{"id":7067,"date":"2019-04-01T08:37:50","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T13:37:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/?page_id=7067"},"modified":"2025-08-18T07:12:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T12:12:59","slug":"love","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love","title":{"rendered":"Love"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>IT&#8217;S NOT YOUR MOTHER&#8217;S KIND OF LOVE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a title=\"Make the World Better: Love Your Neighbor\" href=\"https:\/\/thewayweseecom.ipage.com\/howtolove\/godly-love-compared-to-human-love\/\" rel=\"home\">Make the World Better: Love Your Neighbor for an in-depth discussion of love.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Bible readers usually make the mistake of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">interpreting the Bible literally and not symbolically.<\/a> That means they interpret words in the Bible according to their common, everyday, cultural understanding. With respect to love, therefore, when they read about God&#8217;s love for them, their love for God, and their love for one another, they interpret Biblical love as that warm, mushy, sentimental feeling that they experience in their personal relationships. This is habit is perfectly logical, but it is also totally wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Most Bible readers accept that there is some symbolism in the Bible &#8212; even though they do not understand it. But, they might never imagine that it would be necessary to look for symbolism in the case of love. They might reasonably assume that the concept of love is so universal that even God thinks of it the way humans do. This is wrong thinking. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+55:8-9;+isaiah+14:24;+isaiah+53:6;+isaiah+65:2;+matthew+7:13-14;+psalm+119:176;+jeremiah+50:6;+daniel+9:1-5\">He does not think the way we do<\/a>. And nowhere is this more true than in the matter of love.<\/p>\n<p>For humans, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=nuance+meaning&amp;rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS838US839&amp;oq=nuance&amp;aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l5.5032j0j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8#dobs=love\">love is primarily an emotion<\/a>. Human love may be expressed in some sort of action (e.g. a kiss, sex, touch, kind words, gifts, etc.) Godly love is different in several ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>It is not a human emotion.<\/li>\n<li>It is not the same as the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you see, or think about, the people you love.<\/li>\n<li>It is a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#whatgodsvoiceislike\">spiritual event in the heart<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>It is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love#godlylove\">evidence of God himself (i.e. his spoken word.)<\/a><\/li>\n<li>It is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=romans+5:5;+2-corinthians+13:14;+titus+3:4-7;+2-timothy+1:7;+galatians+5:22;+colossians+1:3-9;+romans+15:30;+1-corinthians+14:1;+1-corinthians+4:21;+1-peter+1:22;+1-timothy+4:12\">spiritual thing poured out (i.e. shared with others.)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Human love is fairly well understood &#8212; at least people recognize it when they experience it. People love other people, things, nature, art, athletics, music, their jobs, serving others, and even abstract concepts like politics. Essentially, they say that they &#8220;love&#8221; anything real or abstract that excites their emotions and incites those internal, tingly, warm, fuzzy feelings often associated with human love.\u00a0 If they feel strongly about something or someone, if they spend time or money on it\/them, they will also probably say that they love it\/them. But this kind of human love is not God&#8217;s idea of love.<\/p>\n<p>Human love is often applied to religion. Religious people &#8220;love&#8221; their religion. They can often be found demonstrating their love for their religion in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/music-singing-and-dancing\/6\">feelings of emotion, well-being <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">pride<\/a> while practicing it, supporting it, advancing it or defending it. Love for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">religion is always a matter of great pride<\/a>, and religious people tend to equate loving their religion with love for God. But love for religion is not God&#8217;s idea of love. In fact, God sees love of religion as hate, not love, because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/how-god-sees-religion\">God hates religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Religion is not Faith,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/making-a-name-for-yourself\">Making a Name for Yourself,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/gods-at-war\">Gods at War<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/music-singing-and-dancing\">Music, Singing and Dancing,\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Pride, Arrogance, Boasting,<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/music-singing-and-dancing\">\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/fakefaith\/2018\/05\/20\/disconnects\/\">Public Religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It is always true that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+55:8-9;+isaiah+14:24;+isaiah+53:6;+isaiah+65:2;+matthew+7:13-14;+psalm+119:176;+jeremiah+50:6;+daniel+9:1-5\">man&#8217;s ways are not God&#8217;s ways<\/a>. This is also true with respect to love. For God, the concept of love is very complicated, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=nuance+meaning&amp;rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS838US839&amp;oq=nuance&amp;aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l5.5032j0j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8\">nuanced<\/a> and focused. While human love can be focused on both real things (e.g. people, places, objects, etc.) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&amp;q=abstract\"> abstract <\/a>things, God&#8217;s idea of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?q=faith+love&amp;c=&amp;t=nas&amp;ps=40&amp;s=Bibles\">love is integrated with faith<\/a>. That means that Godly love, unlike human love, cannot be easily observed by anyone except God because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+12:30-33;+luke+10:27;+1-timothy+1:5;+matthew+22:35-40;+deuteronomy+6:5-9;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+proverbs+3:3;+2-corinthians+2:1-4;+2-timothy+2:22\">God&#8217;s love, like his word\/laws\/commandments, is found in hearts. <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+12:30-33;+luke+10:27;+1-timothy+1:5;+matthew+22:35-40;+deuteronomy+6:5-9;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+proverbs+3:3;+2-corinthians+2:1-4;+2-timothy+2:22\">That does not mean, however, that Godly love is not observable by anyone. It is observed in the heart by people who hear God&#8217;s spoken voice. Godly love is made real in God&#8217;s voice.<\/a> It is also made real when it is shared.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+12:30-33;+luke+10:27;+1-timothy+1:5;+matthew+22:35-40;+deuteronomy+6:5-9;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+proverbs+3:3;+2-corinthians+2:1-4;+2-timothy+2:22\"> Godly love is not found in all hearts. Godly love is found only in <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-timothy\/1-5.html\">clean, pure hearts.<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+12:30-33;+luke+10:27;+1-timothy+1:5;+matthew+22:35-40;+deuteronomy+6:5-9;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+proverbs+3:3;+2-corinthians+2:1-4;+2-timothy+2:22\">\u00a0Godly <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">love is not found in evil, impure hearts<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+12:30-33;+luke+10:27;+1-timothy+1:5;+matthew+22:35-40;+deuteronomy+6:5-9;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+proverbs+3:3;+2-corinthians+2:1-4;+2-timothy+2:22\">Evil, impure hearts may have an abundance of human love out of which people do many good things and enjoy fulfilling human relationships, but that human love is not the same as Godly love.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Godly love, along with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?q=grace+love&amp;c=&amp;t=kjv&amp;ps=40&amp;s=Bibles\">grace<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/passage\/?q=jude+1:2;+ephesians+2:4;+jude+1:21;+isaiah+63:9;+2-john+1:3;+psalm+40:11;+psalm+69:16;+romans+1:31;+psalm+25:6;+nehemiah+1:5\">mercy<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?q=love+peace&amp;c=&amp;t=nas&amp;ps=40&amp;s=Bibles\">peace <\/a>is fully integrated with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?q=faith+love&amp;c=&amp;t=nas&amp;ps=40&amp;s=Bibles\">faith<\/a>. That means that, unlike human love which is often visibly expressed, Godly love,<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\"> like faith, is unseen<\/a>. But being unseen is not the same as being unknown. We <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+4:23-30;+deuteronomy+4:39;+deuteronomy+5:29;+deuteronomy+6:1-6;+deuteronomy+8:1-2;+deuteronomy+11:18;+deuteronomy+10:12;+deuteronomy+11:13;+deuteronomy+26:16;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+psalm+37:31;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:40;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">know God when his laws are written on our hearts.<\/a> And when we know God, we know his love because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/4-16.html\">God is love<\/a>. This truth will not make sense to religious people because God&#8217;s laws are not written on their hearts. But, it will begin to make sense when they stop listening to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">religious leaders<\/a> and start <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">listening to God&#8217;s voice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"godlylove\"><\/a>Understanding of Godly love is not easy. Understanding requires careful assessment of the following scriptures in a way that integrates them into one, unified thought:<\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/4-16.html\">1 John 4:16 <\/a><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-16\">We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: The simple truth here is that God is love. That means that there is no distinction between God and his love. When we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+4:23-30;+deuteronomy+4:39;+deuteronomy+5:29;+deuteronomy+6:1-6;+deuteronomy+8:1-2;+deuteronomy+11:18;+deuteronomy+10:12;+deuteronomy+11:13;+deuteronomy+26:16;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+psalm+37:31;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:40;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">know God<\/a>, we know his love, and when we<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/passage\/?q=1-john+4:7-8\"> know God&#8217;s love, we know God.<\/a> God and Godly love, therefore, are one and the same thing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\">STUDY TIP: Knowing God is not the same as knowing a human person. Knowing God has a special quality that transcends intellectual knowledge and human emotion. See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\/5\">this link<\/a> for understanding of three kinds of knowledge.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Similarly, there is no distinction between God and his spirit or between God and his commandments or between God and his spoken word. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\">God&#8217;s spoken word is the only evidence there is that God exists<\/a>. To know God, therefore, is the same as knowing his word (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">knowing how to hear his spoken voice.)\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The same must be said about God&#8217;s love. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/1-john\/passage\/?q=1-john+4:7-21\">God and his love are one thing<\/a>. To know God is the same thing as knowing God&#8217;s love. And to know God&#8217;s love is the same thing as hearing God&#8217;s voice. In other words, God, his love and his voice\/word are all the same thing. They are all evidence that God exists.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">People love other people and things that they considerable to be lovable and worthy of their love. But God is not a God who loves people because he finds them to be attractive, or admirable, or noble or good. Human love is often withdrawn when the object that is loved no longer meets the standards of what is worthy of love.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">God&#8217;s love for people is not qualified by our behavior. God does not love us only when we are good and follow his laws. God&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&amp;q=essence\">essence<\/a> is love. He does not turn his love on and off depending on how he judges our righteousness. Just like <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=colossians+1:15-16;+john+4:24;+romans+1:20;+malachi+3:6;+james+1:17;+john+3:1-12;+2-corinthians+4:18;+hebrews+11:1-8;+2-corinthians+5:1-7;+romans+8:24;+hebrews+11:7;+hebrews+11:23-27\">God does not change<\/a>, God&#8217;s love does not change. What changes is our ability to receive his love.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">God&#8217;s love is expressed through his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:8;+psalm+135:7;+ezekiel+37:9;+ecclesiastes+11:1-6\">spirit which is always moving<\/a> and always <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+16:13;+isaiah+11:2;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:10-13\">speaking truth<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=luke+14:33-35;+mark+4:19-24;+mark+4:9-12;+matthew+11:15;+matthew+13:1-9;+matthew+13:36-43;+mark+7:14-16;+luke+8:8;+job+13:17;+revelation+2:26-29;+revelation+3:19-22;+revelation+13:1-9;+revelation+3:1-13\">whoever has ears to hear<\/a>. Therefore, the variable in knowing God and receiving his love is not whether God is speaking or not. Rather, the variable is having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:7-19;+hebrews+4:1-7;+john+12:36-40;+isaiah+6:9-10;+jeremiah+5:21;+jeremiah+6:10;+jeremiah+25:4;+isaiah+42:20;+isaiah+48:8;+romans+11:8;+acts+28:27;+ezekiel+12:2;+psalm+115:6;+psalm+135:17;+matthew+13:10-15;+deuteronomy+29:4;+acts+19:9;+2-chronicles+30:8;+nehemiah+9:25-26;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+mark+6:45-52;+job+22:22;+deuteronomy+6:6;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:31;+deuteronomy+32:46;+ezekiel+3:1-10\">ears to hear God&#8217;s voice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The key factor in having ears to hear is whether or not we are listening to other voices that claim to speak for God. In other words, if we have a religious habit of listening to religious leaders (e.g. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/apostles\">Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, Rabbis, Popes, Missionaries and Evangelists)<\/a> God respects that choice and does not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:9-10;+matthew+13:19;+mark+8:17;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14-19;+acts+28:26-27;+ezekiel+3:10;+malachi+2:2\">give to us ears to hear his voice.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+15:10;+john+14:15\">Abiding is a matter keeping God&#8217;s commandments<\/a>. This is possible only when we continue to listen to listen to his spoken voice which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=job+22:22;+psalm+119:11;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+8:10;+hebrews+10:16;+deuteronomy+6:6-9;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:29-31;+deuteronomy+32:45-46;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+ezekiel+3:10;+psalm+40:8\">writes his laws (i.e. commandments) on our hearts.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:20-25;+exodus+19:1-5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15;genesis+22:18;+exodus+23:21-22;+numbers+7:89;+numbers+14:22;+deuteronomy+4:12;+deuteronomy+4:30;+deuteronomy+4:36;+deuteronomy+5:22-26;+deuteronomy+8:20;+deuteronomy+9:23;+deuteronomy+13:4;+deuteronomy+13:18;+deuteronomy+15:5;+deuteronomy+26:14;+deuteronomy+26:17;+deuteronomy+30:20;+joshua+5:6;+joshua+10:14;+joshua+22:2;+joshua+24:24;+psalm+81:11;+psalm+95:7;+psalm+106:25;+jeremiah+3:13;+jeremiah+3:25;+jeremiah+7:23;+jeremiah+7:28;+jeremiah+9:13;+jeremiah+11:4;+jeremiah+11:7;+jeremiah+18:10;+jeremiah+22:20-21;+jeremiah+26:13;+jeremiah+32:23;+jeremiah+40:3;+jeremiah+42:6;+jeremiah+42:13-14;+jeremiah+43:1-7;+jeremiah+44:23;+isaiah+28:23;+isaiah+32:9;+isaiah+55:1-3;daniel+9:9-11\">God commands that we hear and obey his voice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">However, when we <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#howtoheargodsvoice\">choose to stop listening to religious leaders,<\/a> and when we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=luke+11:28;+luke+8:19-21;+romans+2:13;+psalm+18:44;+deuteronomy+6:3;+jeremiah+22:1-6;+deuteronomy+12:28;+revelation+1:3;+2-kings+18:10-12;+deuteronomy+30:11-14;+deuteronomy+5:1;+2-samuel+22:45;+john+14:24\">hear and obey God&#8217;s spoken voice,<\/a> we will keep his commandments and we will know God and his love. If we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:7-19;+hebrews+4:1-7;+john+12:36-40;+isaiah+6:9-10;+jeremiah+5:21;+jeremiah+6:10;+jeremiah+25:4;+isaiah+42:20;+isaiah+48:8;+romans+11:8;+acts+28:27;+ezekiel+12:2;+psalm+115:6;+psalm+135:17;+matthew+13:10-15;+deuteronomy+29:4;+acts+19:9;+2-chronicles+30:8;+nehemiah+9:25-26;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+mark+6:45-52;+job+22:22;+deuteronomy+6:6;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:31;+deuteronomy+32:46;+ezekiel+3:1-10\">do not have ears to hear God&#8217;s voice<\/a>, however, we will not keep his commandments and will not know God and his love.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">We conclude, therefore, that God&#8217;s love is embodied in the words we hear him speak and is known by people who have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=luke+14:33-35;+mark+4:19-24;+mark+4:9-12;+matthew+11:15;+matthew+13:1-9;+matthew+13:36-43;+mark+7:14-16;+luke+8:8;+job+13:17;+revelation+2:26-29;+revelation+3:19-22;+revelation+13:1-9;+revelation+3:1-13\">ears to hear his voice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a id=\"loveoneanother\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1+john+4:7-8&amp;t=nas\">1 John 4:7-8<\/a><span class=\"verse\">\u00a0<span id=\"verse-7\">Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"verse\"> 8 <span id=\"verse-8\">The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: See commentary on 1 John 4:16 above. Also see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\/3#godswordgodslove\">this link for more commentary on this verse.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\/2\">UNDERSTANDING LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES<\/a> for more about loving one another.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">We see here that knowing God&#8217;s love is equal to knowing God.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">We also see that love is not just something to be received. The love we receive must be shared with others. If it is not shared, it is not Godly love.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">We cannot share what we do not possess. But, how can we possess an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=colossians+1:15-16;+john+4:24;+romans+1:20;+malachi+3:6;+james+1:17;+john+3:1-12;+2-corinthians+4:18;+hebrews+11:1-8;+2-corinthians+5:1-7;+romans+8:24;+hebrews+11:7;+hebrews+11:23-27\">invisible spirit that we cannot see? And how can we share something that is invisible in a way that will be meaningful to the receiver? <\/a>These are perplexing questions for religious people who want to do the right thing but who are accustomed to handling material things but not spiritual things. They need to see what they have received and see that it has been received by another person when they share it. This is a common problem for religious people who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-corinthians+4:18;+2-corinthians+5:7;+hebrews+11:1;+hebrews+11:24-27;+romans+8:24\">walk by sight and not by faith. <\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">This is not a problem, however, for New Covenant disciples who understand the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\">difference between faith and religion. They do not need to see and touch something before they believe it is real. <\/a>They understand that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/10-17.html\">faith comes by hearing God&#8217;s spoken word.<\/a> They understand that after they quit being religious, they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">received the anointing from God that empowers them to speak God&#8217;s words with authority.<\/a> They understand that the love they receive is embodied in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:9-10;+matthew+13:19;+mark+8:17;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14-19;+acts+28:26-27;+ezekiel+3:10;+malachi+2:2\">God&#8217;s words spoken to their hearts. <\/a>And they understand that loving others is accomplished when they share <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:24-26;+john+14:10;+john+3:34;+john+5:19;+john+7:14-18;+john+14:24;+matthew+24:35;+mark+13:31;+luke+4:32-36;+luke+6:47;+luke+6:46-49;+luke+9:26;+luke+21:15;+john+4:41;+john+6:63;+john+6:68;+john+7:38-39;+john+12:47-50;+john+15:7;+john+17:8;+1-peter+4:11;+exodus+3;+exodus+4:1-12;+isaiah+59:21\">God&#8217;s words.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Here is a summary of the process:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Hear God&#8217;s call to come out of religion.<\/li>\n<li>Repent for practicing the sin of religion.<\/li>\n<li>Receive God&#8217;s anointing (i.e. love.)<\/li>\n<li>Hear more of God&#8217;s spoken word (i.e. receive his love.)<\/li>\n<li>Share God&#8217;s spoken word (i.e. love) with others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">That is how we love one another. That is how we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+13:34;+leviticus+19:18;+john+15:12;+john+15:17;+romans+12:10;+romans+13:8-10;+galatians+5:14;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+hebrews+13:1;+1-peter+1:22;+1-john+3:11;+1-john+3:23;+1-john+4:7;+1-john+4:21;+2-john+1:5\">love others as we love ourselves<\/a>. Here is that principle stated as simply as possible:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\"><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">Listen to God&#8217;s spoken voice <\/a>and <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+4:10-12;+matthew+10:19-20;+mark+13:11;+luke+12:11-12;+luke+21:14-15;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2;+psalm+143:10;+matthew+10:17-20;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31;+1-peter+4:10-11\"><em>share what you hear with others.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Doing this<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+13:34;+leviticus+19:18;+john+15:12;+john+15:17;+romans+12:10;+romans+13:8-10;+galatians+5:14;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+hebrews+13:1;+1-peter+1:22;+1-john+3:11;+1-john+3:23;+1-john+4:7;+1-john+4:21;+2-john+1:5;+matthew+7:12;+matthew+19:19;+matthew+22:38-40\"> fulfills of all of God&#8217;s commandments. <\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\/2\">UNDERSTANDING LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES<\/a> for more about sharing God&#8217;s love.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/jeremiah\/31-3.html\">Jeremiah 31:3 <\/a><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-3\">the LORD appeared to him from afar. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: To understand this verse, we must first understand that God is love, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+9:6;+genesis+21:33;+romans+16:26;+deuteronomy+33:27;+1-timothy+1:17;+1-timothy+6:16;+exodus+15:18;+psalm+90:2;+psalm+93:2;+isaiah+40:28;+habakkuk+1:12\">God is eternal<\/a> and that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+119:89;+matthew+24:35;+1-peter+1:23-25;+psalm+119:152;+isaiah+40:8;+revelation+14:6;+john+1:1;+john+1:14\">God&#8217;s word is eternal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">When we combine these two truths with the truth in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/jeremiah\/31-3.html\">Jeremiah 31:3<\/a>, we have three things that are eternal: God, his love and his word.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">In other words, God, his love and his word coexist together. When we also remember that God is love God and his word are the same thing. They coexist together. The same can be said about God&#8217;s love.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/psalms\/138-8.html\">Psalm 138:8 <\/a><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-8\">The LORD will fulfil his purpose for me; thy steadfast love, O LORD, endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of thy hands.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: Another way to say that God&#8217;s\u00a0 love is steadfast and endures forever is to say that it is eternal. The interpretation is verified in several scriptures that say that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:3;+psalm+138:8;+psalm+118:1-2;+psalm+136:1-2;+psalm+118:29;+1-chronicles+16:34;+psalm+136:26;+psalm+100:5\">God&#8217;s love is eternal.<\/a> When we combine this truth with other truths that say that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+119:89;+matthew+24:35;+1-peter+1:23-25;+psalm+119:152;+isaiah+40:8;+revelation+14:6;+john+1:1;+john+1:14\">God&#8217;s word is eternal<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+9:6;+genesis+21:33;+romans+16:26;+deuteronomy+33:27;+1-timothy+1:17;+1-timothy+6:16;+exodus+15:18;+psalm+90:2;+psalm+93:2;+isaiah+40:28;+habakkuk+1:12\">that God himself is eternal,<\/a> we conclude that God, his love and his word are all the same thing. See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/4\">this link<\/a> for understanding of the work of God&#8217;s hands. Also see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/eternity\">Eternal Life.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=psalm+118:1-2&amp;t=rsv\">Psalm 118:1-2\u00a0<\/a><span class=\"verse\">\u00a0<span id=\"verse-1\">O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"verse\"> 2 <span id=\"verse-2\">Let Israel say, &#8220;His steadfast love endures for ever.&#8221;<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: See commentary above.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=psalm+136:1-2&amp;t=rsv\">Psalm 136:1-2 <\/a><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-1\">O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"verse\"> 2 <span id=\"verse-2\">O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures for ever.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: See commentary above.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/psalms\/118-29.html\">Psalm 118:29 <\/a><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-29\">O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever!<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: See commentary above.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/1-chronicles\/16-34.html\">1 Chronicles 16:34<\/a><span class=\"verse\">\u00a0<span id=\"verse-34\">O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever!<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: See commentary above.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/psalms\/136-26.html\">Psalm 136:26 <\/a><span class=\"verse\">\u00a0<span id=\"verse-26\">O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures for ever.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: See commentary above.<\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture no-bottom scripture-padding\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/psalms\/100-5.html\">Psalm 100:5<\/a><span class=\"verse\"> <span id=\"verse-5\">For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: See commentary above. It is curious to notice that God says at least seven times that his love endures forever. When we notice that he also says many times that his word is eternal, we might rightly conclude that he repeats himself many times to make sure that we do not miss the point that his love and his word are the same thing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:39-40;+jeremiah+33:14;+jeremiah+24:7;+ezekiel+37:26;+ezekiel+39:29;+luke+22:20;+1-corinthians+11:25;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+hebrews+8:8-12;+hebrews+10:16-17;+psalm+40:8;+psalm+37:31;+genesis+17:7-13\">Jeremiah 31:31-34 (and others):\u00a0<\/a><span class=\"verse-31\">\u201cThe days are coming,\u201d declares the LORD, \u201cwhen I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. <\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">32<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"verse-32\">It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to\u00a0them,\u00a0\u201d declares the LORD.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">33<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"verse-33\">\u201cThis is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,\u201d declares the LORD. \u201cI will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">34<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"verse-34\">No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, \u2018Know the LORD,\u2019 because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,\u201d declares the LORD. \u201cFor I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: The main truth found in this verse is this: We know God when he writes his laws on the hearts of his people. God&#8217;s laws are his spoken words &#8212; not the written words of the Bible. The significance of this truth with respect to love is that God&#8217;s love and his laws are one in the same thing &#8212; not two different things. In other words, we will know God&#8217;s love only when he writes his love\/laws on our hearts, and that happens only when we hear his spoken voice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/2-5.html\">1 John 2:5<\/a>\u00a0 but\u00a0whoever\u00a0keeps\u00a0His\u00a0word, in him the love\u00a0of\u00a0God\u00a0has\u00a0truly\u00a0been\u00a0perfected.\u00a0By\u00a0this\u00a0we\u00a0know that we are in Him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: God could not have said it more simply or clearly: His love is perfected in people who hear God&#8217;s words and share those words with others. God&#8217;s love is perfected only when it is shared. His word, however, is not the written word of the Bible. The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">written word and God&#8217;s spoken word are not the same thing.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#dabarwordcommandment\">References to God&#8217;s words, laws, commands and love are always to his spoken word. <\/a>With this understanding in mind, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/2-5.html\">1 John 2:5<\/a> could be legitimately paraphrased like this:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\"><em>God&#8217;s love is perfected in people who respond to\u00a0 (i.e. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=luke+11:28;+luke+8:19-21;+romans+2:13;+psalm+18:44;+deuteronomy+6:3;+jeremiah+22:1-6;+deuteronomy+12:28;+revelation+1:3;+2-kings+18:10-12;+deuteronomy+30:11-14;+deuteronomy+5:1;+2-samuel+22:45;+john+14:24\">hear and obey)\u00a0 his spoken words<\/a> (i.e. his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#dabarwordcommandment\">laws and commandments<\/a>. We will know that we are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/5\">created in God&#8217;s image<\/a> when we hear and obey his spoken words.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Hearing and obeying is a two-step process.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li>First we hear God&#8217;s voice.<\/li>\n<li>Then we share what we heard God say with others.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">This is the story of Jesus. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/5\">He heard God&#8217;s voice and then he spoke for God<\/a> to people who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:7-19;+hebrews+4:1-7;+john+12:36-40;+isaiah+6:9-10;+jeremiah+5:21;+jeremiah+6:10;+jeremiah+25:4;+isaiah+42:20;+isaiah+48:8;+romans+11:8;+acts+28:27;+ezekiel+12:2;+psalm+115:6;+psalm+135:17;+matthew+13:10-15;+deuteronomy+29:4;+acts+19:9;+2-chronicles+30:8;+nehemiah+9:25-26;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+mark+6:45-52;+job+22:22;+deuteronomy+6:6;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:31;+deuteronomy+32:46;+ezekiel+3:1-10\">could not hear God themselves because they had hard hearts<\/a> (i.e. they were religious.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/14-23.html\">John 14:23\u00a0<\/a> Jesus replied, &#8220;If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: Jesus&#8217; &#8220;word&#8221; is not his word because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31\">Jesus speaks for God<\/a>. People who keep (i.e. obey) God&#8217;s word must hear God&#8217;s spoken voice because God&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">written word and his spoken word are not the same.<\/a> People who keep (i.e. obey) the written words of the Bible are only obeying religious laws based on the written words.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">Religious laws<\/a> are made by men who write them down on paper. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=job+22:22;+psalm+119:11;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+8:10;+hebrews+10:16;+deuteronomy+6:6-9;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:29-31;+deuteronomy+32:45-46;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+ezekiel+3:10;+psalm+40:8\">God&#8217;s spiritual laws are written on the hearts of men when he speaks to their hearts<\/a>.\u00a0 Since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31\">Jesus speaks for God<\/a>, Jesus&#8217; word is the same thing as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">God&#8217;s spiritual law\u00a0<\/a>written on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">clean pure hearts.<\/a>\u00a0God&#8217;s love, therefore, is received only by people who have<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:24-26;+john+14:10;+john+3:34;+john+5:19;+john+14:24;+matthew+24:35;+mark+13:31;+luke+4:32-36;+luke+6:47;+luke+6:46-49;+luke+9:26;+luke+21:15;+john+4:41;+john+6:63;+john+6:68;+john+7:40;+john+12:47-50;+john+15:7;+john+17:8;+acts+7:38;+1-peter+4:11;+exodus+3;+exodus+4:1-12\"> ears to hear God voice<\/a> and obey<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\"> God&#8217;s spiritual laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/2-3.html\">1 John 2:3<\/a>\u00a0 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: Since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=job+22:22;+psalm+119:11;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+8:10;+hebrews+10:16;+deuteronomy+6:6-9;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:29-31;+deuteronomy+32:45-46;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+ezekiel+3:10;+psalm+40:8\">God&#8217;s commandments (i.e. his laws\/words) are written on clean pure hearts<\/a>, it must be said that only people with<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\"> clean pure hearts<\/a> know God. Furthermore, since obedience to God&#8217;s spoken word is a condition for receiving God&#8217;s love (see commentary above), it must be said that knowing God&#8217;s love is possible only for people who have clean, pure hearts. Therefore, God&#8217;s love, God&#8217;s word, and God&#8217;s commandments are all one thing. This is consistent with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+6:4;+mark+12:32;+deuteronomy+4:35;+deuteronomy+4:39\">scripture that says that God is one<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/3-24.html\">1 John 3:24\u00a0<\/a> Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: God&#8217;s commands are also called\u00a0 laws, precepts, ordinances charges and statutes. Whatever they are called, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+119:72;+psalm+119:13\">they come from God&#8217;s mouth<\/a> and may be equated with his spoken word. Therefore, anyone for whom it could be said that &#8220;God remains in him&#8221; must have God&#8217;s spoken word remain in him. This is Biblical shorthand for having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:39-40;+jeremiah+33:14;+jeremiah+24:7;+ezekiel+37:26;+ezekiel+39:29;+luke+22:20;+1-corinthians+11:25;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+hebrews+8:8-12;+hebrews+10:16-17;+psalm+40:8;+psalm+37:31;+genesis+17:7-13\">God&#8217;s word\/laws written on the heart according to the terms of the New Covenant.<\/a> They are written on the heart by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ephesians+6:17;+1-corinthians+12:8;+acts+10:44\">spirit of God which is another term that describes God&#8217;s word\/mouth.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Everything we know about God (e.g. who he is, what he does, his commands, what laws determine his actions, who he loves, how he loves, etc) all come from God&#8217;s mouth. Thus it can be said of people in whom God&#8217;s love remains (i.e. exists), that it remains in them because God&#8217;s word, God&#8217;s laws\/commandments remain in them. These all come from God&#8217;s mouth. It is only because these all remain in people that anyone is able to fulfill <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+13:34;+mark+12:30-33;+1-john+2:3-5;+galatians+5:13-14;+john+14:23;+psalm+143:8;+psalm+119:41;+matthew+22:38-40;+romans+13:8-10;+leviticus+19:18;+leviticus+19:34\">God&#8217;s command to love one another.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/4-13.html\">1 John 4:13\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: See commentary above.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/4-12.html\">1 John 4:12<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: See commentary above. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/teleioo.html\">The Greek word that is translated in English as &#8220;perfected&#8221;<\/a> should not be interpreted in a way that his love is imperfect before he dwells in us. Rather, it should be interpreted as being made complete, accomplished or fulfilled in us. This is true, however, only for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:39-40;+jeremiah+33:14;+jeremiah+24:7;+ezekiel+37:26;+ezekiel+39:29;+luke+22:20;+1-corinthians+11:25;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+hebrews+8:8-12;+hebrews+10:16-17;+psalm+40:8;+psalm+37:31;+genesis+17:7-13\">New Covenant disciples who have God&#8217;s laws\/commandments written on their hearts.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/5-2.html\">1 John 5:2<\/a> By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+13:34;+mark+12:30-33;+1-john+2:3-5;+galatians+5:13-14;+john+14:23;+psalm+143:8;+psalm+119:41;+matthew+22:38-40;+romans+13:8-10;+leviticus+19:18;+leviticus+19:34\">All of God&#8217;s commandments\/laws are fulfilled when we love others<\/a>. Love of God and others is not fulfilled through religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-john\/1-6.html\">2 John 1:6<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+13:34;+mark+12:30-33;+1-john+2:3-5;+galatians+5:13-14;+john+14:23;+psalm+143:8;+psalm+119:41;+matthew+22:38-40;+romans+13:8-10;+leviticus+19:18;+leviticus+19:34\">All of God&#8217;s commandments\/laws are fulfilled when we love others<\/a>. Love of God and others is not fulfilled through religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/4-16.html\">1 John 4:16<\/a> We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: Knowing God and knowing his love are the same experience. When you know God you know his love. We know God and his love when his laws\/commandments are written on our hearts. We <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+10:27;+john+10:4;+john+3:8\">know God and his love when we hear his voice<\/a> spoken to us directly or through <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">,<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\"> angels<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#godspeaksfromcloud\">witnesses<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\"> and <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a id=\"greaterlovecommentary\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/passage\/?q=john+15:13-15\">John 15:13-15:<\/a>\u00a0Greater\u00a0love\u00a0has\u00a0no\u00a0one\u00a0than\u00a0this, that\u00a0one\u00a0lay\u00a0down\u00a0his\u00a0life\u00a0for his\u00a0friends.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: Understanding of this verse depends on understanding of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\">Godly love<\/a> and on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">nature of religion.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Before he was born again, Jesus was religious. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\/9#jesusreligioushistory\">He had many Jewish brothers and sisters with whom he shared religious beliefs and practices<\/a>. That all changed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+1:27-34;+matthew+3:13-17;+mark+1:1-11\">when Jesus was baptized<\/a> with a baptism of repentance. Jesus had to voluntarily put his religious life to death. He had to die to being a religious son of religious men before he could be a spiritual son of God.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Therefore, the first life that Jesus laid down is the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">love of religion<\/a> that sustained him for the first thirty years of his life.\u00a0The Bible calls the end of this life the &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths#firstdeath\">first death<\/a>.&#8221; This death occurred when Jesus was baptized.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 240px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\/6\">this link for the symbolism of baptism<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Jesus died to religion and became spiritually alive at the moment he was baptized by the spirit of God. It was then that he <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">became a messiah.<\/a>\u00a0 Until that moment, he was accepted as a faithful Jew as because he obeyed the rules of Judaism. But when he was born again, he became a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+12:1-10;+luke+6:6-10;+luke+13:10-17;+luke+14:1-6;+john+5:5-18;+john+9:1-16;+matthew+9:1-3;+mark+2:16;+mark+2:23-28;+mark+7:1-9;+matthew+15:1-10;+luke+23:1-2\">religious law-breaker and began fulfilling his<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/13\"> ministry functions.<\/a> That is when his former coreligionists started persecuting him and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/sixth-commandment-murder\/#pltsagainstjesus\">plotting to kill him.<\/a> That is when former friends and family started wondering about his sanity and speculating that he was possessed by demons.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">From the time Jesus was baptized and began his ministry, he was no longer a religious insider but he became a non-religious outsider. This history is all part of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\/2\">second death<\/a> that Jesus suffered. The second death is not a moment in time. It is a process that begins as soon as we are born again.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The second death must happen because most religious people will be greatly offended when someone breaks their religious rules, challenges their beliefs, or threatens to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\/4\">tear down their kingdoms and their idols<\/a>. These activities are part of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/13#jesusministryfunctions\">Jesus&#8217; ministry<\/a> and they are the things that his followers will do also. People who do not experience second death treatment from religious people are not true followers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 250px;\">STUDY TIP: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Religion is the Enemy,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/gods-at-war\">Gods at War <\/a>and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/sibling-warfare\">Sibling Conflict for understanding of religious conflict. <\/a>Also see\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/jesus-and-the-money-changers-in-the-temple-2\">Jesus and the Money-Changers in the Temple.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Jesus broke religious rules and told the Jews why their religion was sin.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 250px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+12:1-10;+luke+6:6-10;+luke+13:10-17;+luke+14:1-6;+john+5:5-18;+john+9:1-16;+matthew+9:1-3;+mark+2:16;+mark+2:23-28;+mark+7:1-9;+matthew+15:1-10;+luke+23:1-2\">this link<\/a> for understanding of Jesus as a lawbreaker.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 250px;\">See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/13#jesusministryfunctions\">Jesus Ministry Functions<\/a> for a review of the things that Jesus told religious leaders that offended them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">It is no wonder that people despised and hated him. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\/2#conflictwithreligiousparents\">His words caused conflict with his former religious friends and his family.<\/a>. As soon as Jesus started to preach about the kingdom of God, the kingdom of the Jews was threatened. Thus it can be said that he sacrificed (i.e. laid down) his good relationships with his Jewish coreligionists when he began to preach.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Jesus suffered the second death trusting that he would always have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spirituallife\">spiritual life<\/a>. He understood the meaning of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/eternity\">eternal life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">It was his willingness to leave religion and suffer persecution of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\/2\">second death<\/a> at the hands of religious leaders that qualified him to be a spokesperson for God. By speaking for God and putting his own life at risk, he expressed great <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+12:30-33;+luke+10:27;+1-timothy+1:5;+matthew+22:35-40;+deuteronomy+6:5-9;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+proverbs+3:3;+2-corinthians+2:1-4;+2-timothy+2:22;+john+13:34;+leviticus+19:18;+leviticus+19:34;+john+15:12-17;+romans+12:10;+romans+13:8-10;+galatians+5:14;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+3:11;+1-john+3:23;+1-john+4:7-10;+1-john+4:21;+2-john+1:5;+1-john+3:10-18;+1-john+3:23-24\">love for others<\/a>. That kind of love is the qualification for all <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">angels<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#witnessdefined\">witnesses<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors <\/a>who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31\">speak for God. <\/a>It must be this way because it is impossible to preach about the promise of a changed heart unless you have personally experienced the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/4\">miracle God has performed in your own heart.<\/a> By doing this,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+13:12-17;+matthew+11:29;+1-john+2:6;+1-peter+2:21;+1-peter+4:13;+romans+8:29;+romans+15:5;+matthew+16:24;+1-corinthians+15:49;+2-corinthians+3:18;+philippians+2:5-8;+philippians+3:21;+1-john+3:2;+ephesians+5:1-2;+1-john+3:15-16;+matthew+28:19\"> Jesus gives us the perfect example<\/a> of greater love which is the perfect example of Godly love.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">But greater love does not exist only in the heart. It is also expressed in<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodworks\"> works and deeds<\/a>. It is an outward expression of inner faith as we see in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/james\/passage\/?q=james+2:14-26\">this often-quoted scripture about faith and deeds.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This collection of verses above forces the conclusion that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+5:14;+1-john+2:5;+john+14:23-24;+psalm+143:8;+psalm+119:41;+psalm+138:1-2;+psalm+119:76;+1-timothy+4:12;+1-john+5:2;+2-john+1:6;+1-john+4:21;+john+13:34-35\">God&#8217;s love is his word.<\/a> God&#8217;s love and his word are not two different things, but they are the same thing. In fact, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\">God&#8217;s love, God&#8217;s word and God&#8217;s spirit are all the same thing because these terms all describe God.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In order to understand God and how he lives and works through his people, we must combine the following truths into one unified truth:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 4.87176%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 6.87172%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 88.2564%;\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-md-12 section-title bible-title\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"spanH1\">God&#8217;s<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/third-commandment\">\u00a0name and his character are the same thing.<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"spanH1\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=nehemiah+1:1-9;+exodus+20:24;+deuteronomy+12:1-5;+deuteronomy+12:10-13;+deuteronomy+14:23-24;+deuteronomy+16:1-16;+deuteronomy+23:16;+deuteronomy+26:1-2;+1-kings+8:20-43;+2-chronicles+6:19-33;+psalm+74:7;+isaiah+18:7;+isaiah+30:27;+isaiah+57:15;+ezekiel+43:1-7;+2-chronicles+7:11-16\">heart is the place where he places his name (i.e. his character<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li class=\"spanH1\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=job+22:22;+psalm+119:11;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+8:10;+hebrews+10:16;+deuteronomy+6:6-9;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:31;+deuteronomy+32:45-46;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+ezekiel+3:10;+psalm+40:8\">heart is the place where God places his laws\/words <\/a>(i.e. his character) which may also be called his love.<\/li>\n<li class=\"spanH1\">People in whom God has placed his laws\/words\/name\/character\/love are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/5\">created in God&#8217;s image<\/a> because they are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">born again<\/a> spiritually.<\/li>\n<li class=\"spanH1\">We <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+4:23-30;+deuteronomy+4:39;+deuteronomy+5:29;+deuteronomy+6:1-6;+deuteronomy+8:1-2;+deuteronomy+10:12;+deuteronomy+11:13;+deuteronomy+26:16;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+psalm+37:31;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:40;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">know God when his laws\/words\/love are written on our hearts.<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"spanH1\">We <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:9-10;+matthew+13:19;+mark+8:17;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14-19;+acts+28:26-27\">understand God&#8217;s spoken word in our heart<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Our<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+30:14;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+psalm+49:3;+luke+6:45;+romans+10:8-10;+psalm+37:30;+job+33:3;+job+33:33;+psalm+45:1;+proverbs+16:23;+proverbs+4:23\"> mouth speaks what is in our heart <\/a>for the benefit of others who, because of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:12-16;+hebrews+4:7;+job+22:22;+deuteronomy+6:6;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:31;+deuteronomy+32:46;+ezekiel+3:4-10;+ezekiel+3:1-10;+john+12:36-40;+isaiah+6:9-10;+jeremiah+5:21;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14;+deuteronomy+29:4;+acts+19:9;+2-chronicles+30:8;+nehemiah+9:25-26;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+mark+6:45-52\">hard hearts, cannot hear God&#8217;s voice.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=romans+10:8;+luke+8:15;+psalm+119:11;+deuteronomy+30:14;+luke+8:12\">God&#8217;s word is in our heart.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>We <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+12:32-33;+luke+10:27;+1-timothy+1:5;+mark+12:30-33;+matthew+22:37-40;+deuteronomy+6:5;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+2-corinthians+2:4;+2-timothy+2:22\">love God and others from the heart<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>We love ourselves when we choose to receive God&#8217;s word (i.e. his love) in our hearts.<\/li>\n<li>We hate ourselves when we choose to listen to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets<\/a> instead of God&#8217;s spoken word.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\/2\">We love others when we choose to share God&#8217;s love (i.e. his words) with our friends and our enemies.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The overriding, unifying truth is this:\u00a0God cannot be divided into separate concepts (e.g. love, spirit, word, etc.). God is all of these ideas and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/passage\/?q=psalm+145:3;+psalm+139:5-6;+ecclesiastes+8:17;+isaiah+40:28;+1-corinthians+2:9-10;+job+11:7-9;+isaiah+64:4;+isaiah+55:8;+job+26:14;+psalm+147:5;+romans+11:33;+job+5:9;+job+11:7;+job+37:23;+psalm+92:5\">much more than we can possibly comprehend.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>UNDERSTANDING LOVING YOUR NEIGHBORS AS YOURSELF<\/strong><br \/>\nCharity is a virtue in most cultures where it is accepted that people who have more material goods will share with people who have fewer material goods. This happens on street corners with panhandlers and in corporations who share their financial profits with non-profit organizations that help the poor.<\/p>\n<p>This practice of sharing wealth has its origins in the Bible, but charity happens in both the religious and non-religious world. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewfaq.org\/tzedakah.htm\">In Judaism, the fulfillment of the command to give to the poor is called Tzedakah.<\/a> In Christianity giving to the poor is typically accomplished through some kind of mission program or para-church ministry.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: People who tithe also consider that giving tithes and offerings to their church is a way of returning to God some of the money God has given to them. See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sacrifices-tithes-and-offerings\/2593-2\">this link<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sacrifices-tithes-and-offerings\">this link<\/a> for understanding of tithes and offerings.<\/p>\n<p>In all organizations, both religious and non-religious, aid is typically given through money. While much physical good is accomplished through this kind of charity, giving money is not the medium for spiritual giving that God has in mind in the Bible. In the secular world, after food, clothing and shelter, the most important thing to most people is to love and be loved. In the kingdom of God, however, money is not the issue. God uses the symbolism of love to communicate his idea of the thing that is most important to him: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\">His spoken word<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The high value God places on his spoken word in this well-known scripture:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a id=\"greaterlovebaptismdeath\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/15-13.html\">John 15:13 <\/a><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-13\">&#8220;Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: See <a href=\"https:\/\/thewayweseecom.ipage.com\/howtolove\/godly-love-compared-to-human-love\/\">this link for an in-depth understanding of this scripture<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Christians, who insist on interpreting the Bible literally, think about this verse in terms of Jesus&#8217; physical life. Thus, their interpretation of this verse is that greater love is found in the example of Jesus willingness to die physically on a cross. This interpretation totally misses what God wants us to learn from Jesus&#8217; example.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">First, thinking in terms of physical death limits expressions of greater love only to people who, like Jesus, are willing to suffer violent physical deaths for some kind of greater good that benefits others. This belief is the root of the concept of martyrs who die physically while trying to save others from death. Such acts of heroism are noble, but they are not examples of what this verse is about. This verse, like all scripture, is about our inner spiritual lives &#8212; not our physical lives. To understand the verse, therefore, we must first understand spiritual life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\"><a id=\"twokindsofspirituallife\"><\/a>There are two kinds of spiritual life. They are both represented as the inner life of the heart. They are life without God in the heart and life with God in the heart.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">God&#8217;s view of a heart in which he does not make his home is an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">evil, impure heart. <\/a>The heart in which he does make his home is a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">clean, pure heart<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Evil, impure hearts are evident in<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/10\"> our religious life, <\/a>in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">religious pride,<\/a> in obedience to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>, in participation in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">religious commerce<\/a>, and in observance of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\">religious rituals and traditions<\/a>. Religious people are images of the religious idols <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/apostles\">(i.e. Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, Rabbis, Popes, Missionaries and Evangelists) <\/a>from whom they receive religious teachings.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Clean, pure hearts are evident in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples,<\/a> in a healthy <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/#rewards\">spiritual life, <\/a>in a life <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/music-singing-and-dancing\/4#whatitmeanstobesacred\">set apart from religion<\/a>, and in a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/12\">character like Jesus and in activities consistent with Jesus ministry<\/a>. People with clean, pure hearts are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/5\">created in God&#8217;s image<\/a>, and consistently experience <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Faith, Grace, Mercy, Peace, Love, Heart, Glory, Blessing, Hope, Joy, and Truth, <\/a>all of which represent <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\">God&#8217;s\u00a0 spoken word<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">When they interpret <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/15-13.html\">John 15:13<\/a> in terms of physical life, Christians totally miss what God wants them to learn about their inner, spiritual lives. Thus, they do not understand that Jesus laid down his life two times. They do not understand the story of Jesus death and resurrection is a parable for spiritual death and spiritual resurrection.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\">Death, Resurrection, New Life, Salvation, Forgiveness, Heaven and Hell<\/a>. Also see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\">Two Deaths<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\">Religious Rituals and Traditions: Baptism and Circumcision.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\"><a id=\"baptismofrepentance\"><\/a>When we look at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\">symbolism of baptism,<\/a> we see that Jesus laid down his life twice. The first time he died was the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+1:4;+acts+19:4;+luke+3:3;+acts+13:24;+matthew+3:11\"> baptism of repentance in water by John the Baptist.<\/a> This was Jesus&#8217;\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths#firstdeath\">first death (i.e. death to the practice of religion.)<\/a>\u00a0 He did this voluntarily because God had opened his eyes to understanding that religion is sin. There is no biblical record of his eyes being opened, but we can safely infer that it happened because he submitted to the baptism of repentance, and because God immediately <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">anointed<\/a> him after baptism.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">It was necessary that Jesus submit to a baptism of repentance because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/19#jesusreligioushistory\">he was religious for the first thirty years of his life<\/a>. He could not be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">anointed as a messiah<\/a> until he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+3:1-2;+matthew+4:17;+matthew+11:20-21;+matthew+12:41;+acts+2:38;+acts+5:31;+acts+20:18-21;+acts+26:18-20;+mark+1:14-15;+luke+24:45-47;+ezekiel+18:30;+ezekiel+33:9-12;+revelation+2:16;+psalm+4:1-4;+isaiah+59:20;+ezekiel+3:19\">repented for his sin <\/a>(i.e. the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of practicing religion<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths#deathtopracticeofreligion\">Death to the practice of religion<\/a> was no easier for Jesus than it is for any religious person who enjoys the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">rewards of being religious<\/a>. It is hard to accept, but it is fair to say that, because Jesus was an observant Jew for the first thirty years of his life, he was as addicted to religion as any other Jew or Christian at any time past or present. Nevertheless, Jesus voluntarily submitted to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+6:3-5;+colossians+2:12;+1-peter+2:21;+1-peter+4:1;+1-john+2:6;+2-corinthians+4:10;+philippians+3:10;+acts+1:22\">death to religion through the symbolism of baptism, and his followers will follow his example<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The Bible is silent on events in Jesus life prior to his baptism in water. We know from other scriptures, however, that he was listening to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/god-is-calling-people-out-of-religion\">God&#8217;s call to leave religion<\/a>. God had opened his eyes to the following realities:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">Religion is Injustice, Slavery, Oppression and Affliction.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-disease\">Religion is Disease<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-6816\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/flesh\">Religion is Flesh in Motion<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-1964 page_item_has_children\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Religion is Sin<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-1964 page_item_has_children\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\">Religion is Idolatry<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-664 page_item_has_children\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Religion is the Enemy<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-637 page_item_has_children\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Religion is not Faith<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Once God had opened his eyes to these truths, Jesus was compelled to do three things:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Repent for practicing religion.<\/li>\n<li>Stop practicing religion.<\/li>\n<li>Tell his friends and family what God had revealed to him about religion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">We do not see these events specifically reported in the Bible, but we know that they happened because we know from other Bible verses that these experiences are common to all <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples <\/a>who follow Jesus. Jesus summarized his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/12#jesusministryfunctions\">ministr<\/a>y when he said that the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=isaiah+61:1-4;+luke+4:18-19\"> spirit of God was on him to set religious captives free<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Jesus&#8217; life after baptism changed radically. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+3:13-17;+mark+1:9-11;+luke+3:21-22\">As soon as he came up out of the water<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/jeremiah\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;ezekiel+37:13-14;isaiah+32:15;ezekiel+11:19;ezekiel+36:27;ezekiel+39:29;joel+2:28-29;zechariah+12:10\">God poured out his spirit on Jesus.<\/a> At that point, Jesus was <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">born again.<\/a> Before\u00a0 God said &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+3:13-17;+mark+1:9-11;+luke+3:21-22\">You are\u00a0 my son in whom I am well pleased.&#8221; <\/a>This is the point at which he was <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">anointed as a messiah.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Up to that point, Jesus was a son of man. He was born of the seed of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Tree of Knowledge of Good and evil <\/a>(i.e. he learned how to be religious by listening to religious leaders.) After he was anointed he became a son of God born of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/world\/2#seed\">seed<\/a> of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeoflife\">Tree of Life<\/a> (i.e. God.) After he was anointed, God looked at him as his son.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/3\">this link for more about being a son of man and a son of God.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The occasion of baptism when Jesus&#8217; laid down his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/10\">religious life<\/a> is the first of two times that he laid down his life. We see the second time he laid down his life when we read of the persecution he suffered. This is his second death.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\">this link about Jesus&#8217; second death<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When God gives his words to us, he does not give them for our benefit alone. He gives us his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\">love<\/a> (i.e. his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#dabarwordcommandment\">word<\/a>) with the clear expectation that we will give the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/3\">wealth (i.e. his spoken word)<\/a> we receive from him to others. That is why he commands us to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\/2\">love our neighbor as we love ourselves<\/a>. We see this command affirmed in these scriptures:<\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a id=\"givefreely\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nlt\/matthew\/10-8.html\">Matthew 10:8 <\/a><span class=\"verse\" style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\">H<span id=\"verse-8\">eal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: To understand this scripture, it is necessary to understand the symbolism of sickness, death, leprosy and demons. See these links for understanding: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sickeness-disease-blindness-and-deafness\">Sickness, Disease, Blindness, <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sickeness-disease-blindness-and-deafness\">Deafness, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\">Death, Resurrection, New Life, Salvation, Forgiveness, Heaven and Hell, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sickeness-disease-blindness-and-deafness\/5\">Leprosy,<\/a>\u00a0 and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/serpent-devil-satan-adversary-demons-evil-spirits-and-anti-christs\/4#angelsanddemons\">Demons.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">What is given in this verse is God&#8217;s spoken word. God gives his words freely to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a>. When they speak God&#8217;s words, their words heal the sick from the disease of religion, cure people from the destructive leprosy of religion, and cast out religious leaders (i.e. demons) from positions of leadership in religious organizations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">This verse is a command from God spoken by Jesus to all <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a> who know <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">how to hear God&#8217;s spoken voice<\/a>. Because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+55:1;+matthew+10:8;+revelation+22:17;+daniel+5:1-17;+acts+2:38;+acts+10:45;+ephesians+2:8;+ephesians+3:1-7;+romans+5:15;+romans+12:6;+ephesians+4:7;+romans+3:21-24;+john+1:16;+2-timothy+1:6;+1-timothy+4:14\">God&#8217;s word is a free gift,<\/a> those who receive it must not charge when they share it with others. They received it freely, and freely they must share it. The principle of receiving and giving in this verse is a companion to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/6#measureyougive\">&#8220;measure for measure&#8221; principle <\/a>in Mark 4:21-25.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The command to share, and share without charge is not what religious leaders do. They are hired and paid to share what they think they know. They share their ignorance, sell their religious products, and sell their religious services as profiteers in the world of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">commercial religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nlt\/proverbs\/28-27.html\">Proverbs 28:27 <\/a><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-27\">Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: Biblical references to the poor are to religious people who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:7-19;+hebrews+4:1-7;+john+12:36-40;+isaiah+6:9-10;+jeremiah+5:21;+jeremiah+6:10;+jeremiah+25:4;+isaiah+42:20;+isaiah+48:8;+romans+11:8;+acts+28:27;+ezekiel+12:2;+psalm+115:6;+psalm+135:17;+matthew+13:10-15;+deuteronomy+29:4;+acts+19:9;+2-chronicles+30:8;+nehemiah+9:25-26;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+mark+6:45-52;+job+22:22;+deuteronomy+6:6;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:31;+deuteronomy+32:46;+ezekiel+3:1-10\">do not hear God&#8217;s spoken voice because they have hard hearts<\/a>. These are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant<\/a> religionists who practice <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">defiled religion<\/a>. God considers them to be spiritually dead and spiritually poor. See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/3\">this link for understanding of spiritual wealth and poverty.