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Pastor Martin Carl Jarvis
mcjarvissr@yahoo.com

#9
"Love God"

 LIBERTY WORSHIP CENTER
www.lcenter.org

The Twelve Point Focus of the 21st Century Church
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"TO MOVE EACH INDIVIDUAL TO LOVE GOD"
   Our struggle is constantly with our flesh.  Paul tells us that he/we often do what we know we shouldn't, and don't do what we know we should.  What's unfortunate is that all too often we use this scripture to excuse our choice to do what we know is wrong. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Romans 7:20

    John 14:23 reads, "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words."   Well, at first glance this appears to be a bit of a contradiction to what Paul is saying.... but it isn't.

     You don't have to love God to be saved.  Actually, it is probably impossible that anyone could love God at the time of receiving Him into their life.  Love is birthed through relationship.  This is why we mistakenly proclaim, "Oh How I Love Jesus!", and consistently reject his commandments.

     Legalism teaches you to love God, by keeping His commandments.....  The reality is that when you love God, you will keep his commandments.   I had a conversation with an elderly Christian some time ago.  He said "If grace is all you say it is, then why don't you live and unrestrained and indulgent life?"  My answer, "Because I Love God, and I don't want to those things."   Don't get me wrong, I am often tempted.... and sometimes I do the wrong.  But this is where the understanding of what Paul is saying kicks in....  I don't desire to do what is wrong, but sometimes I do wrong anyway.     For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:    But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Romans 7:22-23

     To again address simply what Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."  What were "His Commandments?"  When asked,  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.   And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.  Mark 12:29-31

     So pray for God to increase your love for Him.  Pray for God to increase your love for all others.    These seem like God desires to me. Amen.setstats1