Having faith in God is VERY important, “…without faith IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, for he who comes to God must BELIEVE THAT HE IS, and that HE IS A REWARDER of those who DILIGENTLY SEEK (ekzēteō: to have a strong inward desire for) HIM.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Loving God is also VERY important, this is just what Jesus explained when one of the religious leaders, “…an expert in the law, tested Jesus with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD with ALL your heart and with ALLL your soul and with ALL your mind.’ This is the FIRST AND GREATEST commandment. And the second is like it: ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang (kremannumi: be suspended) on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:35-40) John said this about the great commandment “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, HE IS A LIAR; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he LOVE GOD WHOM HE HAS NOT SEEN?” (1 John 4:20)
Jesus described the significance of the law which was written with the finger of God, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but TO FULFILL. “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the SMALLEST LETTER OR STROKE shall pass from the Law until ALL IS ACCOMPLISHED.” (Matthew 5:17-18) Paul wrote, “Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? OF COURSE NOT! In fact, only when we have faith do we TRULY FULFILL THE LAW.” (Romans 3:31) So, what is the purpose of the law? “…the law was our schoolmaster TO BRING US TO CHRIST, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24)
EVERY WORD OF GOD IS SO VERY IMPORTANT, “ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD–BREATHED and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Where the NIV says All scripture is “God Breathed” most translations say “All Scripture is “given by inspiration of God…” The Greek says All Scripture is “theo–pneustos” theo is God, pneustos is breath. So, when we are reading the bible God is BREATHING His word INTO US.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham