1. “Love God and do whatsoever you wish.”

2. This can have two meanings:
You believe “loving” God is just saying you do o having feelings toward him.
We love God with a true love, so we only want what He.

3. Love God, Love Your Neighbor
Matthew 22:35-40

4. WHICH IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENT IN THE LAW?
Shema
Deuteronomy 6:4-5

5. It seems they really did not fully understand it.
An outward religious show
An inward claim only
Condemning all to hell
Allow sin to go unchecked
The Pharisees (Matt. 23:23ff).
Saul, the King (1 Sam. 15:20-23).
James and John, Sons of Thunder (Luke 9:54).
Sons of Eli (1 Sam 2).

6. Loving God is much more than any of these…
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

7. Our heart: the source of our emotions
Our heart: the source of our emotions. Everything we feel must give place to God.
We live in a feeling-oriented society.

8. Our heart: the source of our emotions
Our heart: the source of our emotions. Everything we feel must give place to God.
We live in a feeling-oriented society.
Because our feelings are ever-changing, we must please someone who does not.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning”
James 1:17

9. Our soul: the source of our person
Our soul: the source of our person. Everything we are must give place to God.
Who are you really?

10. Our soul: the source of our person
Our soul: the source of our person. Everything we are must give place to God.
Who are you really?
The rich fool said, “And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’” (Lk. 12:19)

11. Our soul: the source of our person
Our soul: the source of our person. Everything we are must give place to God.
Who are you really?
We must live and teach the next generation that they are God’s possession first
(1 Pet. 2:9).

12. Our mind: the source of our intellect
Our mind: the source of our intellect. Everything we think must give place to God.
We are what we think (Prov. 23:7).

13. Our strength: the source of our actions
Our strength: the source of our actions. Everything we do must give place to God.
Colossians 1:17
Can people tell you that you are a Christian by your life rather than by your having to tell them you are one because they would not know it otherwise?

14. WHICH IS THE SECOND GREATEST COMMANDMENT?
According to Jesus, it is to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Leviticus 19:18

15. Most Jews in Jesus’ day did not see the value of this:
Perhaps because it was in the middle of many other laws
Maybe because it was attached to another law

16. Most Jews in Jesus’ day did not see the value of this:
Perhaps because it was in the middle of many other laws
Maybe because it was attached to another law,
“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.”

17. Most Jews in Jesus’ day did not see the value of this:
Perhaps because it was in the middle of many other laws
Maybe because it was attached to another law,
Maybe they focused on the words “of your people” and forgot the “neighbor.”

18. Our society teaches us that our religion is a completely private matter.
It is my religion so it is up to me how I live.
What I offer God is what really matters as long as I do in sincerely.

19. Our society teaches us that our religion is a completely private matter.
It is my religion so it is up to me how I live.
What I offer God is what really matters as long as I do in sincerely.
Add to this the individualism of our society, and that results in an environment contradictory to NT Christianity.
Why?

20. NT Christianity is an others-oriented religion.
Jesus said as much as we love ourselves, we should love others too.
One cannot love God without loving others (1 John 3:10).

21. What does this mean from practical standpoint?
Corinthian church will be our case study.

22. It means that we must think about others.
The reason they said “I am of…” or… was because they wanted to feel better about themselves (1 Cor. 1:12).
It was obvious in their acceptance of the brother in sin (1 Cor 5).
It was obvious in their boasting about who had the greatest gift (1 Cor ).

23. It means that we must live for others.
The Corinthians lived for themselves.
They ate meat offered to idols…(1 Cor. 8).
They continued in fornication …(1 Cor. 6:12ff).
They fed themselves …(1 Co. 11:17ff; 1 John 3:17, 18).
How are we living? Do we live for others?

24. It means that we must serve others.
The Corinthians were so busy thinking about their own rights…(1 Cor. 6:1ff).
Paul gave up his right to be supported by them… Why? (1 Cor. 9:19-23).
Are we serving others seeking their ultimate good?

25. Sadly, many Christians at Corinth believed that their religion was a private matter, that what they did not concern anyone else, nor affect anyone else.

26. Sadly, many Christians at Corinth believed that their religion was a private matter, that what they did not concern anyone else, nor affect anyone else.
However, they soon learned that it is not really private, it is personal, and there is a big difference between the two.

27. A personal religion will take everything God says personal and seek to apply it to life.

28. A personal religion will take everything God says personal and seek to apply it to life.
Are you applying the command to love God to your life?

29. A personal religion will take everything God says personal and seek to apply it to life.
Are you applying the command to love God to your life?
Do you love your neighbor? Your brother?