Christian Theological/Philosophical Book Club discussion

Many today speak of keeping God's commandments and obeying the Law. The Bible does have much to say about the commandments of God.

But the most important question in this area is: "Who gets to define what it means to 'keep' God's commandments?"

Personally, I believe that God's definition is the correct one. Here is what He says about it...
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1 John 3:22-23

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

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.

John lists two commandments that will define a genuine Christian. A genuine Christian will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and will believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead. The second commandment is to love one another. It does not matter what church or denomination my brother or sister in Christ attends. We are to love them. The Christian life is an others-centered life with the Lord Jesus as our example.

Who gets to define what it means to obey God's commandments?

Jesus defined what it meant to obey the commandments when he was asked which was the greatest commandment. He said if we will love God with all our strength and being and love our neighbor as ourselves, then we will have fulfilled all the Law and all the prophets.

Paul said the same thing when he wrote that all the Law and all the prophets were briefly comprehended in this one saying, and then he quoted Jesus on it.

That doesn't mean we don't diligently apply ourselves to learning as much about our Creator and his ways as possible. I believe that begins with prayerfully reading his Word on a daily basis. I recommend reading every day, always picking up today where we left off yesterday.