The Essence of Biblical Christianity:
 

The Essence of Biblical Christianity:

I’ve been associated with the Apostolic movement since I was 13 years old (23 years ago). I’ve attended several different Apostolic churches, each having different standards and guidelines. I’ve fellowshipped with many brethren, also each having a different set of standards and guidelines. Each list of standards ranges from being ultra-conservative to liberal. I’ve been rebuked over sleeve length, pant length, hair length, facial hair, watching television, standing against television, having wedding bands, not having wedding bands, blah, blah, blah, blah.

So, I’ve been on a journey to try to discover “my faith”. My life fell apart and my marriage failed about four years ago. I had done all that I knew to do…but it wasn’t enough. Since that time, I’ve been looking for the essence of what I believe. I’ve wrestled with theological issues, various doctrines, various teachings. I’ve wrestled with every clothing standard, hair standard, jewelry standard, media standard, financial standard…but recently I’ve started to discover a few things that are sticking with me. Some of you here have helped me understand these concepts better. And for that I thank you. So here’s where I’m at right now… Here goes…

It’s not about us. We are one Spirit with the Lord, if we have the Holy Ghost. Jesus desires to live out His life out through us. Oneness is more than a Christology; it’s a way of life. We have a oneness with God that mirrors that which Christ had. We are joined with the Father, one in Spirit. That also means… we are one with one another. The Church, with Christ as its head, isn’t an organization, it’s an “organism”. We are each a part of that organism. That organism is called, “the church”. We are to walk in the Spirit to the point wherein Jesus Himself flows our very being. We should feel His feelings, speak His words, and do His deeds. But in the real world, how does the practical application of this look?

Must we keep the entirety of the law?
Must we hold to a list of standards?
Must we keep the Ten Commandments?
Can we eat pork?
What about Christmas trees?
Can women wear pants?
Can women cut their hair?

How is this “life in Christ” lived out?

I began studying about every denomination that I could. I began to even study other religions. That’s when I noticed something. They all have a list of “do’s-and don’ts”, a listing of dress codes, dietary codes, distinction codes as it relates to gender or their own ceremonial purity. That’s when it dawned on me…all these standards really don’t separate Christians from the world. They only make Christianity look like all the other religions. At that point “standards” started feeling “worldly” to me.

But certainly God doesn’t want us living in a moral chaos. So I began to lean towards the Ten Commandments as being my standards. Sure, they seemed reasonable, moral, ethical, logical, etc. But there was still a problem. The reality of the problem was revealed to me on the Sabbath threads. And the more I studied the “law of Christ” the more I began to realize and see something I never quite saw, or maybe fully understood before. Jesus essentially summarized the way we are to live. It’s sweet and simple… here are the commandments of Christ:

Matthew 22:38-40 (KJV)
35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38This is the first and great commandment.
39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Mark 12:28-31 (KJV)
28And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Luke 10:25-29 (KJV)
25And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Jesus wanted his followers to embrace only one law, the law of love. This law is fulfilled through having love towards God and towards one another. Love for neighbor, and even enemy. Love. This simple principle should direct our path in all that we do. Instead of asking if there is a law or standard against a given action, why not ask if it exhibits true love, the God kind of love?

I put this into practice the past week. I got up in the morning determined to love. Just love. Every time I met someone, I thought, “I must love this person. REALLY love them.” I guess my demeanor changed a little. Because before I knew it conversations became more friendly, subjects softer, more people smiled, I was praised at work for the exemplary work I was doing.

I believe that I’m starting to realize that all God desires from us is that we love Him, and love others, with all that we are. Merely obeying a set list of standards or laws plucked from the OT will not exhibit love. In fact, the vast majority of laws in the OT can be fulfilled without truly loving a soul. I’m not sure if I’ve ever truly “loved” people. Folks, God just wants us to love.

I just thought I’d share where I’m at in my journey.


God bless!

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Good thoughts. And for those who say that "love" is all you need (not standards), there will be those who equate it to easy believism. Well there is nothing easy about truly loving someone -oh it IS easy if the person is easy to love, but what about your jerk of a neighbor who does all manner of idiotic things to make your neighborhood a place of constant stress? What about the guy who cheats who steals your identity, along with a few thousand of YOUR dollars? There is nothing easy about loving some people, even though we are commanded too. Maybe this is why true "love" is so rarely taught by strong holiness preachers. It doesn't get the "amen!"'s and shouts that a good sermon on all the things women shouldn't be allowed to do does!

Re: The Essence of Biblical Christianity:
 

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Have you ever listened to Micke Bickle teach on the Sermon on the Mount.
I'm convinced that understanding the Sermon on the Mount is the answer to the question "how shall we live?"

And Bickle teaches it better then anyone I've heard to date

http://mikebickle.org/resources/seri...n-on-the-mount

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Too add to this, you will find yourself sleeping much better at night when you strive to love all those around you. Far far better than from the self righteousness of following the rule book to the letter.

Love is also the ultimate witness to someone who is lost. NOT your "uncut hair" or jean skirt -those are mere conversation starters (which DO occasional work, but we are not meant to witness by being different for the purpose of causing others to ASK about our different appearances).

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A New Commandment

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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The Way of Love

1 Cor 13
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.
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.
3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b]
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
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.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Re: The Essence of Biblical Christianity:
 

Thanks for sharing this Aquilla.

It reminds me that the love of God within us never cankers like the material possessions people strive to obtain.

Awesome responses my brothers and sisters!

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You are not far from the Kingdom of God. :)

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I can relate to your "identity crisis" after having gone through one ourselves, leaving the UPC after almost 40 years... you begin to search and question all things you were taught... and I remember last year when the light came on for me after I had read the NT in a little over a day or so, after being desperate to understand where God wanted us to be... and I realized then... that the overlying, underlying and constant thread throughout the Word is Love... Love for God and for one another.... the love for God is much easier than love one for another...

We can get the love for God in our lives because of the blessings, and rewards that come from loving God... but loving our neighbor, or someone who has hurt us, or is our enemy... that is a totally different story.

That is the true test of our salvation... can we love those who don't love us....

What wonderful thoughts and reflections... Aquila, and thank you so much for sharing your heart with us!

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Oh how I pray that that's true. Sometimes... I feel a million miles a way. Thank you.

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Good for you :)

Thank you for sharing.

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you house church people just don't want to live holy! :)

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lol :heeheehee

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I've recently emailed a house group out here in NC, haven't heard back yet. Would like to visit.

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You thoughts about love are spot on!

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I love house church. It's a beautiful experience. A wonderful place to begin practicing the "One Anothers":

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Greet one another (Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 2 Cor. 13:12, 1 Pet. 5:14)


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Comfort one another (1 Thess. 4:18)


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Forgive one another (Col. 3:13)


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Build one another up (Rom. 15:2; 1 Thess. 5:11)


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Serve one another (Gal. 5:13)


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Bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2)


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Encourage one another (Heb. 10:25)


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Meet with one another (Heb. 10:25)


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Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward one another (Eph. 4:32, Rom. 12:10)


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Receive (welcome) one another as Christ received us (Rom. 15:7)


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Care for one another (1 Cor. 12:25)


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Minister one to another (1 Pet. 4:10)


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Show hospitality to one another (1 Pet. 4:9)


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Pray for one another (James 5:16)

Re: The Essence of Biblical Christianity:
 

I believe if one truly walks in The Spirit then the Holy Spirit will teach one what is Holy and true,so I think it is important to stay in the word and in prayer and in communion with The Holy Ghost.Keeping rules or man-made standards won't make one Holy,because to me Holiness is a work of The Holy Ghost in the life of the believer.

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What kinds of things you did different to show others love around you?

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I used to share the Gospel with my "holiness" uniform and way of life, trying to show them how sinful their lives were, how much they needed Jesus, how badly they needed to live like me, etc. I felt like "true love" would be pushy if it meant eternity.

However, recently I've tried to just love people they way they are, praying that Jesus will improve their lives, as he desires, in his timing. When I talk to people I try to pick up on the little things about them that make them... special... precious. I smile more. I pray that Jesus give me eyes to see them as he sees them. If I see where I can be helpful, I try to jump in, not for brownie points... but because I just want to make their day better. I accept that we're all imperfect human beings who have sinned and most likely will sin at some point in the future. Imperfect human beings who desperately need Jesus or we have no hope. When I encounter a believer, even if they aren't Apostolic, I love them and talk about the Lord with them freely. I find what we can agree upon and pray with them and yes... even call them brother or sister.

