Love For God And Neighbour

Compiled by: Herman Abrahams (Pastor), Cornerstone Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 740, Westridge 7802, Rep. of South Africa.

E-Mail: Mentorship2003@yahoo.co.uk

Note to the reader:

If you have been blessed with this sermon compilation, I would be honoured to receive an e-mail from you simply telling me where in the world you are based- I do not need any other information. This is merely so that I can have the pleasure of giving thanks to Almighty God for the fact that all over the globe, the ministry which he has entrusted to me, is blessing the body of Christ and helping to extend the Kingdom of God.

Thank you.

Herman Abrahams, Cape Town, South Africa.

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LOVE FOR GOD AND NEIGHBOUR - Read: MARK 12:28-34

Mark 12:29-31. 29.Jesus answered, “Here is the most important one. Moses said, ‘Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Deut.6:4,5) 31 And here is the second one. ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ (Lev.19:18) There is no commandment more important than these.” (New International Reader’s Version)

Jesus here teaches that:

A. The whole duty of man, the whole moral-spiritual

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law, can be summed up in one word: love.

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(1) Rom. 13:9,10 9 Here are some commandments to think about. “Do not commit adultery.” “Do not commit murder.” “Do not steal.” “Do not want what belongs to others.” (Exod 20:13-15, 17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19, 21) These and other commandments are all included in one rule. Here’s what it is. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Lev 19:18). 10 Love does not harm its neighbor. So love does everything the law requires. (New International Reader’s Version)

(2) I Cor. 13:1-3 And now I will show you the best way of all. 13:1 Suppose I speak in the languages of human beings and of angels. If I don’t have love, I am only a loud gong or a noisy cymbal. 2 Suppose I have the gift of prophecy. Suppose I can understand all the secret things of God and know everything about him. And suppose I have enough faith to move mountains. If I don’t have love, I am nothing at all. 3 Suppose I give everything I have to poor people. And suppose I give my body to be burned. If I don’t have love, I get nothing at all. (New International Reader’s Version)

B. This love must be directed first of all toward

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God.

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(1) In this connection Mark reports that Jesus began his summary of the law by quoting Deut. 6:4, 5: 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (NIV)

(2) In the original Hebrew, the first word of this quotation is Shema meaning "Hear." The entire quotation is generally called "the Shema." Today, the ancient custom of beginning the synagogue service with the recitation of the Shema is still being observed. It is readily understood that the Shema was and is the very foundation of monotheism (worship of one, singular God – the one and only).

(3) Not only that, but it stresses the fact that this one and only God wants to the loved! This is in harmony with the fact that he himself is a loving God. This is a truth taught not only in the New Testament (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; 8:32; etc.) but also, either directly or by implication, in such O.T. passages as Deut. 33:27; Ps. 27:10; 87:2; Prov. 3:12; Isa. 1:18; 55:7; Jer. 31:31-34; Hos. 11:8; Jon. 4:11; Mic. 7:18-20;) etc.

Rom. 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ps. 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

ILLUSTRATION

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Thou Art My God

My God, I love Thee; not because

I hope for heaven thereby,

Nor yet because who love Thee not

Are lost eternally.

Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst me

Upon the cross embrace;

For me didst bear the nails, and spear,

And manifold disgrace,

And griefs and torments numberless,

And sweat of agony;

Yea, death itself; and all for me

Who was thine enemy.

Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ,

Should I not love Thee well?

Not for the sake of winning heaven,

Nor of escaping hell;

Not from the hope of gaining aught,

Not seeking a reward;

But as Thyself hast loved me,

O ever-loving Lord.

So would I love Thee, dearest Lord,

And in Thy praise will sing;

Solely because Thou art my God,