EMMAUS CITY CULTURE Q&AS | PART 1: GOD, CREATION AND FALL, LAW CONTINUED
Each week, we are adapting Redeemer's New City Catechism with modern language, including the questions and answers, along with the commentary and prayer. Our goal is to make these easily accessible for all ages, as well as those with various levels of education in Worcester.
Since we don't want this to be just information transfer, but life transformation by God's Word and Spirit, we purposely changed the word catechism to culture as we pray for God to help us creatively display and declare the good news of Jesus in our communities.
Here are the previous weeks' Q&As:
Cheers to 2014 and many becoming more like Jesus together. For other updates, like and follow Emmaus City on Facebook.
Emmaus City Culture | Part 1, Q&A 7
Question 7
What does the law of God require?
Answer 7
That we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves.
Matthew
22:37–40
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all 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 on these two
commandments.”
Commentary
Loving the Lord God with all your
heart, mind, soul, and strength is the first great branch of Christian
righteousness. You delight yourself in the Lord your God, seeking and finding
all happiness in Him. You hear and fulfill His word, "My son, give Me your
heart." And having given Him your soul to reign there, you can cry out from
your heart, "I will love You, my Lord, my strength. The Lord IS my strong
rock; my Savior, my God, in whom l trust.'' The second commandment, the second
great branch of Christian righteousness, is closely and inseparably connected
with the first: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love – to embrace
with sincerity, and the desire of preventing or removing all evil and bringing
every possible good, your neighbor – not only your friends, family, or
acquaintances; not only the good ones who return your kindness, but every
person, not excluding those you have never seen or know by name; not excluding
those you know to be ruthless and unthankful to you, or those who use you. Love
as you love yourself, with the same desire for their happiness. Use the same constant
care to protect them from whatever might grieve or hurt either their soul or
body. This is love.
Adapted from “The Two Great
Commandments” in Renew My Heart: Classic Insights by
John Wesley (Uhrichsville,
Ohio: Barbour, 2011). John Wesley (1703–1791). An English preacher and
theologian, Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles, with
founding the English Methodist movement. He travelled generally on horseback,
preaching two or three times each day, and is said to have preached more than
40,000 sermons. He also was a noted hymn-writer.
Prayer
We thank You Heavenly Father that You have
not left us in the darkness without any light to show us the way. We thank You
that Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. And we thank You
that You have given us, in the Holy Spirit, an indwelling comforter and
counselor who writes Your law in our hearts, enabling us to love and to obey
it. Give us the fullness of Your Spirit so that we may live a life that is
pleasing in Your holy sight. For the glory of Your great name. Amen.
Adapted from the end of the
sermon “The Call to Fulfil the Law” on Matthew 5:17–20, recorded 15th October
1989, available from www.allsouls.org. John Stott (1921–2011). An English
Anglican preacher who for many years served as rector of All Souls Church in
London, Stott was one of the principal framers of the Lausanne Covenant (1974).
His numerous books include Why I Am a Christian and The Cross of Christ.
Coming next week: Q&A 8: What is the law of God stated in the Ten Commandments?
– Sully
Curiosity piqued? Something inside you being stirred? Let's connect.
Curiosity piqued? Something inside you being stirred? Let's connect.
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