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The amazing thing is that there are hardly any Churches that promote the sermon on the mount. I have not been around a lot of Apostolic Churches though I was an Elder in one years ago. Of the Preachers and Teachers I knew of nobody was teaching it other than just a "snippet" here and there.

IHOP sees it as the "constitution of the Kingdom".

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If love is the heart of Christianity (sounds right to me) its mind must be the doctrine of Christ. Note how the early Church described itsef:

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together , and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved . Acts 2:42-47

They were following the teachings of Christ in doing the things they were doing.

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Sometimes I look at a person and wonder what is going on in their life? Everybody has problems of one sort or another.

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Can't go wrong with the "LOVE" thing! (Jn 13:35).

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::copying to future sermon file:: ;)

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:thumbsup

Re: The Essence of Biblical Christianity:
 

Aquila, I'm loving your posts lately. :thumbsup This is a great thread and great thoughts. Breath of fresh air.

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Thank you!

I feel like God has been showering me with His grace and goodness. He should be praised.

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I think when it comes to the teachings of Jesus we have to be very careful. Many things that Jesus taught were in response to questions about the law. Also, we have to remember that he answered these questions about the law...while living under the law. Some teachings were not necessarily a response to a question about the law, but were teachings that expounded upon the law to reveal the heart and soul of the Gospel that was coming. For example Matthew 5. Jesus covers the Beatitudes, being Salt and Light, Christ fulfilling the law, Anger = Murder, Lust = Adultery, Divorce as found under the law, Oaths, Revenge, and Loving One's Enemies.

Many would make this a laundery list of things we have to do or avoid. But if you think about it... Christ was using the law very skillfully, expressing that the real issue is the heart. The sermon would have left everyone condemned, cornered, needing a Saviour. Because who hasn't been angry or enraged by a brother or sister, or lusted? No doubt many were remarried. Who hasn't made promises they couldn't keep, been vengeful or spiteful, or has failed to love an enemy?

The root solution isn't a list of rules against these things... it's love. If you "love" people you'll not be easily angered, you'll not exploit them for your lusts, you will not seek to divorce and remarry for minor infranctions, make promises you can't keep, seek revenge, or fail to love your enemy.

And on top of this... God expresses His love in forgiving the sinner. Those who have been tangled up in these snares can find peace and forgiveness to begin a new day, a new life, with God on their side....through His love.

To me... it's best to find the Apostle's doctrine in the Epistles. They typically emphasize what was needed in the churches. And I've yet to find an Epistle that didn't center on love, be it God's or love our for one another.

I've seen people take the teachings of Jesus and list over two dozen rules and "commandments" we must follow. When the rubber meets the road, or temptation runs hot, most aren't going to remember the 15 steps to purity or the 12 steps to being free. But... people can take a step back and ask... What about love? Is this the loving thing to do? Does it emphasize my love for God? Does this demonstrate my love for another? If it doesn't, the action would be sin. A failure to love.

Another example, modesty teaching in the NT. The NT clearly teaches that we should be modest. But we've become legalistic in defining modesty. We've focused and stressed length, color, cut, style, etc. until we've nearly established a uniform. But... if we chose our clothing with an understanding that we love others and don't want to entice them to lust or envy... no standards are needed and modesty will be sought from the heart in any given cultural context.

It's a very simple principle. But... loving is extremely hard to practice. Harder than obeying rules and regulations.

When one is born again and they are asking what they must do. Don't give them a list of rules involving dress codes, blah, blah, blah. Tell them that God only desires two things. That they love Him above all else. And that they love others with abandon. In doing these things, we fulfill the law of Christ.

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Love this so much bro!!!

1 John 3
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Re: The Essence of Biblical Christianity:
 

Aquila, you have such eloquence in your writing and I especially love how you've expressed the true heart of God here in the above... Love says it all.

Thanks again for speaking from your heart great truth :)

:yourock

Re: The Essence of Biblical Christianity:
 

Lets start here.

5 And hope maketh not ashamed ; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:5

God himself puts his love in our heart. There is a real emotional and passionate love between the Bride and Bridegroom. It is very important. It needs to be experienced again and again. It needs to be consistent and steady. It is our "first love".

And yet one could have strong emotions toward Yeshua and not be loving him according to the holy scriptures. Rather the love is judged to be real by our Saviour on this basis.

