Keeping His Commandments.

[Carl Emerson]

Our daily reading tonight included Ps 119:32.

32 "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart..."

This verse expresses an important truth.

We have many on CF 'Pushing' the commandments as if they were central to salvation.

Can I suggest this was never the case - His aim was not primarily that we should obey a set of rules, but to have a loving heart.

In fact without a right heart - we cannot obey the commandments.

So the central matter in our salvation is our heart.

"Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me..." Ps 51:10

Salvation is a gift - when we receive it, He changes our heart.

Nothing else matters - make this your one aim - to have a renewed heart - then you will walk in His ways and not stray.

 

[Dave L]

Our daily reading tonight included Ps 119:32.

32 "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart..."

This verse expresses an important truth.

We have many on CF 'Pushing' the commandments as if they were central to salvation.

Can I suggest this was never the case - His aim was not primarily that we should obey a set of rules, but to have a loving heart.

In fact without a right heart - we cannot obey the commandments.

So the central matter in our salvation is our heart.

"Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me..." Ps 51:10

Salvation is a gift - when we receive it, He changes our heart.

Nothing else matters - make this your one aim - to have a renewed heart - then you will walk in His ways and not stray.

To keep the Ten Commandments, you must do the opposite of what they forbade. Not steal = give. Not murder = love enemies... and so on.

 

[Carl Emerson]

To keep the Ten Commandments, you must do the opposite of what they forbade. Not steal = give. Not murder = love enemies... and so on.

Dave you seem to have totally missed the point.

 

[Dave L]

Dave you seem to have totally missed the point.

what's the point?

 

[Carl Emerson]

The OP makes the point very clearly.

 

[Dave L]

The OP makes the point very clearly.

What I'm saying is; Jesus taught us how to keep the Ten Commandments in the New Covenant. And those who think they keep them, miss his point.

 

[Carl Emerson]

What do you think was His point?

 

[Dave L]

What do you think was His point?

The Jews did not keep the commandments because God blinded them. Jesus showed us how to keep them.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Exactly how?

 

[Carl Emerson]

Dave you have challenged my OP - are you saying that to keep the commandments has nothing to do with having a renewed heart???

Do you remember the promises concerning the New Covenant ?? Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel predicted He would give a new heart to believers to enable them to faithfully walk in His ways.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Is this not the good news at the heart of the Gospel - a new heart of love for Him and each other?

 

[Dave L]

Exactly how?

Jesus taught, and Paul reiterated that love keeps the law. Instead of not stealing, you give, etc.

 

[childeye 2]

Our daily reading tonight included Ps 119:32.

32 "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart..."

This verse expresses an important truth.

We have many on CF 'Pushing' the commandments as if they were central to salvation.

Can I suggest this was never the case - His aim was not primarily that we should obey a set of rules, but to have a loving heart.

In fact without a right heart - we cannot obey the commandments.

So the central matter in our salvation is our heart.

"Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me..." Ps 51:10

Salvation is a gift - when we receive it, He changes our heart.

Nothing else matters - make this your one aim - to have a renewed heart - then you will walk in His ways and not stray.

I believe this is the promise of the New Testament. And I also believe it fits with the wrath of God in Romans 1 where God gave us over to the lusts of our flesh, because in vanity we worshipped the creature over the Creator.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Dave what you are describing is the fruit of a new heart.

A new heart of Love is not often spoken about, yet that is what the gospel is all about.

How do we know that we are in Him ?? Because we love the brethren.

Is this not what John 17 speaks about - believers loving each other is what attracts the world to Him.

At church on Sunday I met a Chinese lady from a Buddhist family who is wonderfully saved.
When I asked her what caused her to convert, she said it was the Love in the church.

May we rediscover the centrality of the heart of Love in His salvation plan. This is surely at the heart of the gospel.

 

[Dave L]

Dave what you are describing is the fruit of a new heart.

A new heart of Love is not often spoken about, yet that is what the gospel is all about.

How do we know that we are in Him ?? Because we love the brethren.

Is this not what John 17 speaks about - believers loving each other is what attracts the world to Him.

At church on Sunday I met a Chinese lady from a Buddhist family who is wonderfully saved.
When I asked her what caused her to convert, she said it was the Love in the church.

May we rediscover the centrality of the heart of Love in His salvation plan. This is surely at the heart of the gospel.

But in this state, we automatically keep the Law.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Yes if we have a renewed heart - otherwise without the Love of Jesus, keeping the Law comes to nothing...

 

[Dave L]

Yes if we have a renewed heart - otherwise without the Love of Jesus, keeping the Law comes to nothing...

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives samples of how a loving heart behaves. And it turns out to be doing the opposite of what the law forbade. This becomes the backbone of NT ethics that you see in Paul's teaching and the rest of scripture.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Exactly - it is also fruitful to study the first five chapters of Acts when the church was putting this into action.

By the time John wrote Revelation (about 50 years later) there was already a need to return to this first love.

I deeply believe this is a key for the whole church today.

The world is looking for Love - We are supposed to be His answer.

 

[Dave L]

Exactly - it is also fruitful to study the first five chapters of Acts when the church was putting this into action.

By the time John wrote Revelation (about 50 years later) there was already a need to return to this first love.

I deeply believe this is a key for the whole church today.

The world is looking for Love - We are supposed to be His answer.

Love will wax cold as iniquity overtakes the world. This is why living the Sermon on the Mount with its focus on love provides a great checklist once people become aware of it. It becomes part of our conscience. Many today reject it as being for another time and place.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Love will wax cold as iniquity overtakes the world. This is why living the Sermon on the Mount with its focus on love provides a great checklist once people become aware of it. It becomes part of our conscience. Many today reject it as being for another time and place.

Exactly - and this will lead to considering some form of community living as 'first love' is awakened again...