one can be My disciple unless he hates his own family members, and even his own life.
17:10 When you have done all things commanded you, say, “I have done only that which I ought to have done."
18:1-8 You ought to pray always and never lose heart.
22:17-20 Do this (the communion) in remembrance of Me.

JOHN
6:27-29 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for that which endures to eternal life
7:37-39 If any man thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
8:31-32 If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you shall know the truth, which shall make you free.
8:51 I tell you the truth, if a man keeps My word, he will never see death.
13:34-35 A new commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you.
14:11 Believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me, otherwise believe on account of the works themselves.
14:15 If you love Me, keep my commandments.
14:27 My peace I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
15:4-7 If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it shall be done for you.
15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love.

FROM THE APOSTLES

ACTS
2:38 Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the Holy Spirit.
2:40 Be saved from this perverse generation.
3:19 Repent and return that your sins may be wiped away.
3:22-24 Moses said, “God shall raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren. Give heed to Him in everything.”
5:29 Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
6:1-4 Select deacons for personal ministries, so we leaders may give ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.
10:34-35 Understand God does not show partiality, but the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.

ROMANS
11:19-21 Don’t become proud. Rather fear God, for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will He spare you.
12:12 Rejoice in hope. Persevere in tribulation. Be devoted to prayer.

1 CORINTHIANS
3:18-21 Do not deceive yourself into thinking you are wise in this age.
7:1-5 Husbands and wives, don’t deprive one another except for a time devoted to prayer. Then come together again
10:14-22 Flee from idolatry.
11:2-16 While praying or prophesying, a man should have his head uncovered, while a woman should have hers covered.
11:20-34 Do not practice communion unworthily (with unconfessed sins), but examine yourself before doing so.
12:25-31, 14:1 Earnestly desire the greater gifts, especially prophecy
14:1 Pursue love. 
14:13,14,28 Do not exercise the gift of tongues (i.e. in an assembly) without an interpreter.
14:27,28 Exercise the gift of tongues only two or three at most, each in turn, or else keep it to yourself.
16:13-14 Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong. Let everything be done in love.

2 CORINTHIANS
10:13-18 Do not boast in what you accomplish as you minister for God. Boast in the Lord.
13:5-6 Examine and test yourself to see whether or not you are saved.
13:11 Rejoice, grow spiritually to maturity. Be comforted. Be like-minded. Live in peace.

GALATIANS
5:1 Keep standing firm in the freedom Christ has given you, and don’t be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
5:4 Don’t seek to be justified by law.
5:16-25 Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
6:7-8 Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. Whatever a person sows, this he will also reap.

EPHESIANS
2:8-9, 11-13 Remember you were once separated from Christ, but now by faith, not by works, you have been saved.
4:17-18 Do not walk any longer as pagans walk, in the futility of their mind.
4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
4:31 Put away from yourself all bitterness, wrath, anger, slander and malice.
5:4-5 Do not let immorality or greed or filthiness or silly talk be even named among you, but rather giving of thanks.
5:15-17 Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, understanding what the will of God is.
5:18 Do not get drunk with wine, which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.
5:20 Always give thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5:21 Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
6:10-13 Be strong in the Lord. Put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
6:14-15 Stand firm in the truth. Put on the breastplate of righteousness, having shod your feet with the gospel of peace.
6:16 Take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.
6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
6:18 Pray at all times in the Spirit, and be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all saints.

PHILIPPIANS
1:29 Because you have been granted for Christ’s sake to believe in Him, expect also to suffer for His sake.
2:5-11 Have the same mind Christ had when He left heaven, humbled Himself, became a man and died for our sins.
2:12-13 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for God works in you to will and to do His good pleasure.
2:14-15 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, to prove yourselves blameless and innocent children of God.
2:16-18, 3:1 Hold fast the word of life, that in the day of Christ, those who taught and served you may have cause to glory.
4:1,4 Stand firm in the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord always.
4:6-7 Stop worrying about anything, but make all your requests known to God in prayer, with thanksgiving. 
4:8-9 Let your mind dwell on whatever is true, honorable, right, lovely, of good report, i.e. anything worthy of praise.

