Keeping His Commandments.

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 you seem to have totally missed the point.

 

The OP makes the point very clearly.

 

What do you think was His point?

 

Exactly how?

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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