Ceremonial law keeping is not the measure of love for God that counts. The measure of one's love for God is their love for others, not whether they are circumcised, or keep a Sabbath, or a Festival, etc.
"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar." (1 John 4:20 NIV)
In fact, God doesn't even want the sacrifice of our service and worship if we don't first love others:
"23 “...if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24 NIV)
'Religious' duty will NEVER replace or make up for the disobedience of not treating other people with godly love. This is what the prophets condemned the Israelites about--outward law keeping, but inward wickedness.
If a person draws the surety of their salvation and God's pleasure in them from the keeping of the ceremonial requirements of the law they are terribly deceived. Salvation and love for God is measured by how it loves others, including--and maybe especially--it's enemies. Which is interesting because in the church it seems that we think we don't have to be nice to others in the church if they have what we perceive to be questionable doctrine, not knowing it's how we treat our 'enemies' that determines if we really know God or not.
"The only thing that counts is love expressing itself through love." (Galatians 5:6 NIV)
The last message is for the World. And the simplicity of it is...
'If ye love me, keep my commandments'. Now I grant you second place
on my agenda.
Matt. 22
[
35] Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
[
36] Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
[
37] Jesus said unto him,
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
[
38]
This is the first and great commandment.
[
39] And
the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
So friend, the [[only thing that I hate about you are your
very false teachings]].
But I doubt that you can understand that?
--Elijah
What I understand is that's how emotionally charged doctrine rationalizes not being nice to those who have opposing doctrines. In much the same way some believers rationalize their harsh, condescending treatment of unbelievers.
But anyway, you posted while I was composing my response to Joe. That response speaks to what your're saying here. Sabbath keeping doctrine says Sabbath keeping is a greater expression of the command to love God than 'love your neighbor as yourself' is. I say, scripturally, this is simply not true. In fact,
not even close.
Those who adhere to the Mosaic worship commands are not the only ones who believe this. It's just that the rest of us in the church have
different expressions of love for God that we think are greater expressions of love for God than the command to love him by treating people nicely and with respect and being at peace with them. The 'law' of the church today that is regarded as the most important expression of love for God is church attendance, church service, reading the Bible, prayer, baptism, operating in a gift, witnessing, giving to the church, and carefully adhering to a particular worship style and doctrinal statement. We are just as deceived as the law keeping crowd, just in regard to different expressions of the command to 'love God'.
Obedience is better than sacrifice. And God doesn't even want the sacrifice of our worship and service unless we first obey him in being at peace with others (Matthew 5:24 NIV). This seems to be the elusive truth of the church. This is what being on the narrow road that few find is all about. Love for others, including our enemies (especially?), is the great distinguishing mark between those who really do know God and those who just think they do, deceived by the sacrifice of their worship and service (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV) and their association with and exposure to the ways and teachings of Christ and the church (Luke 13:26-27 NIV).
We each have the obligation to show we really do know God and have his approval in salvation by loving others and treating them kindly, compassionately, and with respect. If we can't do that then we have to take a hard look at ourselves to see whether we really are saved or not. That's what 'making our calling and election sure' is all about. A tree is judged by it's fruit, not by it's outer adornment of leaves. The people of God seem to do well at majoring in the showy leaves of the kingdom, and not so much in bearing the fruit of the kingdom.