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Giving to the poor is another way of saying <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\/2\">love your neighbor as yourself.<\/a> We access God&#8217;s love for ourselves when we listen to his spoken voice. Similarly, we make God&#8217;s love accessible to others when we share what we have heard God say with them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Because<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love#godlylove\"> God is love and God&#8217;s word is love,<\/a> the process of receiving and speaking God&#8217;s words are acts of love. Speaking God&#8217;s words can also be called sharing God with others because God exists in his spoken word.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">If we have the right attitude about God&#8217;s word, we think of it as our most precious possession. We do whatever we need to do to access more and more of it, and we <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sacrifices-tithes-and-offerings\/2593-2\/4#storehouse\">store his words in our hearts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">If we have the right attitude about God&#8217;s word, we will want to share it with people who are spiritually poor. We understand what God says about loving our neighbor as ourselves and are compelled to share God&#8217;s words with them so that they will be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns#rewards\">spiritually alive and wealthy.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">This verse contains a promise of a blessing and a curse. The promise is that people who speak God&#8217;s word to those who cannot hear God&#8217;s voice will not lack for hearing God&#8217;s voice. In other words, the rate of flow of God&#8217;s words into the heart of a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciple<\/a> is absolutely dependent on the rate of flow of God&#8217;s words out of a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciple. The blessing of receiving more of God&#8217;s word when we share more of God&#8217;s word with others is consistent with the\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The curse goes into effect when disciples cease sharing God&#8217;s words with others. If they do not share God&#8217;s words with others, God restricts the flow of his words to the disciples. When the flow of God&#8217;s words is totally restricted, the disciple comes under the curse of not hearing God&#8217;s voice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/4#lifedeathblesscurse\">this link for more understanding of the blessing and curse.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a id=\"moreblessedtogive\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nlt\/acts\/20-35.html\">Acts 20:35 <\/a><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-35\">And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: \u2018It is more blessed to give than to receive.\u2019 \u201d<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: What we receive is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/11\">God&#8217;s spoken word in our hearts which is a blessing.<\/a> This verse says that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+1:1-2;+john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+ezekiel+3:4-11;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5;+daniel+9:9-11;+2-peter+1:19-21\">giving\/sharing God&#8217;s word<\/a> with others is a blessing of a higher order.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a id=\"givingandreceiving\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nlt\/luke\/6-38.html\">Luke 6:38 <\/a><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-38\">Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full\u2014pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. \u201d<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: Christians interpret this verse in terms of receiving and giving money or charity of some kind. This is a totally wrong interpretation. This verse is about receiving and giving God&#8217;s spoken word. Jesus was able to speak for God because he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:9-10;+matthew+13:19;+mark+8:17;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14-19;+acts+28:26-27;+ezekiel+3:10;+malachi+2:2\">received (i.e. heard) God&#8217;s words in his heart.<\/a> And then he <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/5\">spoke God&#8217;s words<\/a> out of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=luke+6:45;+deuteronomy+30:14;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+psalm+49:3;+romans+10:8-10;+psalm+37:30;+job+33:3;+job+33:33;+psalm+45:1;+proverbs+16:23;+proverbs+4:23;+matthew+12:34\">overflow of his heart<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">It is very important to notice that how much we receive from God is controlled by how much we give. Thus, if we share God&#8217;s words with others, we will receive more of his words. Conversely, if we don&#8217;t share the words we receive with others, God will reduce, or limit how much he allows us to hear. In other words, our spiritual wealth increases when we share God&#8217;s words with others.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/3\">this link for understanding of spiritual wealth and poverty.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=mark+4:20-24&amp;t=nlt\">Mark 4:20-24\u00a0<\/a><span class=\"verse\"> <span id=\"verse-20\">And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God\u2019s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!\u201d<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"verse\"> 21 <span id=\"verse-21\">Then Jesus asked them, \u201cWould anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"verse\"> 22 <span id=\"verse-22\">For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"verse\"> 23 <span id=\"verse-23\">Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.\u201d<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"verse\"> 24 <span id=\"verse-24\">Then he added, \u201cPay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given \u2014and you will receive even more.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:***<\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nlt\/matthew\/7-2.html\">Matthew 7:2 <\/a><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-2\">For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nlt\/ephesians\/4-8.html\">Ephesians 4:8 <\/a><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-8\">That is why the Scriptures say, \u201cWhen he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.\u201d<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: The captives are people who were set free from religion. They were previously <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">enslaved to religion<\/a>, but they were free from religion after they believed<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/5\"> the words Jesus spoke<\/a>. The gifts Jesus gave were spiritual gifts that include <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\">Faith, Grace, Mercy, Peace, Love, a new heart, Glory, Blessing, Hope, Joy, Truth<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nlt\/1-corinthians\/12-4.html\">1 Corinthians 12:4 <\/a><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-4\">There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sacrifices-tithes-and-offerings\/2593-2\/2#godsgifts\">this link for understanding of spiritual gifts.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nlt\/nehemiah\/12-44.html\">Nehemiah 12:44 <\/a><span class=\"verse\">\u00a0<span id=\"verse-44\">On that day men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the offerings, the first part of the harvest, and the tithes. They were responsible to collect from the fields outside the towns the portions required by the Law for the priests and Levites. For all the people of Judah took joy in the priests and Levites and their work.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n<p>This command to love your neighbor as yourself poses a problem for people who have a problem with the idea of self love. They would say that it is okay to be comfortable with who you are, but would also say that excessive <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Self-love\">self love is a moral flaw<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=leviticus+19:18;+matthew+22:35-40;+matthew+19:19;+galatians+5:14;+mark+12:32-33;+luke+10:27;+mark+12:30-33;+matthew+22:37-40;+deuteronomy+6:5;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+2-corinthians+2:4;+2-timothy+2:22;+romans+12:14\"> associated with<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS838US839&amp;ei=6O_RXMDQJof4-gTWu7roDQ&amp;q=vanity+definition&amp;oq=vanity&amp;gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i67i70i249j0i67j0l3j0i67j0l4.6163.7452..10073...0.0..0.155.860.0j6......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j35i39j0i131.cUYUaW2DoOU\"> vanity<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=leviticus+19:18;+matthew+22:35-40;+matthew+19:19;+galatians+5:14;+mark+12:32-33;+luke+10:27;+mark+12:30-33;+matthew+22:37-40;+deuteronomy+6:5;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+2-corinthians+2:4;+2-timothy+2:22;+romans+12:14\">, <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS838US839&amp;ei=Te_RXIjbKIn_-gThzK-wDQ&amp;q=narcissism+definition&amp;oq=narcissism&amp;gs_l=psy-ab.1.2.35i39j0i67l2j0j0i67l2j0j0i20i263j0l2.143795.150791..154118...8.0..0.158.1969.0j14......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j0i131j0i10.TFIcDu3WmLY\">narcissism<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=leviticus+19:18;+matthew+22:35-40;+matthew+19:19;+galatians+5:14;+mark+12:32-33;+luke+10:27;+mark+12:30-33;+matthew+22:37-40;+deuteronomy+6:5;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+2-corinthians+2:4;+2-timothy+2:22;+romans+12:14\"> and <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS838US839&amp;ei=6O_RXMDQJof4-gTWu7roDQ&amp;q=selfishness+definition&amp;oq=selfishness&amp;gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i20i263i70i249j0l9.82691.88968..91718...4.0..0.163.1531.0j11......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j35i39j0i131j0i67j0i131i67j0i67i70i249.OH_v_iDIJ3c\">selfishness<\/a>. Obviously, these descriptions do not agree with God&#8217;s idea of self love.<\/p>\n<p>In human terms, the command to love your neighbor in the same way that you love yourself is confusing and challenging because human love is always associated with feelings and emotions which are very subjective and personal. But, since Godly love is not a human emotion that is directed toward others or to us personally, it cannot be considered vain, narcissistic or selfish. Godly love is an expression of who God is &#8212; not an affirmation of who we are.<\/p>\n<p>Human love is very<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&amp;q=abstract\"> abstract<\/a> and varies from one person to another and from one culture to another. This is not the case with godly love which is universal. Like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=malachi+3:6;+james+1:17;+hebrews+7:20-21;+hebrews+6:17;+numbers+23:19;+psalm+102:27;+1-samuel+15:29;+ezekiel+24:14;+titus+1:1-2;+psalm+89:34\">God himself, his love (i.e. his word) does not change.<\/a> That means it does not change in terms of content from one person or culture to another.<\/p>\n<p>If we think in terms of love as positive human feelings and emotions, we might have warm feelings about our neighbors, and we might totally comfortable with who we are, but,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:43-44;+john+13:34;+proverbs+25:21;+luke+6:27-28;+romans+12:14;+romans+12:20;+1-thessalonians+5:15;+1-samuel+24:17\">God&#8217;s command to love and bless our enemy<\/a>\u00a0in the same way that we love and bless ourselves is impossible to do. This is a big clue that God&#8217;s love is not the same as human love.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">STUDY TIP: Loving our enemy can only be understood when we understand that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">Religion is the Enemy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"spanH1\">Considering the above arguments, must conclude that man&#8217;s idea of love is not the same as God&#8217;s idea. But this awareness does not bring us any closer to understanding what God&#8217;s idea of love is.<\/p>\n<p>To come to that understanding, we begin by acknowledging the following facts and conclusions from those facts:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-color: #474062; border-width: 1px; height: 1322px; width: 620px;\" border=\"1\" width=\"422\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px; text-align: center;\"><strong>FACTS<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 336.364px; text-align: center;\"><strong>CONCLUSIONS<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/passage\/?q=1-john+4:8\">God is love.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 336.364px; text-align: left;\">\n<ul>\n<li>God and love are one in the same thing.<\/li>\n<li>There is no distinction between God and his love.<\/li>\n<li>To\u00a0 know God is the same thing as knowing God&#8217;s love.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/passage\/?q=1-john+4:7\">Love comes from God<\/a>.<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 336.364px; text-align: left;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Love is made known to people through God&#8217;s spoken word.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+4:23-30;+deuteronomy+4:39;+deuteronomy+5:29;+deuteronomy+6:1-6;+deuteronomy+8:1-2;+deuteronomy+10:12;+deuteronomy+11:13;+deuteronomy+26:16;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+psalm+37:31;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:40;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">God makes himself known through his laws written on the heart.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 336.364px; text-align: left;\">\n<ul>\n<li>God makes his love known when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:36-40;+jeremiah+33:14;+isaiah+59:21;+jeremiah+24:7;+ezekiel+37:26;+ezekiel+39:29;+luke+22:20;+1-corinthians+11:25;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+hebrews+8:8-12;+hebrews+10:16-17;+psalm+40:8;+psalm+37:31;+genesis+17:7-13;+2-kings+18:11-12;+exodus+19:3-6;+judges+2:16-23;+deuteronomy+5:1-4\">his laws are written on the heart<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/passage\/?q=1-john+4:7\">People who love one another are born of God.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 336.364px; text-align: left;\">\n<ul>\n<li>People who are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">born again<\/a> in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/5\">image of God<\/a> love others by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+1:1-2;+john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+ezekiel+3:4-11;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5;+daniel+9:9-11;+2-peter+1:19-21;+mark+13:27;+matthew+24:31;+revelation+22:6\">speaking for God<\/a> to others.<\/li>\n<li>People who are not born again cannot love others with Godly love because God&#8217;s love (i.e. his word) is not written on their hearts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/passage\/?q=1-john+4:9\">God&#8217;s love is revealed through people.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 336.364px;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Born again people in whom God&#8217;s love resides reveal (i.e. give) God and his love to others when they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:24-26;+john+14:10;+john+3:34;+john+5:19;+john+7:14-18;+john+14:24;+matthew+24:35;+mark+13:31;+luke+4:32-36;+luke+6:47;+luke+6:46-49;+luke+9:26;+luke+21:15;+john+4:41;+john+6:63;+john+6:68;+john+7:38-39;+john+12:47-50;+john+15:7;+john+17:8;+1-peter+4:11;+exodus+3;+exodus+4:1-12;+isaiah+59:21\">speak for God<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/passage\/?q=1-john+2:3-5\">God&#8217;s love is perfected in people who keep God&#8217;s word in their hearts.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 336.364px; text-align: left;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Perfect love exists only in people who keep God&#8217;s spoken words in their hearts.<\/li>\n<li>People who are not born again and do not have God&#8217;s laws written on their hearts may possess some kind of human love, but it is not Godly love.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/passage\/?q=john+14:23-24\">Receipt of God&#8217;s love depends on keeping (i.e. obeying) God&#8217;s spoken word.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 336.364px; text-align: left;\">\n<ul>\n<li>The only way to keep God&#8217;s words is to have them written on the heart.<\/li>\n<li>The only way to receive God&#8217;s love is to receive his words in our hearts.<\/li>\n<li>When<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:39-40;+jeremiah+33:14;+jeremiah+24:7;+ezekiel+37:26;+ezekiel+39:29;+luke+22:20;+1-corinthians+11:25;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+hebrews+8:8-12;+hebrews+10:16-17;+psalm+40:8;+psalm+37:31;+genesis+17:7-13\"> God writes his laws on our hearts<\/a>, he writes love on our hearts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=psalm+143:8;+psalm+119:76-77;+psalm+119:58;+psalm+119:132\">God&#8217;s spoken words\/promises communicate his love to us.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 336.364px; text-align: left;\">\n<ul>\n<li>God&#8217;s promises, and his love are an embodied in his spoken word.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+13:8-10;+matthew+7:12;+matthew+22:35-39;+john+13:34;+galatians+5:14;+james+2:8;+1-john+3:10\">God&#8217;s commands\/laws are fulfilled by people who love one another.