COLOSSIANS
2:6-7 As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.
2:20-22 Having died with Christ to the principles of the world, don’t submit to decrees such as don’t touch, taste, etc.
3:1-4 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…..and be thankful.
3:16 When you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, let the word of Christ dwell in your richly.
3:16 As you sing with grace in your heart to the Lord, with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, also let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father.
3:22 Employees, obey your employers, not with external service to please, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
3:23-25 Do your work heartily as unto the Lord rather than men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward.
3:23-25 Know that he who does wrong will receive the consequences of his wrong, and that without partiality.
4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.

1 THESSALONIANS
2:11-12 Walk in a manner worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
4:1-2 Excel in your walk according to the commandments given you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
5:8-10 Be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
5:16 Rejoice always.
5:17 Pray without ceasing.
5:18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.
5:20 Do not despise prophetic utterances.

2 THESSALONIANS
2:13-15 Stand firm and hold to the traditions you have been taught, by word of mouth, or by letter from the apostles.

1 TIMOTHY
2:1-4 Make petitions and prayers for all men, including those in authority, in order that we may live a tranquil life.
2:8 Men should pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissention. 
6:17-19 Instruct those who are rich not to fix their hope on their riches, but on God who gives all things to enjoy.
6:17-19 Instruct those who are rich to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.

2 TIMOTHY
1:6-7 Kindle the gift of God in you, for God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and discipline.
1:13-14 Retain the standard of sound words of your teachers, and guard them as a treasure entrusted to you.
2:7-8 Consider the Scriptures, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
2:11-13 Remember this, if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.
2:11-13 If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He can’t deny Himself.
3:16-17 Remember that all Scripture is inspired by God
3:16-17 Remember that all Scripture is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correction and instruction in righteousness.

TITUS
2:1 Speak the things that are fitting for sound doctrine.
2:2 Older men be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

HEBREWS
2:1-4 Pay much closer attention to what God has spoken to us in His Son, lest we drift away from it.
3:1-6 Consider Jesus, faithful as a Son over His house, whose house we are if we hold fast our confidence to the end.
3:7-15, 4:7 Take care brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart in falling away from the living God.
4:1-3 Fear, lest while a promise remains of entering His rest, any of you should seem to have come short of it.
4:15-16 Draw near the throne of grace with confidence, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
7:4-27 Consider how much more Jesus, who has become the guarantee of a better covenant, is able to save us.
10:19-22 Since we have a great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a heart in full assurance of faith.
12:5-6 Do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, who loves and disciplines every son He receives.
12:9 We respected our earthly fathers’ discipline. Shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
12:25-29 Do not refuse Him who speaks. If those warned on earth did not escape, much less those warned from heaven.
13:5-6 He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Therefore, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
13:13 Let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
13:15 Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

JAMES
1:2-4, 12 Consider it joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 
1:5-8 If anyone lacks wisdom, ask God, who gives generously and without reproach, and it will be given him.
1:9 You who are of humble circumstances, glory in your high position.
1:10-11 You who are rich, glory in your humiliation, because like flowering grass you will pass away.
1:13-16 When tempted, don’t say, “I am being tempted by God.” God cannot be tempted nor does He tempt anyone. 
1:19-20 Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. For man’s anger does not achieve the righteousness of God.
1:22-25 Be doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
2:1 Do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
2:10-13 Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point has become guilty of all.
4:7-10 Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
4:7-10 Humble yourselves in the presence of God and He will exalt you.
5:7-8 Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord……Strengthen your hearts for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
5:12 Above all, make no promises which presume on the future, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath.
5:13 Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.
5:14-15 Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him.
5:16-18 Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. Righteous prayer is effective.

1 PETER 
1:14-16 Do not be conformed to your former lusts, but be holy, because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1:17 Conduct yourselves in fear while on earth, addressing as Father the one who impartially judges every man’s work.
3:13-15 Do not fear those who would seek to harm you.
3:13-15 Sanctify God in your hearts, and be ready to give a defense to any who ask of the hope that is in you.
4:7 Be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.
4:12-14 Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which tests you, as though some strange thing were happening to you.
4:15-16, 19 Let none suffer as a murderer or evildoer. But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but glorify God.
5:5 Younger people submit to elders.
5:5,6 Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
5:6 Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time
5:7 Cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He does the caring for you.

