Do we love God?

[arunangelo]

Jesus commands us to love one another as he has loved us (John 13:34). He commands us to offer the other cheek if anyone strikes us on one; to give our cloak as well if anyone would sue us and take our coat; and to go two miles if any one forces us to go one mile. He commands us to give to everyone that asks for something; and if someone takes what is ours, to not ask it back. He commands us love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. He also commands us to be merciful just as He is merciful to us (Matthew 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-36). He reminds us that, in order to bear fruit we must die to our self (John 12:24).
Jesus practiced what he preached in the following ways. He was wounded for our transgressions, was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53: 5 &7). Furthermore, while carrying his cross he was concerned about the suffering that was to come to the people of Jerusalem, rather than his own suffering. (Luke23:28). In addition, while he was dying on the cross he asked his Father to forgive his executioners (Luke 23:34) ". If we love him we would keep his commandments (John 14:15) by imitating him in our thoughts words and actions.

[PJW]

I thank God for making a way to live as He has commanded us to live. "Be ye holy; for I am holy". (1Peter 1:16)(Lev 11:44)

[claybevan]

Jesus commands us to love one another as he has loved us (John 13:34). He commands us to offer the other cheek if anyone strikes us on one; to give our cloak as well if anyone would sue us and take our coat; and to go two miles if any one forces us to go one mile. He commands us to give to everyone that asks for something; and if someone takes what is ours, to not ask it back. He commands us love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. He also commands us to be merciful just as He is merciful to us (Matthew 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-36). He reminds us that, in order to bear fruit we must die to our self (John 12:24).
Jesus practiced what he preached in the following ways. He was wounded for our transgressions, was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53: 5 &7). Furthermore, while carrying his cross he was concerned about the suffering that was to come to the people of Jerusalem, rather than his own suffering. (Luke23:28). In addition, while he was dying on the cross he asked his Father to forgive his executioners (Luke 23:34) ". If we love him we would keep his commandments (John 14:15) by imitating him in our thoughts words and actions.

I can only speak for myself but I know that I fall horrendously short of the Lord's commands to 'Love my neighbour as myself'
I'm going along, doing quite nicely, sharing Jesus with my neighbours, helping out, giving stuff that I sometimes cannot really afford to give. My neighbours say " How lovely is Mari, she's always ready to help out" but you see they're easy to help, they're nice folks but when a drug addict comes along ( yesterday) cussing and cursing and tries to steal my much cared for window box, I'm out there like a fish wife showing what's deep down in my heart not yet refined.
Today I feel like I am clothed in filthy rags, I don't feel like a new creation and I'm in sack cloth and ashes mode.. again!
I have a heavy burden on my heart that's saying, sort your own house out Mari because there's not a busting load of time left and
there's is a time coming when you will have far harder things to deal with.

So in answer to your question, Yes I think I love God, in reality I don't love him enough, otherwise I would resist the temptation to sin.
Thank God for Jesus

1 John 1:8- 9
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

[Dani H]

If you love Jesus then clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and help heal the sick. Visit the wrongly imprisoned and take care of the orphans and widows.

If you actually do what God calls you to do, then the struggle with sin usually takes care of itself, because sin is rooted in satisfying one's own lustful desires instead of loving other people.

I can relate to you Mari and I'm right there with you. You're not alone there in that struggle. Good on you for recognizing it and allowing God to convict you, and (hopefully) spring into action, because conviction should lead to repentance which should lead to action.

[Punchy]

Yes, I love God. If I didn't, I wouldn't pray, I wouldn't read the bible, I would go out and do drugs, have sex with every woman I meet, and basically do anything I wanted to do.

[nimblewillsgrace]

Yes, I love God. If I didn't, I wouldn't pray, I wouldn't read the bible, I would go out and do drugs, have sex with every woman I meet, and basically do anything I wanted to do.

I didn't do these and I did do those and still believed I loved God. It wasn't till I began to believe that God loved me that I started and stop doing those things. We cannot make love a law. You cannot tell anyone that they have to love God. The minute we do we are setting up people to pretend to love out of fear and perfect love casts out fear and people are afraid because they fear judgment. But yes I love because He FIRST loved me.

[John 8:32]

Do we love God? The answer is actually pretty simple...

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

[nimblewillsgrace]

Do we love God? The answer is actually pretty simple...

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

[John 8:32]

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The Ten Commandments

[Slug1]

I did some cleaning up of this thread and moved it back to Growing in Christ which is a NON-debate forum.

Please address the topic without debating. Thank you.