What Are God’s Rules?

When people think of God’s rules, they often imagine a long list of do’s and don’ts. But Jesus showed us that God’s heart is much simpler than that. At the core of everything, God’s rules come down to just one thing: love.

God’s Rules Summed Up in Two Commands

When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus gave a clear and powerful answer:

“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.” (Matthew 22:37–40)

In other words, every single command in Scripture is rooted in these two truths:

1. Love God fully.
2. Love others genuinely.

Why God’s Rules Are About Relationship, Not Legalism

God’s rules are not about checking boxes or following rituals out of fear. They are an invitation into relationship:

• Loving God means putting Him first, worshipping Him, and trusting His ways.
• Loving others means treating people with kindness, honesty, and compassion.

The Apostle Paul put it simply: “Love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10). When we live in love, we are already walking in God’s rules.

Love in Action

So what does this look like in real life?

• Choosing forgiveness instead of bitterness.
• Speaking truth instead of lies.
• Serving others instead of living selfishly.
• Trusting God instead of chasing idols.

Love is not just a feeling; it is action. God’s rules show us how to live out love in everyday choices.

God’s Rules Lead to Freedom

Sometimes rules sound restrictive, but God’s rules actually lead us to freedom. The psalmist wrote:

“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” (Psalm 119:45)

God’s commands protect us from sin, selfishness, and destruction. They guide us into peace, joy, and purpose. Far from being a burden, His rules set us free to live the life He designed for us.

Jesus Fulfills the Law

Ultimately, God’s rules point us to Jesus. He lived out perfect love, fulfilling the law we could never keep on our own. Through His death and resurrection, He offers us forgiveness, grace, and the power to walk in God’s love.

Jesus Himself said:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17)

Because of Jesus, we no longer follow God’s rules out of fear, but out of love.

The Rule of Love

At the end of the day, God’s rules are not a complicated list. They can be summed up in this: love God and love people. When we walk in love, we are living out everything God desires for us.

As 1 John 4:19 reminds us: “We love because He first loved us.”

✨ Still Have a Question?

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