The True Gospel

Matthew 22:34-40

34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

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.’

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Jesus tells us here that the two greatest commandments, are to love God with everything in us, and to love our neighbor in that same way. But not just to love our neighbor, but to love dearly and be content with them. Not that we should agree with people's sins, but instead we should love them in such a way, that it opens a door that allows the blinders to removed from their eyes, so that God can fully minister to them. And one of the examples of this kind of love in the teachings of Jesus comes from... Matthew 5:43-48 43 “You have heard that it was said (in the past), ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

45 that you may be sons (offspring, but more specifically children) of your Father in heaven

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

48 Therefore you shall be perfect (mentally and morally mature, full of integrity), just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Jesus said to love your enemy, in spite of the way that they treat you. To not allow your love to grow cold for anyone, even those who are considered your enemies. To not allow the way anyone treat you change the way that you treat them. Notice what Jesus says if the trait that identifies you as a disciple of Christ... John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

35 By this (by our love for one another) all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love for one another distinguishes as a disciple of Christ, more than giving, scripture memory, or anything else. Love is something that is easy to say, but much harder to do. And what did Jesus tell us to do with that love for others? To go make disciples

Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Notice, Jesus first said to Go! You can't do anything for Jesus without going... or more specifically getting out of our comfort zone. We can't do anything for God without first taking a step of faith! Then He said to Make Disciples! Jesus didn't say to just make converts, He said to make disciples. To love on people, to minister to them, and to teach them all that He had commanded, which was... to love God and each other! Have A Blessed Day! Pastor George Finney New Life Church NewLifeKenefick@yahoo.com