His Commandment (10-26-11)

1 John 3:23 - "This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us."

You'll notice in this verse that John writes about the commandment (singular) of God, and yet it seems as though he lists two commandments. "Believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another." This isn't the only place in Scripture where this happens either. This idea of love for God and love for people are connected all through the Bible. In Mark 12:30 we're given this account - "One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Jesus was asked what commandment (singular) is foremost of all, and He seems to respond with two commandments. Jesus always answered with the perfect answer. He never left anything out that needed to be said and He never added anything that wasn't absolutely necessary. So the perfect answer to the question “What commandment is the foremost of all?” is what seems to be two commandments. But Jesus was showing by His perfect answer that these two commandments, loving God and loving people, are actually one.
Our love for God works itself out in our lives in the way that we treat people. Jesus said in John 13:35 - "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." People know our love for God by our love for people. Love for God and love for people are connected and cannot be separated.

Galatians 6:10 - "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."