Ensuring Cultural Expression Motivated by Love for God
Ensuring Cultural Expression Motivated by Love for God
The biblical concept of loving God is deeply intertwined with the idea of obedience to His commandments. In 1 John 5:3, it is written, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments" [2]. This verse establishes that true love for God is demonstrated through adherence to His laws and precepts. According to John Gill, keeping God's commandments is an evidence of love to God, showing that love is not just in profession but in deed and truth [4].
The motivation behind cultural expression, when guided by love for God, is rooted in the understanding that love for God is the foundation of all Christian living. As Matthew Henry notes on Psalm 42:1, "Holy love to God as the chief good and our felicity is the power of godliness, the very life and soul of religion" [5]. This love is not just a feeling but a choice that manifests in actions, such as obeying God's commands and serving Him with reverence.
The biblical basis for this concept is further reinforced by Jesus' teaching that the first great commandment is to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37) [1]. This commandment is echoed in Deuteronomy 6:5 and is a cornerstone of Christian devotion. The love for God is not just a sentiment but a commitment that encompasses one's entire being.
In the context of cultural expression, this love for God translates into actions that honor Him. As Adam Clarke notes on 1 John 5:2, "Our love to God is the cause why we love his children, and our keeping the commandments of God is the proof that we love him" [6]. This indicates that a genuine love for God will manifest in love for others and obedience to God's commands, influencing how one expresses themselves culturally.
The early Christian communities demonstrated this love through their actions. For example, in Exodus 36:5, the Israelites brought so many free-will offerings for the construction of the tabernacle that Moses had to ask them to stop, illustrating the depth of their devotion and love for God's work [7]. Similarly, in the New Testament, the apostle Paul's love for God and his people was evident in his prayers and service, as seen in Romans 1:9, where he writes about serving God with his spirit in the gospel of His Son [8].
To ensure that cultural expression is motivated by love for God, one must prioritize obedience to God's commandments and cultivate a deep, personal relationship with Him. As Torrey's Topical Textbook notes, love to God is produced by the Holy Spirit and is characterized by obedience, joy, and a hatred of sin [3]. This love is not limited to personal devotion but extends to how one interacts with and serves others, reflecting the love of God in all aspects of life.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to Christ — Exhibited by God -- Mt 17:5; Joh 5:20. Exhibited by saints -- 1Pe 1:8. His personal excellence is deserving of -- Song 5:9-16. His love to us a motive to -- 2Co 5:14. Manifested in Seeking him. -- Song 3:2. Obeying him. -- Joh 14:15,21,23. Ministering to him. -- Mt 27:55; 25:40. Preferring him to all others. -- Mt 10:37. Taking up the cross for Him. -- Mt 10:38. A characteristic of saints -- Song 1:4. An evidence of adoption -- Joh 8:42. Should be Sincere. -- Eph 6:24. With the soul. -- Song 1:7. In proportion to our mercies. -- Lu 7:47. Supreme. -- ”
- I John “I John 5:2 (BBE) — In this way, we are certain that we have love for the children of God, when we have love for God and keep his laws.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to God — Commanded -- De 11:1; Jos 22:5. The first great commandment -- Mt 22:38. With all the heart -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Better than all sacrifices -- Mr 12:33. Produced by The Holy Spirit. -- Ga 5:22; 2Th 3:5. The love of God to us. -- 1Jo 4:19. Answers to prayer. -- Ps 116:1. Exhibited by Christ -- Joh 14:31. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 5:11. Should produce Joy. -- Ps 5:11. Love to saints. -- 1Jo 5:1. Hatred of sin. -- Ps 97:10. Obedience to God. -- De 30:20; 1Jo 5:3. Perfected in obedience -- 1Jo 2:5. Perfected, gives boldness -- 1Jo 4:17,18. God, faith”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 5:3: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments,.... Keeping of the commandments of God is an evidence of love to God; this shows that love is not in word and tongue, in profession only, but in deed and in truth; and that such persons have a sense of the love of God upon their souls, under the influence of which they act; and such shall have, and may expect to have, greater manifestations of the love of God unto them: and his commandments are not grievous; heavy, burdensome, and disagreeable; by which are meant, not so much the precepts of the moral law, w”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 42:1: Holy love to God as the chief good and our felicity is the power of godliness, the very life and soul of religion, without which all external professions and performances are but a shell and carcase: now here we have some of the expressions of that love. Here is, I. Holy love thirsting, love upon the wing, soaring upwards in holy desires towards the Lord and towards the remembrance of his name (Psa 42:1, Psa 42:2): "My soul panteth, thirsteth, for God, for nothing more than God, but still for more and more of him." Now observe, 1. When it was that David thus expre”
- 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 5:2: By this we know that we love the children of God - Our love of God's followers is a proof that we love God. Our love to God is the cause why we love his children, and our keeping the commandments of God is the proof that we love him.”
- Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 36:5: The people bring much more than enough - With what a liberal spirit do these people bring their free-will offerings unto the Lords! Moses is obliged to make a proclamation to prevent them from bringing any more, as there was at present more than enough! Had Moses been intent upon gain, and had he not been perfectly disinterested, he would have encouraged them to continue their contributions, as thereby he might have multiplied to himself gold, silver, and precious stones. But he was doing the Lord's work, under the inspiration of the Divine Spirit, and therefore he ”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 1:9: For God . . . whom I serve--the word denotes religious service. with my spirit--from my inmost soul. in the gospel of his Son--to which Paul's whole religious life and official activity were consecrated. is my witness, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers--so for the Ephesians (Eph 1:15-16); so for the Philippians (Phi 1:3-4); so for the Colossians (Col 1:3-4); so for the Thessalonians (Th1 1:2-3). What catholic love, what all-absorbing spirituality, what impassioned devotion to the glory of Christ among men!”