LOVING GOD

1. LOVING GOD

2. LOVING GOD I. TWO ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS “But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteous- ness.” (Romans 6:17-18)

3. LOVING GOD I. TWO ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS A. "From the heart," Deut. 6:5; Heb. 10:22; 1 Chrn. 28:9; Jer 3:10; Rev. 2:2-4; Mk. 12:32-33 “But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18)

4. LOVING GOD I. TWO ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS A. “From the heart,” Deut. 6:5; Heb. 10:22; 1 Chrn. 28:9; Jer 3:10; Rev. 2:2-4; Mk. 12:32-33 B. “Form (pattern) of teaching,” Lk. 6:46; Jn. 14:15, 21, 23-24; 1 Jn. 5:3; 2:3-5; Matt. 15:8-9 II. SOME CONSEQUENCES:

5. If our love is to be from the whole heart and directed by his word... “These words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart.” (Deut. 6:6; Col. 3:16) “Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deut. 6:7; Eph. 6:4) “Thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.” (Deut. 6:8-9; 2 Pet. 3:1-2)

6. It is fatal to the soul and misleading to others when people who do not obey God’s word talk about “how much they love God.” • “salvation by faith only,” Heb. 5:9; Jas. 2:24; 1 Jn. 3:18 • “led by direct operation of the Holy Spirit,” Rom. 8:14; Eph. 6:17 • “worship with the church of your choice,” Matt. 16:18; Rom. 16:16; Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23 • “All good and sincere people will be saved,” Matt. 7:21-23

7. Those who find ways around obeying the Lord do not love him, Mk. 7:10-13 • “I give at church” excuses one from other obligations, Gal. 6:10; Jas. 1:27 • Excuse unkindness by saying, “Just telling it like it is,” Eph. 4:29 • Slander and malign brethren whom we believe are in error, 2 Cor. 10:4 • Delay baptism for selfish reasons when I know the truth and understand my need, Acts 8:36 • Pervert the work of the church by saying, “Look at all the good it does,” Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:8 • Excuse drinking modern intoxicants by arguing for its recreational use or that it “calms the nerves,” 1 Pet. 4:3 • Wear immodest clothing “because of the heat” or because “it’s swim wear,” 1 Tim. 2:9

8. LOVING GOD I. TWO ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS A. “From the heart,” Deut. 6:5; Heb. 10:22; 1 Chrn. 28:9; Jer 3:10; Rev. 2:2-4; Mk. 12:32-33 B. “Form (pattern) of teaching,” Lk. 6:46; Jn. 14:15, 21, 23-24; 1 Jn. 5:3; 2:3-5; Matt. 15:8-9 II. SOME CONSEQUENCES: A. If our love is to be from the whole heart and directed by his word... B. It is fatal to the soul and misleading to others when people who do not obey God’s word talk about “how much they love God.” C. Those who find ways around obeying the Lord do not love him, Mk. 7:10-13 D. Our love for God will show itself in every part of our lives, Matt. 23:23; 25:31-40; 1 Tim. 6:18; Rom. 12:1-2

9. Love of God motivates. When We Love The Lord -- • We do not sit around and try to figure out which of his commandments we do not have to obey. "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15). • We do not seek excuses to stay away from worship services. "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord" (Ps. 122:1). • We do not discount importance of Bible study/classes. “Oh, how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97). • We do not try to find out how little we can do. “Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). • We do not try to figure out how little we can give. “A woman having an alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head” (Matt. 26:7).

10. LOVING GOD I. TWO ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS A. “From the heart,” Deut. 6:5; Heb. 10:22; 1 Chrn. 28:9; Jer 3:10; Rev. 2:2-4; Mk. 12:32-33 B. “Form (pattern) of teaching,” Lk. 6:46; Jn. 14:15, 21, 23-24; 1 Jn. 5:3; 2:3-5; Matt. 15:8-9 II. SOME CONSEQUENCES: A. If our love is to be from the whole heart and directed by his word... B. It is fatal to the soul and misleading to others when people who do not obey God’s word talk about “how much they love God.” C. Those who find ways around obeying the Lord do not love him, Mk. 7:10-13 D. Our love for God will show itself in every part of our lives, Matt. 23:23; 25:31-40; 1 Tim. 6:18; Rom. 12:1-2

11. Love of God motivates. When We Love The Lord -- • We do not sit around and try to figure out which of his commandments we do not have to obey. "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15). • We do not seek excuses to stay away from worship services. "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord" (Ps. 122:1). • We do not discount importance of Bible study/classes. “Oh, how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97). • We do not try to find out how little we can do. “Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). • We do not try to figure out how little we can give. “A woman having an alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head” (Matt. 26:7).