I like to play games of various kinds (sports, word, memory).
Games have rules; if you don't play by the rules, you lose the game.
The workplace has rules; if you don't follow the rules, you lose your job.
Society has rules; if you don't keep the rules, you suffer judgment.
Life has rules (God's rules); if you don't obey His rules, you suffer and die (Ro. 6:23; Ja. 1:15).
God's rules are actually reduced to one rule, which is, "love from a pure heart" (Ga. 5:14; 1 Tm. 1:5).
Love is the fulfilling of the law of God (Mt. 22:36-40; Ro. 13:8-10).
This kind of love is not inherent to sinful man (1 Jn. 4:12).
It is the gift of God, which is available to those who follow Christ by faith (Ro. 5:5; 2 Co. 7:1; 1 Jn 2:5).
God offers it (Mt. 5:48).
God enables us to receive it (1 Jn. 4:17-18).
God requires us to continue in it (1 Tm. 4:8; 2 Tm. 2:5; Jd. 1:21).
To choose to live without this perfect love is to disqualify ourselves from a saving relationship with God (1 Co. 9:24; Ja. 1:12; 1 Jn. 3:10-11, 14-15; 1 Jn. 4:7-8).
Passages...
Romans 6:23
(23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
James 1:15
(15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Galatians 5:14
(14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
1 Timothy 1:5
(5) Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
Matthew 22:36-40
(36) Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
(37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
(38) This is the first and great commandment.
(39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
(40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Romans 13:8-10
(8) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
(9) For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
(10) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
1 John 4:12
(12) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Romans 5:5
(5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
2 Corinthians 7:1
(1) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 John 2:5
(5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Matthew 5:48
(48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
(DLG note... perfection of love as the context stipulates)
1 John 4:17-18
(17) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1 Timothy 4:8
(8) For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
2 Timothy 2:5
(5) And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
Jude 1:21
(21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
1 Corinthians 9:24
(24) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
James 1:12
(12) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
1 John 3:10-11
(10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
(11) For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 John 3:14-15
(14) We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
(15) Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 4:7-8
(7) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
(8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
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