Mat 22:37 Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like it: 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
I see the DO IT part; but where is the TEACH ‘em how to do it part?
Like much in the Christian life, this cannot be taught nor is it possible to accomplish. Only God can accomplish it. He said, "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
He is the one who causes us to bear fruit. It's not a thing we learn or do, but it's something He does through us if we will abide in Him.
Forgive me for intruding...you did not ping me in this reply but I would like to respond to it.
Like much in the Christian life, this cannot be taught nor is it possible to accomplish. Only God can accomplish it. He said, "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." He is the one who causes us to bear fruit. It's not a thing we learn or do, but it's something He does through us if we will abide in Him.
As a reminder this was referring to:
Mat 22:37 Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like it: 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
You are exactly right that without Christ it is impossible to achieve this. We can't do this on our own.
Elsie seems to disagree with my statement "Doctrine is important, but it's purpose is to teach us how to love God and how to love others."
Doctrine IS teaching. Since Christ summed up the whole of all doctrine of God, the teaching of God, his commandments, as love God and love your neighbor I think my statement is perfectly logical and perfectly valid. What we're learning, through the teaching of God and Christ, is how to let go of our fleshly and carnal desires and to let Christ reign supreme in our thoughts, mind, spirit and life.
Do you have an alternate opinion Elsie?
