Love God...

[Hammster]

I would say Love God and Try to do what He wants.... then...there is no problem.

Isn’t that something you want to do?

 

[JacksBratt]

Isn’t that something you want to do?

Yes... That's 1 (one) thing.

There are all kinds of things that I "want" to do... but I don't.. because it would be sinful, illegal, hurtful, and.... not what God wants, so I don't do them..

Sometimes, I do what I want, or feel or whatever, and it is definitely not what God wants.

That's why I said "Love God and do what He wants" is safe..

"Love God and do whatever you want" is trouble.

 

[Hammster]

Yes... That's 1 (one) thing.

There are all kinds of things that I "want" to do... but I don't.. because it would be sinful, illegal, hurtful, and.... not what God wants, so I don't do them..

Sometimes, I do what I want, or feel or whatever, and it is definitely not what God wants.

That's why I said "Love God and do what He wants" is safe..

"Love God and do whatever you want" is trouble.

Not if what I want is what He wants.

 

[JacksBratt]

Not if what I want is what He wants.

OK, here's the thing...
I can do what I want.... and it is not what God wants and does not show that I love Him.

I can also do what I want and it IS what God wants and shows that I love Him.

SO... the absolute only time you can be assured of what you want to do... being OK and showing that I love God... is when it is what He wants..

Therefore.. it is not safe to say "Love God and do whatever you want".

It is only safe to say "Love God and Do what He wants".

 

[Hammster]

OK, here's the thing...
I can do what I want.... and it is not what God wants and does not show that I love Him.

I can also do what I want and it IS what God wants and shows that I love Him.

SO... the absolute only time you can be assured of what you want to do... being OK and showing that I love God... is when it is what He wants..

Therefore.. it is not safe to say "Love God and do whatever you want".

It is only safe to say "Love God and Do what He wants".

I am finding it strange that so many see “do whatever you want” as committing sin.

 

[Mathetes66]

False. It is not about what I want, it is about what He wants. Jesus said, 'Not My will (what He wanted) but Yours BE DONE.

Gal 2:18-20 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE but Christ who lives in me. And the life I NOW live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me & gave Himself for me.

'Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, THEY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.'

It doesn't have to do with my will, my wants; the issue is doing His will & His desires & wants, not my will & my desires & wants.

I am a living sacrifice, dead to myself, denying myself & taking up my cross, to die daily to my wants & will & following Him daily, doing what He wants & His will, as He shows us each day what He wants us to be doing.

'He who saves his life will lose it but he who loses his life for My sake & the gospel will save it.'

Love God & do what He wants. If you love God you will do what He wants, obeying His commandments & following Him. That is a true statement.

I am not my own. I was bought with a price. We are SERVANTS of Christ, doing what He wants us to do. That is what all the apostles said in their letters: servants of Christ. A servant does not do what he wants, he does what his master wants.

 

[Hammster]

False. It is not about what I want, it is about what He wants. Jesus said, 'Not My will (what He wanted) but Yours BE DONE.

Gal 2:18-20 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE but Christ who lives in me. And the life I NOW live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me & gave Himself for me.

'Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, THEY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.'

It doesn't have to do with my will, my wants; the issue is doing His will & His desires & wants, not my will & my desires & wants.

I am a living sacrifice, dead to myself, denying myself & taking up my cross, to die daily to my wants & will & following Him daily, doing what He wants & His will, as He shows us each day what He wants us to be doing.

'He who saves his life will lose it but he who loses his life for My sake & the gospel will save it.'

Love God & do what He wants. If you love God you will do what He wants, obeying His commandments & following Him. That is a true statement.

I am not my own. I was bought with a price. We are SERVANTS of Christ, doing what He wants us to do. That is what all the apostles said in their letters: servants of Christ. A servant does not do what he wants, he does what his master wants.

So all these positive things you mention, why do you do them?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Then loving God results in repentance.

Again, Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). Jesus says, "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" (John 15:10). This is even true for a person who first comes to the Lord and takes that first step in obedience to God. No obedience to His commands and there is no abiding in the love of God. After a person repents, they are given the Spirit, and the love of God.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts of the Apostles 2:38).

"...the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:5).

One needs to prove that they can have God's love without keeping His commandments as per John 14:15, John 15:10, Acts of the Apostles 2:38, and Romans 5:5. So far I do not see you proving your case with the Bible that a believer can love God without obeying His commandments.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I am finding it strange that so many see “do whatever you want” as committing sin.

So you don't think it is possible for a person to choose sin as a part of what they want? It happens every day 24/7. People choose sin because it offers a temporary pleasure for them. But is a hollow pleasure that is not as lasting as the righteous obedience to the Lord (Which is the fruits of the Spirit in a believer - i.e. love, joy, peace, etc.).

"Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:25).

Moses chose the affliction of God's people instead of choosing to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Moses had a choice here according to Hebrews 11:25. Notice, the text here does not say he was spiritually regenerated beyond his own free will choice here to suffer the affliction of God's people vs. enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season. Hebrews 11:25 uses the word "Choosing" on behalf of Moses to make the call or decision to decide on whether or not to be afflicted with God's people or to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

 

[fhansen]

Again, Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). Jesus says, "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" (John 15:10). This is even true for a person who first comes to the Lord and takes that first step in obedience to God. No obedience to His commands and there is no abiding in the love of God. After a person repents, they are given the Spirit, and the love of God.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts of the Apostles 2:38).

"...the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:5).

One needs to prove that they can have God's love without keeping His commandments as per John 14:15, John 15:10, Acts of the Apostles 2:38, and Romans 5:5. So far I do not see you proving your case that a believer can love God without obeying His commandments.

