A Living SacrificeSample

"For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:9 ESV)

I continue to find it amazing that Paul, who was not one who walked with Jesus during his short 3-year ministry, was so in touch with Jesus’ teachings and commandments. Some of this was, no doubt, passed on to him from the disciples like Peter, Matthew, John, and James, but I believe most of his information came from the Holy Spirit Himself. For example in 1 Corinthians 11:23 ESV, Paul says,“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you.” And he goes on to give an account of the Lord’s last dinner with the disciples and the institution of “Communion,” even though Paul was not present for this dinner.

And Paul was also not present when this event happened:

"But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40 ESV

I’ve always loved this passage, as I feel like any time this life of following Christ becomes too complicated or seemingly difficult, I can go back to what Jesus said simply:

#1. Love God and

#2. Love others.

If we can do those two things, we will fulfill the commandments of God. Jesus taught this Himself to all who would listen while He was alive, and He continued to teach this through His Spirit to Paul. Furthermore, the Spirit is teaching it to us right now.