2 PETER
1:5-11 Add to your faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love.
1:5-11 Make your calling and election sure, for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble.
1:19-21 Pay attention to prophecy. No prophecy is of one’s own interpretation, but by holy men moved by the Holy Spirit.
3:1-2 Remember the words spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of Jesus spoken by your apostles.
3:8-9 Remember that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

1 JOHN
1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2:3-11, 4:20-21 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
2:22-23, 26 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father. The one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
3:21-24 If our heart does not condemn us, we know what we ask of God, we receive, because we keep His commandments.
4:1-3 Test the spirits whether they are from God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus is come in the flesh is from God.
4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.
4:21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.
5:4-5 Whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and our faith is the victory. 
5:11-12 He who believes that Jesus is the Son of God has eternal life.
5:13 Know that if you really believe in the name of the Son of God you have eternal life.
5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

2 JOHN
1:5-6 I give you, not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.
1:5-6 And that this is love, that we obey His commandments.
1:9 And one who does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. 
1:9 The one who abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

REVELATION
1:3 Blessed are those who read or hear, and heed the words of this prophecy, for the time is near.
2:4,5 If you have left your first love for Christ, remember from where you have fallen, and do the first deeds.
2:7,11,17, etc. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
2:14-16 If you are involved in idolatry or fornication, repent, or else I will judge you and make war against those deceiving you.
2:25-26 Hold fast until I come. To him who keeps my deeds until the end, I will give authority over the nations.
3:2-3 Wake up and strengthen what remains. Remember what you have received, and heard, and keep it, and repent.
3:17-19 I advise you to buy gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and clothe yourself with white garments. 
3:17-19 Those whom I love I reprove and discipline. Be zealous, therefore, and repent.
14:7 The angel said to those on earth, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come.”
19:5 Give praise to our God all you His bond servants who fear Him, the small and great.
19:10 Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
22:7, 9-11 Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
22:7, 9-11 Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong, the one filthy, still be filthy, the one holy, still keep himself holy.
22:12-14 Behold I am coming quickly, and my reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done, in regard to His Commandments.
22:17 And the Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come.
22:17 Let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
22:18-19 Don’t add or take away from the words of this book, or God will take your part from the tree of life and holy city.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

THE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS
In the long list above, there are two commandments that Jesus said are more important than all other commandments given to us by Himself and the apostles. He called them the two great commandments. They are 1) “Love God with all your heart, soul and mind,” and 2) “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Just before He went to the cross, Jesus gave His disciples a "new commandment," love one another as I have loved you. We take this as a modification of the second great commandment. To love someone as Jesus loved us is to love him more than we love ourselves, a requirement quite impossible until the Holy Spirit indwells us. We note that Jesus gave the new commandment as He was explaining to them that the Holy Spirit would soon come and indwell all believers. When we keep the "new commandment," in essence Jesus Himself is loving the other person through us by means of the Holy Spirit which indwells us.

But what does it mean to love God with all our heart, soul and mind? Maybe we can't give a perfect definition, one which would satisfy the theologians. But what we do know is that both Jesus and the apostles clearly stated that the key test, or evidence of our love of God is whether or not we keep His commandments ... all of His commandments. Jesus' words in John 14:23,24, "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments. He who does not love Me does not keep my words." And the words of the apostle John in 1 John 5:3, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome." And in 1John 2:3, "And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments." Interesting that John in this statement makes keeping His commandments a self-test, or evidence of salvation.

TWO COMMANDS WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR DISOBEDIENCE
Other than the two great commandments, we are not aware that Jesus, or the apostles, singled out any other commandments as being more important than the others. Rather they often emphasize the importance of keeping all of the commandments. They do, however, indicate that the consequences of disobeying certain commandments are more serious than those for other commandments. We would like to call your attention to two such commandments. The first one is the command to unconditionally forgive anyone and everyone who sins against you. Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." In Mark 11:25-26 Jesus states this as a commandment as He instructs His disciples, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also may forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father forgive you your transgressions.” Notice two things about this command. It is unconditional, and the consequences of disobeying it are serious. See also Matthew 18:21-35, where Jesus explains the reason for this command as He answers Peter's question, "How often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?"

The other command with serious consequences for disobedience, is to confess Jesus, and not deny Him, before men. Matthew 10:32-33, "Every one therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”

The apostles verify and amplify both of these commands (see especially Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 4:32, Hebrews 10:26-27, 1 John 2:23 and 1John 4:15).


