Thanks Scott, a great summary of the issues of 1Cor 13
Yet I am not agreeing with one part where you said "Jesus himself said that the first and greatest command is to love God, and the second (which flows from the first) is to love people as we love ourselves. These commands together are a summary of the entire law of God (Matthew 22:37-40)"
Yet what Matt 22:40 says is not "summary" but "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
It is from these two commands that the rest of the law emanates, is founded on, is reliant upon- such that love is the intended outcome from all the law.
As Paul said "So indeed the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good." (Rom 7:12)
Obviously it is good because it explains how we love God and neighbour.
Without the law we could make any definition for "love" that we want, but it won't be God's love.
To say "God is love" is as meaningless as saying "all you need is love" if you don't comprehend the clear definition of the law of love as explained in scripture, and in the life example of Christ and the Apostles and Prophets who are the cornerstone and the foundations of the temple of God (Eph 2:19-22)
Similarly, while "love is the fulfilment of the law", it doesn't mean we don't need the law- it means that love is the goal for which the law was created. As Paul tells us, we should therefore "uphold the law" Rom 3:31
Yet no matter how much law you know or keep, if you don't do it out of love for God and neighbour it is meaningless.
We therefore have a a growing understanding of how to love:
we love God for giving us his law,
which shows us how to love God,
which means we love God more,
and we understand his law more,
which means we love God more
and keep his law with the understanding of love being it's purpose and intent.
Our love for God therefore grows as we appreciate that the purpose and intent of the law is love, which is it's foundation and upon which all the law hangs.
I was born again when I was 14 in 1981. I have been imperfect since then. Just as imperfect as before. This is why grace is so powerful. I don’t deserve it, but God gives it freely. You’re right about God being love, well because the word is truth, and his love changed and is still changing me. I am a coach and a teacher and the longer I live the more I understand how powerful his love is in my life. I cannot help but share the love he gives me with my players and students, if I didn’t I would explode. God is love. God is good. Thanks Scott.
In response to your post, I want to quote an early Christian rock pioneer. (what can I say…I like rock music and Christian rock holds well) The first quote is from his great statement about the mess of the world, a song called Readers Digest, In that song Norman mentioned the Beatles song when he said “The Beatles sang All You Need Is Love. Then they broke up.” He succinctly pointed out the lack of the reality of love in the world regardless of their claims to it.
Both these songs are off his 1972 album Just Visiting This Planet, a great listen that reminds us the issues you brought up are not relegated to the present mess. There has only been one mess and it started in the Garden.
I love this. You are a brilliant writer and an exemplary pastor. I had been off Twitter for a few years and forgot how much I loved your posts. So happy to have found this app! Going to share this with my husband and adult kids—all who are loving, but nevertheless, it’s a timely reminder of true success (they may miss that part once in a while)! Thank you. 🙏
Thanks Scott, a great summary of the issues of 1Cor 13
Yet I am not agreeing with one part where you said "Jesus himself said that the first and greatest command is to love God, and the second (which flows from the first) is to love people as we love ourselves. These commands together are a summary of the entire law of God (Matthew 22:37-40)"
Yet what Matt 22:40 says is not "summary" but "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
It is from these two commands that the rest of the law emanates, is founded on, is reliant upon- such that love is the intended outcome from all the law.
As Paul said "So indeed the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good." (Rom 7:12)
Obviously it is good because it explains how we love God and neighbour.
Without the law we could make any definition for "love" that we want, but it won't be God's love.
To say "God is love" is as meaningless as saying "all you need is love" if you don't comprehend the clear definition of the law of love as explained in scripture, and in the life example of Christ and the Apostles and Prophets who are the cornerstone and the foundations of the temple of God (Eph 2:19-22)
Similarly, while "love is the fulfilment of the law", it doesn't mean we don't need the law- it means that love is the goal for which the law was created. As Paul tells us, we should therefore "uphold the law" Rom 3:31
Yet no matter how much law you know or keep, if you don't do it out of love for God and neighbour it is meaningless.
We therefore have a a growing understanding of how to love:
we love God for giving us his law,
which shows us how to love God,
which means we love God more,
and we understand his law more,
which means we love God more
and keep his law with the understanding of love being it's purpose and intent.
Our love for God therefore grows as we appreciate that the purpose and intent of the law is love, which is it's foundation and upon which all the law hangs.
I was born again when I was 14 in 1981. I have been imperfect since then. Just as imperfect as before. This is why grace is so powerful. I don’t deserve it, but God gives it freely. You’re right about God being love, well because the word is truth, and his love changed and is still changing me. I am a coach and a teacher and the longer I live the more I understand how powerful his love is in my life. I cannot help but share the love he gives me with my players and students, if I didn’t I would explode. God is love. God is good. Thanks Scott.
In response to your post, I want to quote an early Christian rock pioneer. (what can I say…I like rock music and Christian rock holds well) The first quote is from his great statement about the mess of the world, a song called Readers Digest, In that song Norman mentioned the Beatles song when he said “The Beatles sang All You Need Is Love. Then they broke up.” He succinctly pointed out the lack of the reality of love in the world regardless of their claims to it.
https://youtu.be/Y7qMxV1u39Y?si=PqUuTYRQ7oloeMy3
The second quote from Larry Norman is his song called Righteous Rocker where he points out the same issues that you have in your blog.
https://youtu.be/zn0kWX8w-2c?si=oLWflBgP0Cx4XC72
Both these songs are off his 1972 album Just Visiting This Planet, a great listen that reminds us the issues you brought up are not relegated to the present mess. There has only been one mess and it started in the Garden.
I love this. You are a brilliant writer and an exemplary pastor. I had been off Twitter for a few years and forgot how much I loved your posts. So happy to have found this app! Going to share this with my husband and adult kids—all who are loving, but nevertheless, it’s a timely reminder of true success (they may miss that part once in a while)! Thank you. 🙏