ALL GOD WANTS FROM US 2

If all God wants from us is to
believe in Jesus and to love one another, how do we obey these two simple requirements in real terms?

There are many people who believe that Jesus was a historical figure who lived on earth over 2000 years ago, but He makes no difference to them. Their belief that Jesus existed is like believing that Julius Caesar also lived, and Caesar makes no difference to their lives either.

What did Jesus do two thousand years ago that no one else can do?

Has anyone else claimed to be the Son of God and given evidence of the truth of this claim as He did by the things He said and did? Has anyone else claimed, not only to be able to raise the dead, but also to BE the resurrection? Jesus pulled that one off, first, by raising a man to life who was already decomposing in the grave after four days, and then by rising from the dead Himself!

No one has ever been able to disprove the resurrection after examining the evidence from every angle. So, if He spoke the truth when He predicted His death and resurrection, we can safely assume that everything else He said is true.

This means that, by believing in Him, we commit ourselves entirely to Him if we want to live forever, even after we die. No more living selfishly; no more living independently; no more living sinful lives as and when we please.

Jesus becomes our Supreme Authority, aka “Lord”, when we surrender our lives to Him. By His Spirit, we are indissolubly joined to  Him, like branches in a vine, and His life flows into us and through us to the world around us.

We are in a partnership with Him through which He supplies the power to live His life as we respond in obedience to the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit. He provides everything we need when we receive His promises by faith. We receive our spiritual food to grow in faith and character from His Word and we communicate with Him in prayer.

2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT
[3] “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. [4] And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”

The second part of what God wants from us is the outflow of our union with Jesus. Since Jesus is God and God is love, the Holy Spirit (the third person in the Godhead) pours God’s love into us, changing us from selfish, self-serving sinners, to loving and caring children of God.

1 John 4:11-12 NLT
[11] “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. [12] No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us….
[17] And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.”

How do we express this love to our fellow believers in practical ways?

The Bible gives us some clear directives.

1. We love by helping those in need.

John 3:16-19 NLT
[16]”We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. [17] If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? [18] Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. [19] Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.”

2. We love by living in honesty and transparency with one another.

1 John 1:7 NLT
[7]”But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

1 John 2:9-11 NLT
[9] If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. [10] Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. [11] But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.”

3. We love by preserving unity.

Ephesians 4:3 NLT
[3] Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

3. We love by submitting ourselves to one another.

Ephesians 5:21 NLT
[21] And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

4. We love by building our fellowship with one another.

Ephesians 4:2 NLT
[2] Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

5. We love by praying for one another.

Ephesians 6:18 NLT
[18] “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

6. We love by building one another up in our faith.

Jude 1:20-21 NLT
[20] “But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, [21] and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.”

How important it is for us guard against laws, burdens, and requirements that religions and religious people try to put on us that are not from God.

Jesus extends an invitation to all those who have tried hard to live up to standards that others put upon us. He offers us the rest that being in partnership with Him brings.

Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
[28]”Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”