Back to basics

The Bible is much like a forest. The Bible contains much wisdom and knowledge, but the meaning is very simple. Throughout the entire Bible, you can find two commands that sum up the rest of it. They are both Old Testament commandments found in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. They are: "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

Deuteronomy 6:5, NIV

and "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

Leviticus 19:18, NIV

They are also repeated by Jesus when He walked the Earth in Matthew 22:34-40.

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

I think there's w-a-a-y too much talk about the details in the Bible. What are the blonde locusts in Revelation? When will I see a goat with 10 horns? Will the tribulation be before or after the millenial reign of Christ? What did He mean when he said ...

Churches have divided, throwing all of Christianity into agony, over these issues. When it all boils down to a simple, child-like faith. A Roman jailor asked Paul and Silas "What must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved -- you and your household."

Acts 16:31, NIV

What more do you need to know? Jesus said the same thing all through his ministry. Read the gospels.

But, to truly believe in Jesus means your heart must reflect His life. As you feel the Holy Spirit working in you, you will find yourself changing into His image - the very image in which we were created - the very image corrupted by Satan's temptations. The Spirit will instill a desire to follow His commands.

God's greatest commands are to love Him with everything you are and to love your neighbor as yourself. Follow these commands and the rest is cake.