THE CHURCH’S 2000 YEAR FAITH-WORKS DEBATE
On the surface, without bringing other Scriptures to bear on them, obedience to these two commandments appears to be a condition of salvation, and a large segment of the church has believed and taught so over the centuries. We understand that many scholars suggest ways of interpreting these two commands which eliminate the conflict with the doctrine of justification by faith alone, apart from works, as clearly taught by the apostle Paul, the object of that faith being trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus as a redemptive act which paid for our sins in full. We believe in that doctrine with all our heart, and at the same time, we find these two commandments, when considered with all that Jesus and the apostles said about keeping the commandments, disturbing. Just consider Paul’s command in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” The original language of this text suggests this is something you should do repeatedly as a practice, as a way of life. And by obeying it (and other commands as well), you can have assurance that you are in good standing with God, this being a part of the evidence of your salvation. 

All of this brings to mind the church’s 2000 year bitter debate over whether works play a part in becoming saved, and whether you can lose your salvation. We’ve been meditating a lot on this since undertaking this project, and we think the commandment to examine self helps resolve these difficult issues. We don’t wish to fester the debate, but just contemplate where we are today.

The elect are eternally secure. They have been from eternity past when God elected them, and they will remain elect (saved) for all eternity future. To even suggest that an elect person could become non-elect would be like saying God is not sovereign. It doesn’t make any sense biblically. What the basis of God’s election is we do not know. We do know that He knew in eternity past every person who had a potential for faith. He also knew every person who would willfully disobey his commandments and not repent, but what part this foreknowledge played in His election we don’t really know. We also know the apostle Paul clearly taught that the only role man plays in the salvation transaction is faith … faith alone, the total absence of works. Then why all the debate? Our answer is, because an elect person won’t know for certain that he is elect until he enters eternity. He can have assurance of his election in this life, but not certainty until he stands before Christ in eternity. This is apparently the way God intends it to be. He wants us to have assurance, but only if we are obedient. He doesn’t want us to feel secure in disobedience. In fact He wants us to fear the consequences of disobedience. By fear, He means “terror.” He intends us to feel the terror of a soul in peril. Study the language of the “fear of God” passages. We believe the King James translators got it right when they translated phobos “terror” in 2 Corinthians 5:11, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” A professing believer who willfully refuses to forgive another person, and who does not confess and repent of his disobedience, has no reason to have assurance of his salvation, nor does the local fellowship of which he is a part have any reason to affirm his salvation. They cannot condemn him, but neither can they affirm him if he is unrepentant.

We believe the commands to self-examination, and there are several of them, argue for this interpretation. The apostle Peter gives a similar command using a little different wording. He says, “Be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.” (2 Peter 1:10). He goes on to say, “For if you do these things, you will never fail, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” “These things” is a reference to the list in verses 5-9, a clear description of a broken, obedient servant of Jesus. Peter is not saying obedience is a requirement for becoming saved. An unbeliever has no capacity for obedience. All he can do is put his trust in Christ as Savior. Peter is saying that a professing believer whose life is a pattern of willful disobedience to the commands has no biblical ground for assurance that he is saved.

In Matthew 5:48 Jesus said, "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." Obviously, God's perfection is the goal of the Christian life, but Jesus doesn't make perfection a condition for salvation in that verse. If He did, no one would make it to heaven. No one bats 1000 on keeping the commandments. But we can bat 1000 on these two commandments, forgiving others and confessing Christ before men. We can do these any time we want to. This is helpful to us in understanding why the consequences for violating these two commandments are so severe.

FINAL COMMENTS
Perhaps it would not be too far off the mark to say that the sum total of all of the four hundred plus commandments given to us by Jesus and the apostles gives us the specifics of what loving God with all our heart, soul and mind looks like. With that in mind, here is a short list of other instructions which recur over and over in the list above, and which we are commanded to observe over and over throughout our Christian lives.

1. LOVE AND HATE. Jesus calls us to an exclusive relationship with Him. Our devotion to Him must be so thorough that the love we have for any and all attachments in life by comparison is like the contrast between love and hate. “Obeying Jesus’ command to hate your family is the greatest service you can render them. Their understanding that your allegiance to Jesus Christ is total and exclusive will give them a sense of well being and security in a way that love cannot.” (Walt Henrichsen). This exclusive relationship is entered into at the moment of the new birth into God’s family by faith in Jesus Christ. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit all have committed themselves voluntarily and collectively to those who by faith express their confidence for salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Commandments are in place, which allow us to exercise that faith, and by doing so become closer and closer to the God of the universe. There is no limit to the depth of intimacy by which the God of all creation wants to share life with you. When you think you could not bear to be closer, He will open for those who choose to endure, another more vast and deep manifestation of Himself. So certain is God of the benefits to His children, that He declares His name, and His character, to be Jealous. We must tell you now that we fear to say what that must mean from His perspective. Job, Joseph, John, Peter, Paul and other biblical characters we may only read about……or those spiritually astute sufferers in Christ since that time……..they may be able to express to you what loving God means. The commandments to love Him express His desire about our responsibility, but we must defer to others to express with fault any sense of what the Lord means, but we do know this from Scripture: IF YOU LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD, YOU WILL KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. 

