PONDERING... What do the Scriptures principally teach? --AND-- What does the law of God require?

This is part of a catechism study we're doing on Sunday mornings.

What do the Scriptures principally teach?

The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

• 2 Timothy 1:13 ESV - "13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."
• Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV - "13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."

The Bible teaches us who God is and what He calls us to do.

What does the law of God require?

Personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience; that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love our neighbor as ourselves. What God forbids should never be done and what God commands should always be done.

• Matthew 22:37-40 ESV - "37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.""

Personal Obedience 

This is the reason why growing up in church is not enough. I grew up hearing, "God has no grandchildren." It's true. People aren't saved because they are "church people". It doesn't matter how devout your family is, or even how involved you are in church stuff. Salvation is personal. You must personally believe in Christ and give Him your life. 

Perfect Obedience 

This is the reason why Jesus died. We needed a perfect Savior that would offer the perfect sacrifice because even our obedience is tainted by imperfection. Nonetheless, the Bible does call us to this. We are to strive to live like Jesus. We are sinners saved by grace, but must not use that as an excuse to just keep sinning.

Romans 6:1-4 ESV - "1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

Perpetual Obedience

This is the reason "19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us" (1 John 2:19 ESV). We are to continue in our obedience. Christianity is not an on-again, off-again relationship. It is a life-changing, life-time commitment. 

ALSO, this is a reason I am so thankful for grace! Knowing that we are all saved sinners, I praise the Lord that He is gracious and merciful with me.

Love God with all our Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength

I usually break this down by moving the "soul" part to the end and saying it like this: Love God with everything you feel, think, and do....forever.

Love our Neighbor as Ourselves

In the same manner that you care for yourself. I think sometimes we take the severity of this command for granted. Do we ever truly care from anyone else in the same way that we care for ourselves? Do we feed them when they're hungry, clean them when they're dirty, cover them when they're cold, embrace them when they're broken, look out for what is best for them? That is what God commands.

What God forbids should never be done. What God commands should always be done.

Yeah, I think this is pretty straight forward.

John Wesley Quote for Thought:

"Loving the Lord God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength is the first great branch of Christian righteousness. You shall delight yourself in the Lord your God; seeking and finding all happiness in Him. You shall hear and fulfill His word, "My son, give me your heart." And having given Him your inmost soul to reign there without a rival, you may well cry out in the fulness of your heart, "I will love You, O my Lord, my strength. The Lord IS my strong rock; my Savior, my God, in whom l trust.'' The second commandment, the second great branch of Christian righteousness, is closely and inseparably connected with the first: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love—embrace with the most tender goodwill, the most earnest and cordial affection, the most inflamed desires of preventing or removing all evil and bringing every possible good. Your neighbor—not only your friends, kinfolk, or acquaintances; not only the virtuous ones who regard you, who extend or return your kindness, but every person, not excluding those you have never seen or know by name; not excluding those you know to be evil and unthankful, those who despitefully use you. Even those you shall love as yourself with the same invariable thirst after their happiness. Use the same unwearied care to screen them from whatever might grieve or hurt either their soul or body. This is love." (As printed in the New City Catechism).