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21

There actually ARE things we are commanded TO DO or to not do. Yeshua judges if we love him by that standard. Do we do the things he tells us to do.

So remember love is not just being nice and kind to people. That is Christian fruit but it is not all that love is.

That sounds good on the surface, but there is a fundamental problem with it that accentuates the error of legalism. Because by saying this you now have to list all the things we are commanded to do. Your list will differ from another's, and each church's from another church's. Now "obedience" has become subjective, based on one's opinion or their church's. Obedience means nothing unless one can definitively define what must be obeyed.

Can you provide this list definitively for all men? If not, you're telling us that we must be obedient...without being able to tell us exactly what it is we must obey. Is it the Ten Commandments? The Law of Moses? The Sermon On the Mount? The entirety of every utterance of Christ? Admonitions in the Epistles, including those specifically to certain churches facing specific first century issues? Your understanding of what's commanded? My understanding of what's commanded? A weaker brothers understanding of what's commanded? A stronger brothers understanding of what's commanded? A churches understanding of what's commanded? A denominations understanding of what's commanded? What must we do???

Christ's entire ministry was predicated upon two commandments...love God, love others. That is all God wants to teach us. That's the sum of the entirety of the Scriptures. Christ tied the whole of the law and the prophets to these two commandments. Thus, if we focus on true love, we fulfill the commandments of Christ. Because love demands more than law ever could.

Love isn't merely being nice to others. It's allowing Jesus to love them through you. Not expecting credit or repayment. It's sacrificial in all things. It is patient in all things, putting another's welfare before your own, in all things. Total death to self. Even one's "religious" self.

Being one with Christ, thus being Christ, loving by pouring Christ's own love upon a lost and dying world. Seeking a loving oneness with Christ through the Spirit in all things, at all times. The commandment becomes love, the standard...Christ Himself.

Therefore, it's not about what we must do. It's about what we must be. And that is...Christ.

Re: The Essence of Biblical Christianity:
 

As one who has been working on this a while I can promise that it is not easy to do. The irony is that it's simpleness and seeming ease are at the heart of other's objections... It just seems too easy... certainly there must be more... there must be rules, there must be standards! But the reality is that this is the toughest job you will ever have. Loving the unlovely, the dirty, the wretched, the hateful, the unbalanced, the abusive. There will be times when you feel you can not go on... when your heart and mind will cry out for space and peace and normal boundaries. And then there will be times when love is returned, when love grows and when love changes hearts and lives.

You are a person with a great big heart to open yourself up to these experiences. Having won battles of love and having failed miserably, I wish you well. I believe that it is the trying that God honors and you are on your way.

Peace to you Bro. Aquila

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1 John 3:22

22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight
KJV

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You are accusing Yeshua of legalism.

Rather if you love God (first commandment) you will obey his teachings. If you are spirit filled and you are taking up your cross and denying yourself you will love others like Christ loves them.

That by no means does away with his commandments. Love is the motivation. It is the power in a Christians life.

You are missing it more than you think.

If thats ALL Yeshua wants to teach us why did he bother to make teaching his commandments an important part of the great commission?

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo , I am with you alway , even unto the end of the world. Matt:28:19-20

All THINGS I HAVE COMMANDED YOU.

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How do you know my objections are based on the fact its to easy?

Are there rules that must be obeyed to enter Heaven?

The scriptures teach this without hesitation.

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived : neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6:9-10

Try NOT overcoming these things and see if you make the Kingdom.

No dont try it just trying to make a point.

Why will you do it? Because you love Yeshua.

I am not saying the commands of Yeshua are hard and preaching what I do trying to make it harder.

To the Spirit filled saint its not hard to start with.

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

How do we know we love the Children Of God? When we love God and keep his commandments.

What is the love of God? That we keep his commandments.

Is this HARD?

John did not think so. He said his commandments are NOT GRIEVOUS.

Has anyone said that the disciple need not love the unlovely?

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Jesus lived under the law, did he not?


Define God's teachings. Please list exactly what we have to do.

I used to think that. However, can you list those commandments?

His commandments are to love God with all your being and love others. If that's what we teach, we've taught his commandments.

So far... all you've mentioned are "his commandments". Well, that's fine and dandy. Well, if they aren't love God and love others... What are they?