The Heart of 'Conservative Truth' is LoveNovember 26, 2018Jesus said to his disciples when establishing the New Covenant, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."Note, he didn't say "must." Earlier the disciples complained some of his commands were impossible. Jesus said, "With man, it is. But with God, nothing is impossible." Paul said that Love fulfills the Law. "Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore Love is the fulfillment of the law." Romans 13:8-10 Love is a fruit of the Spirit (as is Goodness). Of our own selves, love does not naturally come. We need to be abiding in the Presence of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. This is why love is called a fruit of the Spirit. When we let Love of God come to fruition in us, we DO obey. It just happens. "If you love me you will keep my commands." He didn't say must. But he also didn't say "obey." "Keep" doesn't mean "obey." Trsete (Greek word) means "Keep guard or watch over, keep intact." If you love me, then you will keep my commands intact. Or to put it another way, "By loving me, my command is intact." The Gospel is much simpler but ever so much subtler than we've thought. It truly does takes a change of Mind (from ours to Christ's) to see from Kingdom perspective. This perspective is one that sees God's presence everywhere (His Glory is filling the earth as waters fill the sea) and that we are branches to the Vine, whose only purpose is fruit bearing and feeding others with this fruit (Do you love me? Feed my sheep). The Way of Christ is an easy burden, a light yoke. It only seems difficult from the flesh's mind, who has not received the Holy Spirit.
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