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 336.364px; text-align: left;\">\n<ul>\n<li>It is in God&#8217;s nature to love God is love.<\/li>\n<li>We know that it is in God&#8217;s nature to love others because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=leviticus+19:18;+matthew+22:35-40;+matthew+19:19;+galatians+5:14;+mark+12:32-33;+luke+10:27;+mark+12:30-33;+matthew+22:37-40;+deuteronomy+6:5;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+2-corinthians+2:4;+2-timothy+2:22;+romans+12:14\">he commands people who are created in his image to love others.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>People who are created in God&#8217;s image (i.e. nature) will naturally <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=1+John+4%3A19-21&amp;version=NASB\">love others just like God loves them.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/4-12.html\">God&#8217;s love is perfected in people who love one another.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 336.364px;\">\n<ul>\n<li>God&#8217;s love is perfect.<\/li>\n<li>God&#8217;s perfect kind of love exists only in people who love one another.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/friends-brothers-and-sisters\/#greaterlove\">The greatest kind of love<\/a> is found in people who are willing to lay down their lives in both the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths#firstdeath\">first death<\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\/2\">second death<\/a>.<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 336.364px;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Perfect love exists in people with people with\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">clean, pure hearts<\/a> who sacrifice their lives for their friends and their enemies when they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31\">speak for God<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 239.091px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-thessalonians\/4-9.html\">God teaches us to love one another.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 336.364px;\">\n<ul>\n<li>God teaches us through his laws written on our hearts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>It is clear from this analysis that Godly love is not the same as human love. Even the kinds of love that religion represents to be embodied in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/ahab.html\">ahab love<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/agape.html\">agape love<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/phileo.html\">phileo love<\/a>\u00a0do not explain Godly love. Godly love is beyond human understanding and beyond man&#8217;s ability to understand it or explain it.<\/p>\n<p>To try to explain Godly love is as challenging as trying to explain God with human words. It is impossible. If <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2:9;+isaiah+64:4;+judges+13:18;+daniel+8:27;+job+36:26;+psalm+147:5;+job+20:3;+philippians+4:7;+isaiah+40:28;+psalm+145:3;+psalm+139:5-6;+ecclesiastes+8:17;+1-corinthians+2:9-10;+job+11:7-9;+isaiah+55:8;+job+26:14;+romans+11:33;+job+5:9;+job+11:7;+job+37:23;+psalm+92:5\">God is beyond our understanding<\/a>, and if God is love, then it follows that God&#8217;s love is also beyond our understanding.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+4:23-30;+deuteronomy+4:39;+deuteronomy+5:29;+deuteronomy+6:1-6;+deuteronomy+8:1-2;+deuteronomy+10:12;+deuteronomy+11:13;+deuteronomy+26:16;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+psalm+37:31;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:40;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">God writes his laws in the hearts of his people so that they will know him.<\/a>\u00a0That means that people who have God&#8217;s laws written on their hearts will also know his love because God and his love are inseparable.<\/p>\n<p>This is good to know, but it is not helpful unless we are able to recognize the indicators or markers of God&#8217;s presence. See the following links for indicators of God&#8217;s presence in our hearts:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 5.79484%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 6.8718%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 87.3333%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/6\">HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">Characteristics of a\u00a0Clean, Pure Heart<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Faith, Grace, Mercy, Peace, Love, Heart, Glory, Blessing, Hope, Joy, Truth<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/13\">JESUS\u2019 PERSONAL QUALITIES AND MINISTRY FUNCTIONS<\/a><\/li>\n<li>They will practice <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">pure religion &#8212; not defiled religion<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They will adopt the attitudes and practices of\u00a0people who speak for God:\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">angels<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#witnessdefined\">witnesses<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They will conduct their lives as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1#disciple\">disciples<\/a> who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\">STUDY<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/teach\">Teach<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>All of these indicators are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS838US839&amp;ei=mRrUXJbxHeKQ0wLSy4ugCg&amp;q=manifest+definition&amp;oq=manifest+def&amp;gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i70i249j0l6j0i20i263j0l2.14059.14839..21344...0.0..0.137.536.0j4......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j0i67i70i249j0i67j0i131.ZmOvCvByUH0\">manifest<\/a> (i.e. made real and active) in the lives of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant disciples<\/a>. They are present and active because God&#8217;s love (i.e. God&#8217;s word) is present and active in their hearts. But, they are not present and active in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant<\/a> religionists.<\/p>\n<p>We only need to look at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/sixth-commandment-murder\">life of Jesus<\/a>, his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-peter+3:13-18;+matthew+5:10-12;+acts+7:52;+hebrews+11:32-40;+hebrews+12:1-4;+hebrews+13:12-13;+1-peter+4:14;+john+15:18-21;+philippians+2:12-13;+matthew+21:33-46;+2-corinthians+1:5-7;+philippians+1:12-14;+ephesians+3:13;+2-corinthians+4:17;+romans+5:3-5;+2-corinthians+12:6-10;+2-corinthians+6:4;+2-thessalonians+1:4;+2-timothy+3:10-11;+2-corinthians+4:10-18;+luke+6:22\">warnings about persecution, tribulation and suffering<\/a>, and the lives of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=romans+11:1-3;+1-kings+19:9-14;+nehemiah+9:26;+matthew+23:30-37;+acts+7:52;+1-thessalonians+2:14-16\">prophets <\/a>to understand that being a New Covenant disciple is not easy. Voluntarily submitting to the persecution and indignities that Jesus suffered is not something that anyone does lightly. But, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=matthew+22:1-14;+matthew+7:13-14;+luke+13:23-24\">few<\/a> will do it because the power of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=john+15:12-13;+john+15:13;+1-john+3:16;+ephesians+5:1-2;+john+10:17-18\">love is powerfully at work in them to the degree that they will willingly lay down their lives for others<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/welcome\/the-cries-of-my-heart\">The Cry of My Heart<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE POWER OF GOD&#8217;S LOVE IN ACTION<\/strong><br \/>\nIn human terms, we see that people are motivated by love to put their own physical lives at risk so that another person is rescued from certain death. For example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Parents rescue their children life-threatening circumstances.<\/li>\n<li>Firemen enter burning buildings to rescue people.<\/li>\n<li>This strange willingness to lay down our life for another person.<\/li>\n<li>Soldiers give their lives so that their fellow countrymen can be free or rescued from attack.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It can be said about these examples that people are motivated by love, or duty, or some kind of internal force to sacrifice their physical lives for another person.<\/p>\n<p>In the example of Jesus, and the example that Jesus represents to his followers, sacrifice of the physical, human body is only a symbolic representation of a spiritual sacrifice. God does not want or expect that his people would actually lay down their human lives for others. The story of Jesus&#8217; death and resurrection, therefore, is a symbolic representation of spiritual death &#8212; not physical death.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">STUDY TIP: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Death, Resurrection, New Life,\u00a0 <\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\">Two Deaths <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/eternity\">Eternal Life<\/a> for understanding of spiritual death.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth#table\">this link<\/a> for a table that identifies many Biblical concepts with which love is associated.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"https:\/\/thewayweseecom.ipage.com\/howtolove\/chapter-6-sacrificial-love\/\">this link for understanding of sacrificial love.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>As we study, we discover that God&#8217;s love is strongly associated with his spoken word. In fact,\u00a0God&#8217;s love and his spoken word are the same thing.<\/p>\n<p>This truth is worth repeating:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>God&#8217;s love and his spoken word are one thing.<\/li>\n<li>God&#8217;s love and his\u00a0Grace, Mercy, Peace, Glory, Blessing, Hope, Joy and Truth are all one thing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The inclusive, expansive nature of God&#8217;s love is hard to understand because people born of the flesh always want to dissect and categorize knowledge according to human terms. They need to do this in order to break knowledge down into small pieces that are understandable in their limited human minds.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:14-21;+jeremiah+24:7;+jeremiah+32:38-39;+ezekiel+18:31;+ezekiel+36:24-27;+psalm+51:10;+ezekiel+11:19;+john+3:3;+john+3:5;+2-corinthians+5:17\">Born again<\/a>\u00a0people who are able to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">hear God&#8217;s spoken voice<\/a>\u00a0are not limited to what their human minds can understand. Understanding for them happens in the heart &#8212; not in the mind. And the heart that is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/5\">recreated in the image of God<\/a> is able to understand what God reveals to their hearts.<\/p>\n<p>Religious people who insist on listening to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets,<\/a> however, will not gain this kind of deep understanding. Their understanding of God is limited to what they learn about him from the literal words of the Bible. They do not understand that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">God&#8217;s written word and God&#8217;s spoken word are not the same thing.<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"col-md-12 section-title bible-title\">\n<p class=\"spanH1\">It is important to recognize that it is impossible to give away something that we do not have. Sharing God&#8217;s written word is relatively easy. All you need to do is repeat the words. Anyone, even unbelievers, can do that. Sharing God&#8217;s love (i.e. his spoken words) is more complicated. First you need to hear God&#8217;s voice, and then you need to convert spiritual language into human words. Putting that another way, first you need to receive God&#8217;s love in your heart and then you share his love by loving your neighbor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"spanH1\">Translating God&#8217;s voice into human language is not an easy thing to do. First is the problem of translating <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-kings+19:1-13;+job+4:12-19\">whispers of gentle winds, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=job+37:1-2;+job+40:9;+revelation+6:1;+revelation+14:1-2;+revelation+19:1-6\">thunder, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:16;+exodus+20:18\">lightning,<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=numbers+12:6;+daniel+7:1-7;+genesis+31:11;+1-kings+3:1-15;+matthew+1:20;+matthew+2:13\">dreams <\/a>and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=numbers+12:6;+numbers+24:4;+numbers+1:1;+ezekiel+40:1-3;+revelation+21:10;+ezekiel+8:1-3;+daniel+7:1-7;+matthew+3:16;+mark+1:10;+john+1:51;+acts+7:56;+revelation+4:1\">visions<\/a> into human words. It is like trying to summarize the meaning\/message of a large picture in a few words.\u00a0 Second is the fact that most religious people don&#8217;t want to hear what you have to say. As far as they are concerned, their religion has already taught them everything they need to know about God. More likely than not, they will resist listening to what you have to say and even persecute you for saying it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"spanH1\">If we think about this dilemma in terms of love, instead of God&#8217;s words, the challenges are not diminished. You see what you have to say as love, and religious people see it as offensive challenges to their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-a-stronghold-of-wrong-thinking\">strongly held religious beliefs<\/a>. It is difficult to give God&#8217;s love (i.e. his word) to people who do not want to receive it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"spanH1\">That being the case, we must ask what it was that drove Jesus to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=john+15:12-13;+john+15:13;+1-john+3:16;+ephesians+5:1-2;+john+10:17-18\">lay down his life for his friends?<\/a> Moreover, those who imagine themselves to be followers of Jesus must ask what will drive them to lay down their lives for their friends? The answer, of course, is love.<\/p>\n<p>The kind of love that drives people to lay down their lives is not human love. It is Godly love that drives people to die both the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\">first death and the second death<\/a>. Human love does not have that kind of power.<\/p>\n<p>We know that God&#8217;s love resides in the heart, but that does not mean that it does not also operate at the intellectual level. After all, we are told that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/1-corinthians\/2-16.html\">we have the mind of Christ<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding the mind of Christ, it must be said that this mind is not found in religious people. It is found only in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:39-40;+jeremiah+33:14;+jeremiah+24:7;+ezekiel+37:26;+ezekiel+39:29;+luke+22:20;+1-corinthians+11:25;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+hebrews+8:8-12;+hebrews+10:16-17;+psalm+40:8;+psalm+37:31;+genesis+17:7-13\">New Covenant disciples who have God&#8217;s laws written on their hearts<\/a>. Concurrently, it is found in servants who<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+6:3;+luke+11:28;+john+14:24;+psalm+18:44;+romans+2:13;+deuteronomy+12:28;+deuteronomy+30:13;+psalm+119:145;+luke+8:21\"> hear their master&#8217;s and obey it<\/a>. This brings us to the issue of what it means to obey God&#8217;s will. Obedience doesn&#8217;t\u00a0 just happen in the heart. It happens in real deeds that are carried out with intellect in the mind.<\/p>\n<p>Religious people like to quote the scripture that says that &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/james\/passage\/?q=james+2:14-26\">faith without deeds is dead.<\/a>&#8221; They use this scripture to support all of their religious activities.<\/p>\n<p>One problem with this thinking is that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\">religion is not faith<\/a>. Another problem is that not all deeds are the same in God&#8217;s eyes. To understand the deeds that God finds worthy, we must look at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodworks\">deeds of Abraham and the deeds (i.e. works) of Jesus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">STUDY TIP: See this link for understanding of good works.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-md-12 section-title bible-title\">\n<p class=\"spanH1\">In other words, it is impossible to give away God&#8217;s love unless we first possess God&#8217;s love. This means it is impossible to share (i.e. give away) God&#8217;s words (i.e. his love) unless we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=job+23:12;+job+22:22;+jeremiah+15:16;+psalm+119:11;+psalm+119:103;+psalm+119:127;+psalm+37:31;+psalm+40:8\">possess his love\/words in our heart.<\/a> Only then can we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+30:14;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+psalm+49:3;+luke+6:45;+romans+10:8-10;+psalm+37:30;+job+33:3;+job+33:33;+psalm+45:1;+proverbs+16:23;+proverbs+4:23\">speak wisdom, knowledge and justice out of our heart<\/a>. This principle is reflected in this verse which should be interpreted as a command:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a id=\"freelyreceivegive\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/10-8.html\">Matthew 10:8:<\/a> &#8220;Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COMMENTARY: Most people do not consider this verse to be a command. They think that Jesus could do these kinds of miracles but do not believe that they could do them. They think this way because they interpret the verse<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\"> literally &#8212; not symbolically.