"My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them. And you are my friends if you do what I command you." (John 15:12-14)
On Mount Sinai God gave his laws to Moses, written on two stone tablets, and called the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 31:18). But Jesus gave to his disciples a new Commandment love one another as I love you. (John 15:12). This post explains how more than the Ten Commandments are fulfilled in the one Commandment of Love. And this proves the scripture which says that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law of Moses, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17), to be true. Finally, since Jesus came and fulfilled the Law, keeping the Ten Commandments, only, is not enough to gain salvation. Follow me: you will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8 :32).
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
The Ten Commandments, are stated in Exodus 20:1–17, and summarized as follows :
1. I am the LORD, your God ; you shall have no other God except me.
2. You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain.
3. Remember that you shall keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not lie against your neighbor.
9. You shall not desire your neighbor's spouse.
10. You shall not desire your neighbor's property.
God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses as the standard of holiness to the Israelites, and to all believers. That is why the scriptures say that the Law makes us concious of sin (Romans 7:7,13). However, the bigger obstacle to holiness are the sins of omission.
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LOVE IS THE WAY TO BLESSINGS AND ETERNAL LIFE |
THE SINS OF OMISSION
A sin of omission is committed when someone knowingly and wilfully fails to do what they have to do at a given place or time, or to a given person, or in a given circumstance. The sins of omission constitute a dangerous trap for the faithful because they are not listed in the way sins of action are. So are the Ten Commandments; whichl, except the third and the fourth, are all passive. That is, they say what one should not do, but do not say what one should do. This is why so many people never realize, or accept, it when they sin by omission. So the only reliable pointer to the sins of omission is love. As the scripture says, "You can not say you love God, whom you don't see, if you don't love your neighbor whom you see" (1John 4:19-21).
The two main categories of the sins of omission are :(1) indifference and (2) unforgiveness. So most of the sins of omission fall under one of these two headings. The consummation of the sin of omission is well illustrated by the story of the Good Samaritan. (Luke 10:30-35). The punishment for sins of omission is also gravous. This is the reality in the story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:20-25).The rich man was sentenced to hell fire for being indifferent to the suffering of the poor Lazarus.
The three main ways to avoid the sins of omission are: (1) Action (2) Prayer and (3) Sacrifice. These three pillars form the foundation of the spiritual and the corporal works of Mercy.
SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY
The spiritual works of mercy are the charitable actions by which we come to the help of our neighbors in their spiritual needs (Matthew 5:38-48; 1 Peter 2 :18-20; 2 Timothy 4:1-5). These are the Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy - they are oriented towards the soul.
(1) Admonish the Sinner: (Luke 17:3; Proverbs 27:17; 2 Timothy 4:2).
(2) Instruct the Ignorant: (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:14-16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:1-5).
(3) Counsel the Doubtful: (Mark 4:13-20; Acts 1:8).
(4) Bear Wrongs Patiently: (Matthew 5:38-48; 1 Peter 2:18-20)
(5) Forgive other's Offenses Willingly : (Matthew 6:14-15; 18:15-35)
(6) Comfort the Afflicted (Matthew 11:28-30; Acts 1:8).
(7) Pray for the Sinners (Matthew 5:44) and for the Dead (2 Maccabees 38-46).
CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY
The corporal works of mercy are the charitable actions by which we come to the help of our neighbors in their bodily needs (Isaiah 58:6-7; Hebrews 13:2-3; Matthew 25:31-46). These are the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy - they are oriented towards the body.
(1) Feed the Hungry (Matthew 14:15-16; 25:35)
(2) Give Drink to the Thirsty (Matthew 25:35)
(3) Clothe the Naked (Matthew 25:36).
(4) Shelter the Homeless (Matthew 25:35).
(5) Visit the Sick (Matthew 25:36).
(6) Visit the Imprisoned (Matthew 25:36) / Free the Captives (Isaiah 58:6
(7) Bury the Dead (Tobit 1:17-19).
Now given the gravity, consequences and punishment for sins of ommission (Luke 16:20-25) believers must stop considering the spiritual and corporal works of Mercy simply as voluntary duties or duties reserved for certain classes of people. All are called to execute them, according to their ability, for they complete and perfect the Ten Commandments of God. .
Testimony
About ten years ago (2012) a violent fight broke out infront of my house at Ben & Bros Street, Bamenda -.between two strangers, armed with swords. We were unable to stop or separate them, and there was the risk of one of them killing the other one. So as the other onlookers were shouting, I decided to call to God by praying one "Our Father" and three "Hail Marys" silently. I was about finishing the third round, when a police pickup arrived the scene and took them away. I was unable to stop the fight, but I did what I was able to do - pray. God used my prayer to bring those able to stop the fight - the police. Then I gave thanks to God for not allowing blood to spill in my courtyard.
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THE WAY OF LOVE
"The man answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind’; and ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’”“You are right,” Jesus replied; “do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:27-28)
The Law can not save anyone, only love can save - because love is perfect. Whoever loves God and loves their neighbor also fulfuls the Law. But not everyone who fulfuls the Law also loves God and loves their neighbor.For example the young rich man who had kept all the Ten Commandments did not love God and neighbor. (Matthew 19:20-22). That is why he rejected Jesus's offer of his friendship, when he said to him, "Go and sell all your property, give the money to the poor and come follow me". The love of God is show in total obedience and submission to the will of God. This was shown by the Virgin Mary,'"I am the Lord's servant; let lt be done to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38).
So keeping the Ten Commandments only, is not enough. For without love no one can enter the kingdom of God. (Luke 10:27-28).
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Test of Love; No. 1:
God loved you and sent his Son to die for you, even when you were still a sinner (Romans 5:6-8). Do you also love God and serve him even when he does not answer your prayer at the time or in the way you desire?
Test of Love; No. 2:
Do you treat your neighbor in the same way that you would like others to treat you?
Now that you know the Truth (John 8 :32); keep it faithfully. If not, do not be shocked when, on the Last Day, you see the Angel of Hell taking you to the blazing furnace - whereas :you went to church every Sunday; you paid your tithes every month; you stole nothing, killed no-one, told no lie; and slept with no one's wife or no one's husband.
Then the Lord and Chief Judge will tell you that the law was in force until the coming of Christ (Galatians 3:24; John 1:17). But love was both the begining (John 3:16-17) and the end (Luke 23-33--34) of Christianity. And Christians, in imitation of Jesus Christ, must start with love and end with love. So the way that leads to heaven is the way of love. And your sacrifice of love also moves God to forgive, bless, heal and restore your life (Isaiah 58:8-12). May your love of God and of neighbor open the doors of God's blessings and of his kingdom for you, in Jesus Christ's name, AMEN.
Author: Aying Godman, is a Catechist, Evangelist & Blogger of the Roman Church; Founder of CATHOLIC FRONT MEDIA™
Email: ayinggodman@gmail.com
Copyright (c) Aying Godman - Catholic Front Media (2021-2022) All rights reserved.
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