The Greatest Commandment : Loving God And Loving Others

FULFILLING THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT : LOVING GOD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS AND LOVING OTHERS AS WE LOVE OURSELVES

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OUTLINE

1. THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT IS TO LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS AND TO LOVE OTHERS AS WE LOVE OURSELVES. ALL THE OTHER COMMANDMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS.

2. ALL OUR SPIRITUAL AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES ARE IN VAIN IF WE DO NOT HAVE LOVE IN OUR HEARTS. THE LORD WANTS US TO SERVE HIM BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM.

3. GOD IS LOVE AND ALL THOSE WHO KNOW GOD SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER. WHEN OUR LOVE IS COMPLETE WE WOULD HAVE NO FEAR TO FACE THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT.

4. WHEN WE ARE ROOTED IN THE LOVE OF GOD , NOTHING CAN SEPERATE US FROM HIS LOVE. ONLY THOSE WHO ENDURE TILL THE END SHALL BE SAVED.

5. WE MUST LOVE OUR ENEMIES AND DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE US AND BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE US AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO MISTREAT US.

6. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE WIDTH AND LENGTH AND HEIGHT AND DEPTH OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST. WE MUST ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO POUR OUT THE LOVE OF GOD IN OUR HEARTS.

7. THE LORD HAS GREAT BLESSINGS FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM . ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD.

THE MESSAGE

FULFILLING THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT : LOVING GOD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS AND LOVING OTHERS AS WE LOVE OURSELVES

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1. THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT IS TO LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS AND TO LOVE OTHERS AS WE LOVE OURSELVES. ALL THE OTHER COMMANDMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

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MATTHEW 22:36-40

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

ROMANS 13:9-10

The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

2. ALL OUR SPIRITUAL AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES ARE IN VAIN IF WE DO NOT HAVE LOVE IN OUR HEARTS. THE LORD WANTS US TO SERVE HIM BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

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1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-7

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

MATTHEW 6:1-4

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

REVELATION 2:1-4

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.

JOHN 21:15-17

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."