<\/a> They think that way because they have not personally experienced the transforming power of God&#8217;s word in their own hearts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the symbolic meaning of the scripture is understood, however, the command to heal the<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sickeness-disease-blindness-and-deafness?highlight=leprosy\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sick<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, raise the<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dead<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, cleanse the<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sickeness-disease-blindness-and-deafness?highlight=leprosy\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lepers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and cast out<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/serpent-devil-satan-adversary-demons-evil-spirits-and-anti-christs\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">demons<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0takes on new meaning for them personally.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now they understand that when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+10:7-8;+matthew+10:1;+mark+16:18;+luke+10:9;+luke+9:1\">Jesus was very serious when he commanded his followers to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons.<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now they understand that Jesus was serious when he said that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+14:12;+matthew+21:21;+mark+16:17\">people who believed his words would do the same things he did<\/a>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They now understand that God&#8217;s word spoken through them has the power to accomplish these miracles through people like Jesus and people who believed Jesus&#8217; words. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They understand that these commands apply to the\u00a0 sickness and death of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spirituallife\">heart (i.e. the\u00a0spiritual body)<\/a> &#8212; not to the physical body.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">born again<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Covenant<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> disciples are Jesus&#8217; followers. They know how to hear God&#8217;s spoken voice, and they know from personal experience that<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:14-21;+jeremiah+24:7;+jeremiah+32:38-39;+ezekiel+18:31;+ezekiel+36:24-27;+psalm+51:10;+ezekiel+11:19;+john+3:3;+john+3:5;+2-corinthians+5:17\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">God has changed their hearts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They know that their hearts have changed because God did a miracle in them: He convinced them that<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Religion is Sin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They would never have believed this unless God changed their hearts (i.e. attitudes) about religion. Before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:14-21;+jeremiah+24:7;+jeremiah+32:38-39;+ezekiel+18:31;+ezekiel+36:24-27;+psalm+51:10;+ezekiel+11:19;+john+3:3;+john+3:5;+2-corinthians+5:17\">God gave them a new heart<\/a>, they would say that they &#8220;love&#8221; their religion. Now they would say that they hate religion because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">religion is God&#8217;s enemy<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They have the power to accomplish these miracles because they speak for God. The power of God&#8217;s spoken voice to accomplish miracles is communicated through their words. This power was communicated through Jesus&#8217; words and it is communicated through the words of his followers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus, this verse can be interpreted this way: <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 210px;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have received (i.e. heard) God&#8217;s spoken word without cost. Therefore, give God&#8217;s word away (i.e.<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:24-26;+john+14:10;+john+3:34;+john+5:19;+john+7:14-18;+john+14:24;+matthew+24:35;+mark+13:31;+luke+4:32-36;+luke+6:47;+luke+6:46-49;+luke+9:26;+luke+21:15;+john+4:41;+john+6:63;+john+6:68;+john+7:38-39;+john+12:47-50;+john+15:7;+john+17:8;+1-peter+4:11;+exodus+3;+exodus+4:1-12\"> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">report it to others<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and don&#8217;t charge anyone to hear what you have to say.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharing God&#8217;s words (i.e. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31\">speaking for God<\/a>) to others satisfies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+12:30-33;+luke+10:27;+1-timothy+1:5;+matthew+22:35-40;+deuteronomy+6:5-9;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+proverbs+3:3;+2-corinthians+2:1-4;+2-timothy+2:22;+john+13:34;+leviticus+19:18;+leviticus+19:34;+john+15:12-17;+romans+12:10;+romans+13:8-10;+galatians+5:14;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+3:11;+1-john+3:23;+1-john+4:7-10;+1-john+4:21;+2-john+1:5;+1-john+3:10-18;+1-john+3:23-24\">God&#8217;s command to love your neighbor and love one another.<\/a>\u00a0 Sharing God&#8217;s words is called preaching in the Bible but it is not preaching as we see understand it in religion.\u00a0Preaching is not for eloquent, trained pastors and evangelists. That kind of preaching is found in religion. Those kinds of preachers preach for pay in the context of commercial religion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 210px;\">STUDY TIP: See these links for more about commercial religion:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Religion is Commerce<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/commercial-religion-in-the-end-times\">Commercial Religion in the End Times <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/examples-of-business-and-commerce-in-religion\">Examples of Business and Commerce in Religion<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/jesus-and-the-money-changers-in-the-temple-2\">Jesus and the Money-Changers in the Temple <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/money-and-ministry\">Money and Ministry In the New Testament <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/money-and-ministry-in-the-old-testament\">Money and Ministry in the Old Testament<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/using-money-to-buy-religious-authority\">Using Money to Buy Religious Authority <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/what-jesus-said-about-money\">What Jesus Said About Money<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Godly preaching is nothing more, or less, than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:24-26;+john+14:10;+john+3:34;+john+5:19;+john+7:14-18;+john+14:24;+matthew+24:35;+mark+13:31;+luke+4:32-36;+luke+6:47;+luke+6:46-49;+luke+9:26;+luke+21:15;+john+4:41;+john+6:63;+john+6:68;+john+7:38-39;+john+12:47-50;+john+15:7;+john+17:8;+1-peter+4:11;+exodus+3;+exodus+4:1-12;+isaiah+59:21;+exodus+4:10-12;+matthew+10:19-20;+mark+13:11;+luke+12:11-12;+luke+21:14-15;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2;+psalm+143:10;+matthew+10:17-20;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31;+1-peter+4:10-11\">speaking for God like Moses and Jesus<\/a>. Because God does not charge people to hear his words, people who hear God&#8217;s voice should not charge for something that they have received for free. This is the message of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/10-8.html\">Matthew 10:8.\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preaching does not mean standing up in front of a congregation to deliver a sermon. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+4:1-2;+titus+1:13;+titus+2:15;+isaiah+61:1-3;+jonah+3:1-2;+colossians+1:25-29;+acts+13:5;+1-thessalonians+2:11-12;+1-thessalonians+5:14;+1-corinthians+9:16;+romans+10:15;+mark+3:14;+1-corinthians+1:17;+romans+1:15\">Preaching is simply a matter of speaking for God at opportune times.<\/a>\u00a0It is something that all New Covenant disciples do.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preaching God&#8217;s words is how we give love away. Preaching is speaking <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/13\">truth (i.e. God&#8217;s word)<\/a> in love.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preaching is risky because we don&#8217;t know how people will react to our words when we tell them<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/how-god-sees-religion\"> how God feels about their religion.<\/a><\/span> Jesus predicted that people who share God&#8217;s spoken word should <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-peter+3:13-18;+matthew+5:10-12;+acts+7:52;+hebrews+11:32-40;+hebrews+12:1-4;+hebrews+13:12-13;+1-peter+4:14;+john+15:18-21;+philippians+2:12-13;+matthew+21:33-46;+2-corinthians+1:5-7;+philippians+1:12-14;+ephesians+3:13;+2-corinthians+4:17;+romans+5:3-5;+2-corinthians+12:6-10;+2-corinthians+6:4;+2-thessalonians+1:4;+2-timothy+3:10-11;+2-corinthians+4:10-18;+luke+6:22\">expect to be persecuted and rejected<\/a>. They will reject the truth because they are addicted to their religion and don&#8217;t want to quit being religious.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Nevertheless, God&#8217;s people are commanded to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+12:30-33;+luke+10:27;+1-timothy+1:5;+matthew+22:35-40;+deuteronomy+6:5-9;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+proverbs+3:3;+2-corinthians+2:1-4;+2-timothy+2:22;+john+13:34;+leviticus+19:18;+leviticus+19:34;+john+15:12-17;+romans+12:10;+romans+13:8-10;+galatians+5:14;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+3:11;+1-john+3:23;+1-john+4:7-10;+1-john+4:21;+2-john+1:5;+1-john+3:10-18;+1-john+3:23-24\">love one another,<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:43-44;+john+13:34;+proverbs+25:21;+luke+6:27-28;+romans+12:14;+romans+12:20;+1-thessalonians+5:15;+1-samuel+24:17;+proverbs+19:1\"> even our enemies, <\/a>by speaking God&#8217;s words to them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only way we can give love is if we first receive it. We receive God&#8217;s love when we hear his voice, and we share God&#8217;s love when we speak for God to people who cannot hear God&#8217;s voice. They cannot hear because they have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:12-16;+hebrews+4:7;+job+22:22;+deuteronomy+6:6;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:31;+deuteronomy+32:46;+ezekiel+3:1-10;+john+12:36-40;+isaiah+6:9-10;+jeremiah+5:21;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14;+deuteronomy+29:4;+acts+19:9;+2-chronicles+30:8;+nehemiah+9:25-26;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+mark+6:45-52\">hard hearts<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another way that God explains why they can&#8217;t hear is that their<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\"> ears and hearts have not been circumcised.<\/a> In Bible language, these are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">evil, impure hearts<\/a>. People who have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">clean, pure hearts,<\/a> however, are able to hear God&#8217;s voice. When they\u00a0 hear, they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+4:23-30;+deuteronomy+4:39;+deuteronomy+5:29;+deuteronomy+6:1-6;+deuteronomy+8:1-2;+deuteronomy+10:12;+deuteronomy+11:13;+deuteronomy+26:16;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+psalm+37:31;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:40;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">know God and experience his love.<\/a> Just like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/10-17.html\">faith which comes by hearing<\/a>, love comes by hearing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Since God&#8217;s love and his voice are one and the same thing, we receive God&#8217;s love when we hear his spoken voice. Similarly, the only way we share God&#8217;s love is by sharing his voice. We share his voice when we speak for God. That is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5;+daniel+9:9-11;+2-peter+1:19-21\">what God&#8217;s true prophets did,<\/a> that is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31\">what Jesus did<\/a>, and that is what people who follow Jesus will do.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">This is worth repeating: The only way we can share God&#8217;s love with others is if we share God&#8217;s voice (i.e. his spoken word) with others. This is what it means to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=james+2:8-9;+leviticus+19:18;+matthew+7:12;+romans+13:8;+romans+13:10;+john+13:34-35;+john+15:9-19;+john+21:15-17\">love your neighbor as yourself. <\/a>This is what <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=james+2:8-9;+leviticus+19:18;+matthew+7:12;+romans+13:8;+romans+13:10\">, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">angels<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=james+2:8-9;+leviticus+19:18;+matthew+7:12;+romans+13:8;+romans+13:10\">,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=james+2:8-9;+leviticus+19:18;+matthew+7:12;+romans+13:8;+romans+13:10\">, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=james+2:8-9;+leviticus+19:18;+matthew+7:12;+romans+13:8;+romans+13:10\">, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#witnessdefined\">witnesses<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=james+2:8-9;+leviticus+19:18;+matthew+7:12;+romans+13:8;+romans+13:10\">, and\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors <\/a>do: They speak God&#8217;s\u00a0 words (i.e. his love) to others.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">However, if we do <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31\">not speak for God<\/a> to people who do not know how to hear God&#8217;s spoken voice, neither God&#8217;s love nor God&#8217;s word is in us.\u00a0The guiding principle of God&#8217;s love is this:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 210px;\">Love comes into our hearts through God&#8217;s words. Love comes out of us when we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31\">speak for God<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"greatestcommandment\"><\/a>The command to love is made very clear in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+22:36-40\">Matthew 22:36-40:<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"v-36\" class=\"verse font-helvetica\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span class=\"verse-36\">\u201cTeacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?\u201d <\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"v-37\" class=\"verse font-helvetica\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">\n<p><span class=\"verse-number\">37<\/span> <span class=\"verse-37\"> Jesus replied: <span class=\"red-letter no-red\">\u201c \u2018Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.\u2019 <\/span><\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">38<\/span> <span class=\"verse-38\"><span class=\"red-letter no-red\">This is the first and greatest commandment. <\/span><\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">39<\/span> <span class=\"verse-39\"><span class=\"red-letter no-red\">And the second is like it: \u2018Love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 <\/span><\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">40<\/span> <span class=\"verse-40\"><span class=\"red-letter no-red\">All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">COMMENTARY: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\/2\">this link<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/thewayweseecom.ipage.com\/howtolove\/godly-love-compared-to-human-love\/\">How to Love Your Neighbor for in-depth understanding of this verse.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">This command is best understood when we first understand that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\">God, his voice and his word are the same thing.<\/a> Lacking that understanding it is very hard to love someone you cannot see or touch. We cannot see or touch God, of course, but we do have a very real point of contact with God when we hear his voice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Hearing God&#8217;s spoken voice is the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\">substance of faith.<\/a> Hearing God&#8217;s spoken voice is the essence of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/3#adulteryandprostitution\">intimacy with God.<\/a> Without hearing God&#8217;s voice, there is no faith, no intimacy, and no love. The heart, soul and mind are all engaged when we hear God&#8217;s voice. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:9-10;+matthew+13:19;+mark+8:17;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14-19;+acts+28:26-27\">heart is where we hear God&#8217;s voice<\/a>. When we hear God&#8217;s voice, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+86:4;+psalm+143:8;+psalm+25:1\">our soul is lifted up.<\/a> And the mind is where we meditate on what we have heard God say to us. The heart, soul and mind, therefore, are all engaged in loving God&#8217;s spoken words.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">The second <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+12:30-33;+luke+10:27;+1-timothy+1:5;+matthew+22:35-40;+deuteronomy+6:5-9;+deuteronomy+30:6;+1-peter+1:22;+proverbs+3:3;+2-corinthians+2:1-4;+2-timothy+2:22;+john+13:34;+leviticus+19:18;+leviticus+19:34;+john+15:12-17;+romans+12:10;+romans+13:8-10;+galatians+5:14;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+3:11;+1-john+3:23;+1-john+4:7-10;+1-john+4:21;+2-john+1:5;+1-john+3:10-18;+1-john+3:23-24;+john+15:12;+john+15:17;+hebrews+13:1;+1-john+4:7\">commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves is mentioned in many places in the Bible.