Featured How Is The Greatest Commandment Kept?

Ok, finally getting back. The question I'm proposing is what does oneness with God look like. You used the word "formulate," which brought to my mind a systematized approach to holiness and fulfilling the greatest commandment, and while I did not believe in some lifeless "program" not guided by the Holy Spirit, I do believe fulfillment of the "You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole mind, your whole soul and your whole strength" will manifest in certain behaviors and a certain lifestyle. More specifically, I think it will be characterized by a life of prayer, worship, study of the word, and service unto God.

Let me go into a little more detail. I fast quite often, or at least more than the average Christian I believe. Do I do so in a systematized manner? No. The Geek Orthodox fast twice a week, as did the Jews during NT times. I can't die that and don't feel led to. Instead, as the Spirit leads me, I will go on longer fasts. I was adding it up, and I fast close to 100 days out of the year now (it's sill below that, but approaching more now). Twice a week for 52 days in a systematized fashion would be 104 days a year. Do I think it should be systematized where everyone has to fast on the same days. NO, absolutely not. But do I believe fasting is yet another thing that should characterize the life of the believer? Yes (granted there are some who can't, so I didn't include it in my original list).

Do you not believe that prayer, worship, study of the word and service unto God would be common characteristics in the lifestyle of someone who was fulfilling the greatest commandment?

 

Excellent answer : )

Also good. This fleshes out the response Brakelite had just a little. He said something similar, and I agree. I would classify this under service to God, in that we are seeking to minister His grace unto others.

 

I still get a good laugh out of this one . Some people might call that "being a smart ass," but we don't use language like that around here... <still laughing>

 

Blessings in Christ, 101G, and glad you responded. Now I hate to be disagreeing with you here, but I actually think they are two separate commandments. If not, He would have included them in one. The second is man-centered, whereas the first is God-centered, and I think John was appealing to his readers not to think they were fulfilling the first if they were blatantly disobeying the second. I do agree that fulfilling the second is ONE of the means of fulfilling the first, but there are also many others which have nothing to do with how we treat men. Prayer and worship and study of the word for instance are devotions of our mind heart and soul more exclusively to Him alone.

But you have a good thought in proving what others have said: That fulfilling the second is one of the ways we can fulfill the first.

 

This is a similar response to what Episkopos posted, Scott. So I think here I would direct you to the question I asked him in Post #48 (if you wish to answer it).

 

Ok, a serious one this time. Same response here as what I was driving at with Episkopos. How then would you answer Post #48? Would you refer to the practices I mention there as "the righteousness of God," yes or no?

God verses, btw.

 

I like this answer, Giuliano, and you put it even more eloquently maybe than some of the others who presented a similar viewpoint. But how would you answer Post #51, then?

 

I like the last line especially. Scripture teaches the same thing. Certainly some can be comforted by emotional love, and need it desperately. But in many other instances talk can be cheap, as in saying "Go. Be warmed and filled," yet they don't do anything for the body.

So what would be your response to Post #51?

 

These would all fall under the heading of what I call service unto God, i.e. ministry, which I do believe is a vital part of keeping the greatest commandment.

I totally agree.

This is more in line with what I was getting to. How would you respond to Post #48?

 

Thanks for the response, Truth. As I've been asking others, what then would be your response to Post #51?

 

To do this post justice would require more time than I have, atm. It breathes scripture.

I'll try to get you a response later on, Amadeus, and thanks so much for responding : )

 

You yourself, and thanks for participating. Have a blessed one!