I think it's sort of both/and tho. We don't love God unless we keep His commands and yet we can't keep his commands unless we love Him. Love is His command, and yet how do we really love as we should without His help? And love can't be forced, or faked, as the other commands can; we either really love-or we don't. Anyway, grace is imperative in our being able to fulfill this command, as it should be.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I think it's sort of both/and tho. We don't love God unless we keep His commands and yet we can't keep his commands unless we love Him. Love is His command, and yet how do we really love as we should without His help? And love can't be forced, or faked, as the other commands can; we either really love-or we don't. Anyway, grace is imperative in our being able to fulfill this command, as it should be.

No doubt God convicts us of our sins, and helps to open our eyes to the truth in seeing the love of God (via by God so loving the world that He sent His only begotten Son) so as to take action. But it is one thing to recognize God's love, and it is quite another to take action upon seeking forgiveness with God (i.e. repentance - which is a command - see: Acts of the Apostles 17:30), and or in truly believing in Jesus as one's Savior - Which is also a command - see: 1 John 3:23). So God's grace that can move us to obey God is hinged upon obedience to His commands. Without any obedience to His commands in repenting or believing (Which is initial salvation), there can be no love of God that can flow into our lives. Jesus makes it clear in John 15:10 that to abide in his love is the equivalent of keeping His commandments. Jesus did not say that we can refuse to keep His commandments and yet also abide in His love. A person cannot be saved without repentance and or believing in Jesus. A person cannot be saved and or abide in God's love without continuing to work out their salvation with fear and trembling (Which is no doubt a part of the Sanctification Process and obeying God's other commands).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

God shows us His love by his actions.
His going to the cross to die for us was the biggest way of God for us to show that He loves us. God did not say, "Hey, I love you." and then He never proved it by His actions.
We are to follow Jesus Christ as an example of how to live and love. We perfect the love of God within us by keeping His Word (1 John 2:5).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I think it's sort of both/and tho. We don't love God unless we keep His commands and yet we can't keep his commands unless we love Him. Love is His command, and yet how do we really love as we should without His help? And love can't be forced, or faked, as the other commands can; we either really love-or we don't. Anyway, grace is imperative in our being able to fulfill this command, as it should be.

I suppose the point I want to make here is that our actions really show forth if we truly love God. One cannot love God and also not show forth the actions or fruit that they have the love of God. For loving God is something that comes from God, but it is not forced upon us. We have to cooperate with loving God, by inviting Him (and His love) into our lives. On our own, we are nothing. It is only by God and His mercy we can be saved. By His love we can be saved, but people end their loving God at the cross. They say they love God but they do not think they have to live for God and or obey Him as a part of loving Him. But God's grace should push us to love God by keeping His commandments and in following Him.

 

[fhansen]

No doubt God convicts us of our sins, and helps to open our eyes to the truth in seeing the love of God (via by God so loving the world that He sent His only begotten Son) so as to take action. But it is one thing to recognize God's love, and it is quite another to take action upon seeking forgiveness with God (i.e. repentance - which is a command - see: Acts of the Apostles 17:30), and or in truly believing in Jesus as one's Savior - Which is also a command - see: 1 John 3:23). So God's grace that can move us to obey God is hinged upon obedience to His commands. Without any obedience to His commands in repenting or believing (Which is initial salvation), there can be no love of God that can flow into our lives. Jesus makes it clear in John 15:10 that to abide in his love is the equivalent of keeping His commandments. Jesus did not say that we can refuse to keep His commandments and yet also abide in His love. A person cannot be saved without repentance and or believing in Jesus. A person cannot be saved and or abide in God's love without continuing to work out their salvation with fear and trembling (Which is no doubt a part of the Sanctification Process and obeying God's other commands).

And yet we love Him because He first loved us. It all requires His initiative. And so we aren't motivated in a vacuum. We respond because we care enough to respond-and yet we care enough because He's enabled that in us. Anyway, we're talking in circles by now. It's been good IMO either way. Yes, we must be conscious of the need for obedience-and pray to be able to obey in greater and greater ways.

 

[Hammster]

Again, Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). Jesus says, "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" (John 15:10). This is even true for a person who first comes to the Lord and takes that first step in obedience to God. No obedience to His commands and there is no abiding in the love of God. After a person repents, they are given the Spirit, and the love of God.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts of the Apostles 2:38).

"...the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:5).

One needs to prove that they can have God's love without keeping His commandments as per John 14:15, John 15:10, Acts of the Apostles 2:38, and Romans 5:5. So far I do not see you proving your case with the Bible that a believer can love God without obeying His commandments.

When did I make that case?

 

[Hammster]

So you don't think it is possible for a person to choose sin as a part of what they want?

I think it’s possible. I think we all do it every day. But when we choose to sin, we aren’t loving God at that moment.

 

[JacksBratt]

So all these positive things you mention, why do you do them?

We do them because that's what God wants and we love Him. We do them as service to Him.

Not for salvation... but because we are saved...(if that argument hasn't reared it's ugly head yet)

 

[JacksBratt]

I am finding it strange that so many see “do whatever you want” as committing sin.

"Whatever I want" can be sin.... but, hopefully, what I want is also what God wants.

But for sure... it isn't always that way.

And... as I said before... I don't always do what I want... even though I want to... because it sin.

 

[Hammster]

We do them because that's what God wants and we love Him. We do them as service to Him.

Not for salvation... but because we are saved...(if that argument hasn't reared it's ugly head yet)

Okay. From my point of view, if I love God, and am loving God, I what I want to do is to do what He wants. So, I love God and do what I want (which is what He wants).

 

[Hammster]

"Whatever I want" can be sin.... but, hopefully, what I want is also what God wants.

But for sure... it isn't always that way.

And... as I said before... I don't always do what I want... even though I want to... because it sin.

When you sin, though, you aren’t loving God.