<\/a> See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\/2\">this link for understanding of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+22:36-40\">Matthew 22:36-40<\/a> does not say explicitly that the heart, mind and soul should be engaged in loving your neighbor as yourself, but we should assume that God expects us to always apply the same standards for loving God, ourselves and others.<\/p>\n<p>Since <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/3\">God&#8217;s words have power<\/a>, we activate God&#8217;s power to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\/2#dojustice\">do justice<\/a> in the world of religion when we love others by speaking God&#8217;s words to them. This principle is discussed in detail in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/prayer\/when-god-does-hear-prayer\/the-lords-prayer\">The Lord&#8217;s Prayer.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a id=\"greatestcommandment\"><\/a>The dynamic relationship between God&#8217;s word and God&#8217;s love is explained in the following scriptures:<\/p>\n<div id=\"v-37\" class=\"verse font-helvetica\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/1-john\/passage\/?q=1-john+4:7-21\">1 John 4:7-21\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>1 John 4:7 a. <span class=\"verse-7\">Beloved, let us love one another;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 70px;\">COMMENTARY: This is another way of saying &#8220;love your neighbor as yourself.&#8221; It is a companion scripture to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+22:35-40\">Matthew 22:35-40<\/a>, <span class=\"crossverse\"><a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/1_john\/3-11.htm\">1 John 3:11<\/a><\/span>,\u00a0 <span class=\"crossverse\"><a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/john\/13-34.htm\">John 13:34<\/a><\/span>, <span class=\"crossverse\"><a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/1_john\/4-11.htm\">1 John 4:11<\/a><\/span> and <span class=\"crossverse\"><a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/2_john\/1-5.htm\">2 John 1:5<\/a><\/span>. Also see this link for more understanding of this verse.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"verse-7\">1 John 4:7 b. for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 110px;\">COMMENTARY: The only evidence that God exists is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:39-40;+jeremiah+33:14;+jeremiah+24:7;+ezekiel+37:26;+ezekiel+39:29;+luke+22:20;+1-corinthians+11:25;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+hebrews+8:8-12;+hebrews+10:16-17;+psalm+40:8;+psalm+37:31;+genesis+17:7-13;+2-kings+18:11-12;+exodus+19:3-6;+judges+2:16-23;+deuteronomy+5:1-4\">his words\/laws spoken to our hearts<\/a>. and his love. His love and his words are inseparable. They are not two things. The are one and the same thing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 110px;\">People who are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/6\">born again<\/a> are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/5\">created in God&#8217;s image<\/a>. The evidence of being born again exists in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+30:14;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+psalm+49:3;+luke+6:45;+romans+10:8-10;+psalm+37:30;+job+33:3;+job+33:33;+psalm+45:1;+proverbs+16:23;+proverbs+4:23\">words that flow<\/a> out of a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">clean pure heart<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"verse-number\">1 John 4:7<\/span> <span class=\"verse-8\">He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 110px;\">COMMENTARY: This means what it says: God is love. That means God&#8217;s essence and his presence is love. Love begins and ends with God. Just like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+33:27;+romans+16:26;+genesis+21:33;+isaiah+40:28;+1-timothy+1:17\">God is eternal<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+118:1-2;+psalm+136:1-2;+psalm+118:29;+1-chronicles+16:34;+psalm+136:26;+jeremiah+31:3;+psalm+100:5;+psalm+138:8;+1-kings+10:9;+2-thessalonians+2:16\">God&#8217;s love is eternal<\/a> because God and his love are inseparable.<\/p>\n<p>1 John 4:7 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 110px;\">COMMENTARY: God&#8217;s love (i.e. his words) are manifest (i.e. made real) through <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+ezekiel+3:4-11;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5;+daniel+9:9-11;+2-peter+1:19-2\">God sends to speak for him<\/a> to people who cannot hear God&#8217;s voice. Jesus is an example of a true prophet. He is one of a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#godspeaksfromcloud\">multitude of true prophets<\/a> sent by God to speak for God.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 110px;\">When God <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">anointed<\/a> Jesus, he empowered him to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+4:10-12;+matthew+10:19-20;+mark+13:11;+luke+12:11-12;+luke+21:14-15;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2;+psalm+143:10;+matthew+10:17-20;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31;+1-peter+4:10-11\">speak for God<\/a>. When God anoints anyone, that person is also empowered to speak for God. All who are anointed are messiahs.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 110px;\">Messiahs have the same <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/12\">personal qualities and ministry functions that Jesus had. <\/a>Messiahs are not members of the world of religion. Messiahs are sent into the world of religion to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:24-26;+john+14:10;+john+3:34;+john+5:19;+john+7:14-18;+john+14:24;+matthew+24:35;+mark+13:31;+luke+4:32-36;+luke+6:47;+luke+6:46-49;+luke+9:26;+luke+21:15;+john+4:41;+john+6:63;+john+6:68;+john+7:38-39;+john+12:47-50;+john+15:7;+john+17:8;+1-peter+4:11;+exodus+3;+exodus+4:1-12;+isaiah+59:21;+exodus+4:10-12;+matthew+10:19-20;+mark+13:11;+luke+12:11-12;+luke+21:14-15;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2;+psalm+143:10;+matthew+10:17-20;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31;+1-peter+4:10-11\">speak words<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=john+5:24;+john+4:41;+john+8:51;+john+12:44-50;+john+6:50-51;+john+6:58;+john+3:16;+john+3:18;+john+3:36;+john+6:40;+john+6:47\">life<\/a> to religious people who are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spiritualdeath\">spiritually dead (i.e. they cannot hear God&#8217;s spoken voice.)<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 110px;\">\n<p>People\u00a0 who were spiritually dead are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2\">resurrected to new life<\/a> (i.e. they are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/4\">born again<\/a>) when they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:20-25;+exodus+19:1-5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15;genesis+22:18;+exodus+23:21-22;+numbers+7:89;+numbers+14:22;+deuteronomy+4:12;+deuteronomy+4:30;+deuteronomy+4:36;+deuteronomy+5:22-26;+deuteronomy+8:20;+deuteronomy+9:23;+deuteronomy+13:4;+deuteronomy+13:18;+deuteronomy+15:5;+deuteronomy+26:14;+deuteronomy+26:17;+deuteronomy+30:20;+joshua+5:6;+joshua+10:14;+joshua+22:2;+joshua+24:24;+psalm+81:11;+psalm+95:7;+psalm+106:25;+jeremiah+3:13;+jeremiah+3:25;+jeremiah+7:23;+jeremiah+7:28;+jeremiah+9:13;+jeremiah+11:4;+jeremiah+11:7;+jeremiah+18:10;+jeremiah+22:20-21;+jeremiah+26:13;+jeremiah+32:23;+jeremiah+40:3;+jeremiah+42:6;+jeremiah+42:13-14;+jeremiah+43:1-7;+jeremiah+44:23;+isaiah+28:23;+isaiah+32:9;+isaiah+55:1-3;daniel+9:9-11\">listen to God&#8217;s words<\/a> spoken through messiahs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: ***<\/div>\n<p>1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n<p>1 John 4:12 No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/div>\n<p>13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his own Spirit.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/div>\n<p>14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. <span class=\"verse-number\">15<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"verse-15\">Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">16<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"verse-16\">So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">17<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"verse-17\">In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/div>\n<p>18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love. <span class=\"verse-number\">19<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"verse-19\">We love, because he first loved us.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">20<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"verse-20\">If any one says, &#8220;I love God,&#8221; and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div id=\"v-21\" class=\"verse font-helvetica\"><span class=\"verse-number\">21<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"verse-21\">And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.<\/span><\/div>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>1 CORINTHIANS 13<\/strong><br \/>\nThis chapter is arguably the best known chapter on love in the Bible. It is often quoted without interpretation with the assumption that anyone who hears it can understand it. And indeed it is easily understandable at a human level because the words are well-known. But, like all scripture, it contains deep spiritual meanings that are not easily understood because people do not listen for God&#8217;s voice to explain them.<\/p>\n<p>The primary reason people do not understand these verses is that they do not understand that God&#8217;s idea of love is that it represents his spoken word. The following commentaries interpret 1-Corinthians 13 with this understanding:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-corinthians\/13.html\">1 Corinthians 13<\/a><span class=\"verse-1\"> If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/div>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/div>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">4 Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; <span class=\"verse-number\">5<\/span> <span class=\"verse-5\"> it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; <\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">6<\/span> <span class=\"verse-6\"> it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. <\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/div>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">COMMENTARY:***<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">8 Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">COMMENTARY: Because God, his word and his love are all the same thing, love never ends. The prophecies of False Prophets will cease when they become True Prophets. People who speak in tongues practice Old\/First Covenant religion. They will stop their babbling when they become New Covenant disciples. See this link for understanding of knowledge that passes away. Knowledge that comes by listening to God&#8217;s spoken voice does not pass away.<\/p>\n<div class=\"verse font-helvetica\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span class=\"verse-number\">9<\/span> <span class=\"verse-9\"> For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; <\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">10<\/span> <span class=\"verse-10\"> but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. <\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">COMMENTARY: Imperfect knowledge exists in the literal words of the Bible. Perfect knowledge is found only in God&#8217;s spoken word. Old\/First Covenant religionists have imperfect knowledge because they interpret the Bible literally. New Covenant disciples have perfect knowledge because\u00a0 they listen to God&#8217;s spoken voice.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span class=\"verse-number\">11<\/span> <span class=\"verse-11\"> When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. <\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">12<\/span> <span class=\"verse-12\"> For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">COMMENTARY: In this scripture, being like a child describes <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant<\/a> religionists. They see in a mirror dimly, and understand only in part because they interpret the Bible literally. They become mature men who understand fully when they become <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a>.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span class=\"verse-number\">13<\/span> <span class=\"verse-13\"> So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">COMMENTARY: We know that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/3\">faith<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/14\">hope<\/a> and love are symbolic terms for God&#8217;s word. In that sense, they would all seem to be equal, and they are except that love is greater than faith and hope. Here is how to look at these three words.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>We show that we have<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/3\"> faith <\/a>when we hear God&#8217;s spoken voice (i.e. his word.)<\/li>\n<li>We<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/14\"> hope <\/a>that we will hear God&#8217;s voice (i.e. his word.) God&#8217;s is love and his spoken word is love because God and his spoken word are inseparable.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/bible-history\/5#learningtoknowgod\">When we hear God&#8217;s voice, we know God and experience his love in our hearts.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>When we have God&#8217;s love in our hearts, we are compelled by that love to share it with others because God is compelled to share his love. The prophets and Jesus exemplified this kind of love when they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+4:10-12;+matthew+10:19-20;+mark+13:11;+luke+12:11-12;+luke+21:14-15;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2;+psalm+143:10;+matthew+10:17-20;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31;+1-peter+4:10-11\">spoke God&#8217;s words<\/a> to religious people who later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=romans+11:1-3;+1-kings+19:9-14;+nehemiah+9:26;+matthew+23:30-37;+acts+7:52;+1-thessalonians+2:14-16\">killed them<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>We share God&#8217;s love with others when we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:24-26;+john+14:10;+john+3:34;+john+5:19;+john+7:14-18;+john+14:24;+matthew+24:35;+mark+13:31;+luke+4:32-36;+luke+6:47;+luke+6:46-49;+luke+9:26;+luke+21:15;+john+4:41;+john+6:63;+john+6:68;+john+7:38-39;+john+12:47-50;+john+15:7;+john+17:8;+1-peter+4:11;+exodus+3;+exodus+4:1-12;+isaiah+59:21\">speak God&#8217;s words to them<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We will be compelled to fulfill the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+13:34;+leviticus+19:18;+john+15:12;+john+15:17;+romans+12:10;+romans+13:8-10;+galatians+5:14;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+hebrews+13:1;+1-peter+1:22;+1-john+3:11;+1-john+3:23;+1-john+4:7;+1-john+4:21;+2-john+1:5;+matthew+7:12;+matthew+19:19;+matthew+22:38-40\">commandment to love one another when we love ourselves:<\/a> We love ourselves when we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+6:5;+joel+2:12;+jeremiah+3:10;+deuteronomy+10:12;+deuteronomy+30:2;+deuteronomy+26:16;+deuteronomy+30:6;+zephaniah+3:14;+matthew+22:37;+matthew+7:7;+mark+12:33;+luke+10:27;+luke+11:9;+deuteronomy+4:29;+1-chronicles+28:9;+1-chronicles+22:19;+2-chronicles+12:14;+2-chronicles+15:12;+2-chronicles+19:3;+psalm+27:8;+psalm+119:2;+jeremiah+24:7;+jeremiah+29:13\">seek God with all of our heart<\/a> by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\/2\">listening to Gods&#8217; spoken voice while we read the Bible. <\/a>We love others like we love ourselves when we share God&#8217;s word with them. In other words, we demonstrate to God how important his love (i.e. his spoken word) is to us when we <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\/4#gospel\">share his word (i.e. the gospel)<\/a> with others and encourage them to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:20-25;+exodus+19:1-5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15;genesis+22:18;+exodus+23:21-22;+numbers+7:89;+numbers+14:22;+deuteronomy+4:12;+deuteronomy+4:30;+deuteronomy+4:36;+deuteronomy+5:22-26;+deuteronomy+8:20;+deuteronomy+9:23;+deuteronomy+13:4;+deuteronomy+13:18;+deuteronomy+15:5;+deuteronomy+26:14;+deuteronomy+26:17;+deuteronomy+30:20;+joshua+5:6;+joshua+10:14;+joshua+22:2;+joshua+24:24;+psalm+81:11;+psalm+95:7;+psalm+106:25;+jeremiah+3:13;+jeremiah+3:25;+jeremiah+7:23;+jeremiah+7:28;+jeremiah+9:13;+jeremiah+11:4;+jeremiah+11:7;+jeremiah+18:10;+jeremiah+22:20-21;+jeremiah+26:13;+jeremiah+32:23;+jeremiah+40:3;+jeremiah+42:6;+jeremiah+42:13-14;+jeremiah+43:1-7;+jeremiah+44:23;+isaiah+28:23;+isaiah+32:9;+isaiah+55:1-3;daniel+9:9-11\">listen to his voice.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>We share God&#8217;s love because it is valuable. We can share it freely, without worry that it will ever be depleted. In fact, the more we share God&#8217;s love, the more love he gives to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IT&#8217;S NOT YOUR MOTHER&#8217;S KIND OF LOVE STUDY TIP: See Make the World Better: Love Your Neighbor for an in-depth discussion of love. Bible readers usually make the mistake of interpreting the Bible literally and not symbolically. That means they <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":6933,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7067","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7067","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7067"}],"version-history":[{"count":134,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7067\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14190,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7067\/revisions\/14190"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}