God’s Commandments

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:3–4)

Our response to God's commandments reveals our true spiritual condition. Obeying them is proof that we know God.

The Bible contains many commandments covering various areas of our lives, but Jesus sums them all up in one that takes precedence over all others:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34–35)

By obeying this commandment we fulfill the entire law: "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (Galatians 5:14). Love is the end purpose for which all other commandments were given:

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk. …(1 Timothy 1:5–6)

It is on this basis that we must assess our obedience to God's commandments. We need to ask ourselves: Is my life an expression of God's love?

God’s Prohibitions

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15)

God here forbids us to love the world. He compels us to make a choice. We can love the world, or we can love God the Father. But we cannot do both. It must be one or the other—either love of God or love of the world.

In the language of the New Testament, the world comprises all people and all activities that are not submitted to the righteous government of God's appointed ruler, Jesus Christ. As such, the world—whether consciously or unconsciously—is in rebellion against God. To love the world, therefore, is to align ourselves with its rebellion.

The pull of the world in all our lives is extremely strong. It offers us many allurements and enticements. Some are seemingly innocent, yet within them is the subtle poison of rebellion.

The media is one main channel of the world's influence, with all the forms of entertainment it offers. I have come to the conclusion that entertainment is not a Christian concept if it leaves people entirely passive. In the Bible God ordained for His people seasons of joyous celebration, but the people themselves were part of the activity. They were never merely passive spectators.

Furthermore, much of contemporary entertainment is permeated by moral and spiritual impurity and has a subtle defiling effect. Some years ago Ruth and I watched a movie that was a brilliant piece of comedy with first rate acting—but it contained a few sequences of vile language. We felt inclined to go and watch it a second time, but eventually we decided that we would not expose the Holy Spirit in us to the vile language in the movie.

Finally we

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