IF the two commandments fulfill all other commandments of Christ, do they also fulfill all the commandments of Paul, James and Peter?
Q: If the two commandments fulfill all other commandments of Christ, do they also fulfill all the commandments of Paul, James, and Peter?
A: Well, yes and no. It depends on how one defines the type of obedience to the two greatest commandments. If a person says they just meditate in a room somewhere to love God and they give their neighbors only flowers to love them for their whole life (While ignoring God's Word, and while ignoring God's moral laws), then... no. But if a person defines loving God and loving others as outlined in what it is written in the New Covenant, then... yes. For God's Word is the instruction manual on how to love Him and how to love others. For Jesus said, if ye love me, keep my commandments. His commandments are all the Commands written in the New Testament under the New Covenant (Which went officially into effect with His death).
The two greatest commandments are based on love. Love God and love your neighbor (Including your enemies). All of Christ's commands are based on loving God and or loving others. The same applies to the commands given by Paul, James, and Peter. For did not Paul tell us to love? (1 Corinthians 13:1). Did not James tell us to love? (James 2:8). Did not Peter tell us to love? (1 Peter 1:22) (1 Peter 2:17).
Also, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:37 that what he had written was the Lord's Commandments. So it is logical to assume that if Paul who was merely a servant of Jesus Christ, and who considered his own writings as the Lord's Commandments, then we must also come to the conclusion that Peter and James (Who were also servants of Jesus Christ) were providing us with commands that were from the Lord, too. In fact, we know this because we know the Scriptures are inspired by the Holy Spirit (Who is God) (2 Peter 1:21) and we know that all Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, instruction, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). So it is safe to assume that righteousness involves some type of obedience to a standard of a code of ethics or commands. For the Old Testament essentially says in Deuteronomy 6:25 that righteousness is tied with observing God's Commandments; And the New Testament says, "Let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous" (1 John 3:7). In fact, in verse 10, we see not doing righteousness and not loving is tied to being: "
Not of God." For it says, "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." (1 John 3:10).
Now, does our obedience to God's Commandments in the New Testament save us in and of themselves? Are we saved by keeping a standard of rules and regulations? Can we disobey God and still be saved?
Well, the answer to the first two questions would be a... "no." We are not saved by keeping a set of rules in and of themselves. We are not saved or justified by the Law or Works Salvationism. However, can we disobey God and still be saved? Again, the answer to this third question would also be a.... "no." Obedience is yielding to God's program of salvation. We are saved by confessing and repenting of our sins and in accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior (Believing He died for our sins, was buried, and was risen three days later to give us a new life in Him). Once a person does that, they are saved by God's grace (Apart from the deeds of the Law). They are justified by the blood of the Lamb. If a believer sins again, they must confess their sin and forsake it with the Lord's help so as to continue a right standing with Him (See 1 John 2:1; 1 John 1:6-9; Jude 1:24). Holiness and fruitful works do not save in and of themselves, but they always do follow a true salvation, though. For it is God who ultimately does the good works within a believer. The believer merely yields to God in reading His Word and in seeking to love Him with all their heart (emotions), mind (thoughts), and will (actions) according to God's Word. They do this because they have a real love relationship with the Lord. For the Scriptures say, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (1 John 5:3). We do this because God has transformed our hearts, and spirits. We do this because God so loved the world. We do this because love lives within us. For God is love (1 John 4:8).
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