2. PRAYER. Pray without ceasing. Pray about anything and everything, thanking God for everything, worrying about nothing, never losing heart. Let your requests be known to God, but never pray contrary to the will of God. Pray publicly when appropriate, but never in order to be seen by men. Be devoted to prayer, and seek to remain alert in it. Intercede for one another, and for all men, especially those in authority. Pray for wisdom. When sick, ask your leaders and fellow Christians to pray for you. 

3. HUMILITY. The whole of the Christian life can be looked at as a sanctification process, whereby we are gradually being brought to a complete surrender of our lust for autonomy (pride, independence, self-rule, self-realization, etc), and being brought to complete submission to the authority of Jesus Christ. At the point of complete submission to Christ, we are in a state of perpetual brokenness, at which point we are the most obedient, and thus, most useful in the work of the kingdom of God. Therefore we are instructed in the commandments above, to deny self, take up our cross (i.e. be willing to die for Christ), and follow Him. When God requires, we must hate all members of our family and even our own lives. We are to come to Christ and learn of Him, specifically that He was meek and lowly (humble), so that we may develop the same mentality He had when He humbled Himself and became a man, went to the cross and died for our sins. We are to understand that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, therefore we are to humble ourselves under His mighty hand, that He may exalt us in due time. We are to walk in the fear of God and resist the devil in the faith and in the Spirit.

4. ABIDE. Abide in Christ and in the word. Devote yourself to the apostles teaching, to fellowship with fellow believers, and to communion in remembrance of Christ. Let the Word dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Beware of failing to claim its promises or of drifting away from it's teachings. Stand firm in the faith and the freedom Christ has given you. Flee idolatry of every form and examine yourself continuously to assure that you are saved. Don't regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, which is an expression of His love for you, but repent when the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin. Persevere in trials and do not consider them strange (See chapter 6). Do not grieve or quench the Spirit, but walk under control of the Holy Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Keep your focus on the eternal, not the temporal, understanding that you will give account of your deeds, good and bad, when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

5. CONFESSION. It is an expression of our faith in God to confess our sins to the One we have sinned against. (Psalm 51:4, “Against Thee, and Thee only, have I sinned.”) To confess my sins to God is recognition of the power of God and the willingness on His part to forgive me. God is the one I have offended. He has provided a way of escape through the blood of His precious Son for sinners. But to enjoy unbroken fellowship with Him, recognition and acknowledgment of sin must be made. Confession of that error must be actualized. The sins of others cannot separate me from God. Acts against me do not come between my Lord and me. When I sin, I sin against God. His mercy and grace are in His being. I like the truth of not receiving what I deserve (His mercy) and receiving unmerited favor (His grace). These qualities are part of God’s package of gifts for us when we become believers. Grace, by definition, requires me to do nothing. Mercy, on the other hand, with forgiveness, is conditioned on confession. Do you need a good cleaning? Practice confession. Tell someone who cares. Tell God. 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

6. THE COMMAND TO BELIEVE. It occurred to us that someone might be reading this who is certain that he is an unbeliever, or is uncertain whether he is a believer. Why are you reading a book about the commandments of God, and more specifically, why are you in a chapter about loving God? Could it be that He already loved you first, that He is in control of everything, and that He put you here right now to read His personal messages to you? This is an offer to you to receive this relationship you were created to enjoy. You are invited to spend the rest of your life loving and worshipping One who promises to keep you now and into eternity, One who has the power to back up His promises. Concentrate on the commands to believe or to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for your personal sins. He is here now to accept your trust in Him as the One who paid for your sins. You do that, and the power will belong to you to obey all that He commands you by the Holy Spirit. Your great desire will be to obey the one who gave Himself to secure your release from your current worthless master. “God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). Free will. Your decision.