INTRODUCTION:
When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind." (Mt. 22:37) Loving God! It's certainly the major theme of the Bible and is central in God's plan of New Covenant redemption. The love God is expecting from His people embraces the whole person, body, soul and spirit.
Without stretching things it's very honest to say that, "God so loved the world that He give His only Son so that we could love God." Prior to salvation every person born into this natural, physical world is born with the Adamic sin nature, which is hostile towards God. Without Jesus in our lives we are in fact called the enemies of God.
Col 1:21 - This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. At times it's difficult to believe that the unsaved are actually considered God's enemies yet this is confirmed by the Apostle Paul in Romans 5:10 - For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.
Pre-salvation people are not in love with God but rather are separated from Him by their thoughts and actions. This is what sin does! It puts us in a very hostile position with God. The shed blood of Jesus Christ purchased redemption for all people, yet only those who turn to God in repentance of sin, asking His forgiveness and fully accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior will reap the benefits of Jesus death, burial and resurrection! With the "Born Again" experience comes the capacity to love God in a way that is meaningful to Him. Rom.5:5 - … For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Every "Born Again Believer" is given the ability to love God. It's a part of the salvation package.
Love is at the center of New Covenant salvation! Salvation brings about a dynamic change in relationship with God. It is through the Lord Jesus Christ that sinners, are able to be forgiven and cleansed from sin. It is through the Lord Jesus Christ that a love relationship with Almighty God is established. God loves us and we love Him. Anything short of this is not New Covenant salvation
