Every believer I know would undoubtedly without hesitation answer this with a resounding "Yes!" So then, why ask the question?
I believe it necessary to ask this question because I feel as though many of us as believers really don't have a full understanding of what it means to love Him. John seemed to think the same as he has a lot to say on the subject. Lets let him expound on this for us. We wont go into every verse as there are many but we'll hit a few high spots.
1 John 5:1-3
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus(Yeshua) is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Did you catch that? "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments..."
Ok, John, but what commandments?
1 John 2:7
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
1 John 3:11
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
2 John 1:5-6
5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
Ah, the commandments from the beginning... Sooo, when was the beginning?
Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
John 1:1-2
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
So, to love God is to keep His commandments.... And these commandments are commandments given to us from the beginning..... Hmmm, interesting...
Now, the question still begs answering... Do you love God?
I pray this blesses you and causes you test what you believe to the truth of scripture. I don't claim to know everything. I'm no scholar. I'm just thatdude with a keyboard, a bible and some kids! So test everything I and anyone else says to scripture to see if it be so. Till next time...
*Don't forget to Follow, Upvote and Resteem!
These are some good verse references. I just had a lady from the church I used to go to basically ask where I’ve been. So now I’m introducing what I’ve been learning. She told me we should look into this more to see if it’s accurate or inaccurate. Oh boy. Any tips?
First off, It's really great that she's open to seek to see if it be true as many aren't willing to test what they believe. This is where the opportunity for iron to sharpen iron can spring forth. IF she's willing to study and test it to scripture with preparedness of heart and readiness of mind then nothing but blessings will come from it. But thats really where the rubber meets the road... IF.... Sadly, most go to His Word with their own preconceived notions and impose their own doctrine onto to it which, in turn, causes us to be unstable and untaught leading to the twisting and distorting of scripture. This, however, lies on the individual. Its on them to seek for truth genuinely with their whole heart. You know the old saying, "you can lead a horse to water....," but it's ultimately up to them. All you can do is lovingly present the truth. From there it's praying that it's received with preparedness of heart, readiness of mind, and that the scales are pulled from their eyes. Presenting the truth can difficult as it's mostly met with resistance and hostility. But prayer is powerful! Praying all goes well...
amen!
Congratulations @thatdude! You have completed the following achievement on the Steem blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click here to view your Board of Honor
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCongratulations @thatdude! You received a personal award!
You can view your badges on your Steem Board and compare to others on the Steem Ranking
Do not miss the last post from @steemitboard:
Vote for @Steemitboard as a witness to get one more award and increased upvotes!