T. Sean Sullivan

Introduction:

The internet preachers are abounding with talk about how God is more concerned about love than He is about the rules.  Doesn’t that sound wonderful!?!  It’s almost like, “All you need is love!”—hey, somebody write that down!

Whoa!  Let’s stop that train before it runs away.  There is a reason that these “heaped-up teachers” are eager to share these ideas; the doctrine is as popular as the teachers seek to be (2 Timothy 4:3-4).  The concept of LOVE being more important than the RULES is an unscriptural fable.  However, before we go the other direction entirely, the concept that rules are more important than love is as wrong as the other.  Let’s consider a more balanced understanding of God, His expectations, and our daily service.

Is It All About Love?

We learn love from God; it is His character and His expectation for us.  John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (NKJV). Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (NKJV).  1 John 3:1 says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us…” (NKJV).   1 John 4:8 says, “God is love” (NKJV).

All that we know about God demonstrates His desire to love us.  God’s grace demonstrates His love from eternity—He loved us before the foundation of the earth (Ephesians 1:1-14).  God’s grace is the love in John 3:16—loving us enough to allow Jesus to be the price for our redemption (1 Peter 1:18-19).  The gospel of His grace (Acts 20:24) provides us the one plan that prepares us to join Him in eternity after this life is over and be with Him (1 Peter 5:10-11; Revelation 21:22-27).  God’s mercy demonstrates His love toward us in forgiving our sins (Ephesians 2:1-5).

There is love involved in what we are doing here, but is love all there is?

Is it All About the Rules?

Throughout the Holy Scriptures, we are taught that God is serious about His rules.  The rules have always mattered; even in the Garden of Eden, there were rules.   Adam and Eve had a minimal law, but it was still enforced (Genesis 3:16-19).   On several occasions throughout the Old Testament, those who disrespected God’s rules met swift repercussions.  Nadab and Abihu assumed the rules were not as necessary as God thought (Leviticus 10:1-3).  Uzzah assumed that the rules had exceptions (2 Samuel 6:3-7).  Even Moses, a highly respected man of God, assumed that he could ignore God’s rules and strike the rock after God told him to “speak to the rock”— for breaking the rules, Moses was denied entrance to the Promised Land (Numbers 20:7-12).

Today, all Christians are to be taught to “keep” the commandments of God (Matthew 28:18-20).  All who seek to be saved are exhorted to “give” themselves “entirely” to God’s directions (1 Timothy 4:13, 15-16).  To maintain the hope of Heaven, we must follow God’s rules (Matthew 7:21).   Romans 10:1-3 requires complete submission to His instruction in righteousness.  Hebrews 2:1-3 requires steadfastly following God’s rules to find “salvation.”

There are rules involved in what we are doing here, but are rules all there is?

Balancing Rules and Love

It is a false notion that love negates the rules, or that following rules is unloving.  Some have rejected that a loving God could expect attendance, truthful doctrine, responsibilities, or daily service.  Others have forgotten about their loving connection to God and see only the obligation of God’s rules to define their relationship.  Both of these thoughts are incorrect.

Jesus wants us to understand the balance, saying, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).  God’s rules are a gift of His love (James 1:17-25 NKJV).  Consider John 15:9-10, which says, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.” (NKJV)  The Apostle John connects God’s love and God’s rules in perfect balance.  By saying, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.  By this, we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep His commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome” in 1 John 5:1-3 (NKJV).  And saying, “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments” in 2 John 6a (NKJV).  He also says, “He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” in 2 John 9b (NKJV).

Let’s stay in balance: God is love; He loves us, and we love Him (1 John 4:17-19).  God is a giver of rules that must be followed (John 14:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Conclusion:

Love or Rules?  The answer is “Yes”.  Love does not negate the rules, and the following of rules does not negate love.  God, in His love, has given us rules to follow (Matthew 7:21).  Do you love God enough to obey Him?  There is a beautiful balance of love and rules in the gospel plan of salvation.  God loves us and extends the opportunity of His grace to each of us who will obey Him (Hebrews 5:9).  You can begin in this moment by balancing time and opportunity.  Put them together and obey the gospel right now.