Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.
 1 Cor 6: 12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful… I will not be brought under the power of any.
 James 2:12: So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
 2 Cor 5:10 we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive things done in the body…good or bad.
 Mt 22:37 Jesus said to him, "‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38  "This is the first and great commandment. 39 "And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

1. Discernment, about God, teaching, inheritance, deception, companions (Learn the Truth – Love God)

Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits….18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
 1 Tim 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for so you will save yourself and those who hear you.
 Ga 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
 1 Co 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise… let him become a fool that he may become wise.
 Jas 1:14  each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed….Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
 1 Cor 15:33  Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

2. Relationships amongst believers (Love others with the Truth, focus on believers – Love Others)

A. Making God look good in the eyes of others

 Mr 9 50 … if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.
 Ga 5:13 .. you have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
 1Pe 1 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart. 1Pe 2 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
 Mt 5:24 leave your gift there before the altar... First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
 2Co 13 11 Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
 Eph 4 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
 1Th 5 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
 

B. Help each-other do better at the day of judgment

 Heb 3 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
 Jas 5 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
 2Th 3 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

3. Sanctification (Live the Truth – Love Yourself)

A. Do’s and Don’ts: put to death the fruits of the flesh and develop the fruits of the Spirit

 Ro 6 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
 Eph 5 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
 Col 3 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.; 1Th 5 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
 Col 3 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
 Php 4 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
 Col 3 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
 2Pe 1 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
 Jas 1 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
 

B. It’s hard work, a process resulting in holiness

 Php 2 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
 1Ti 4 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
 1Pe 2 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
 2Pe 3 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. 
 1Jo 2 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
 1Pe 1 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

What God Wants - Part 1

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response

1. Why are most ‘commandments’ of the New Testament about discernment? Does that fit with the greatest commandment?
 
2. Why is there so much more focus on relationships with other believers than on our relationships with unbelievers?
 
3. When will you have made enough progress in your sanctification process? Can you take a break?
 
4. What can you do this week to make the body look better? And to help another believer do better before the judgment seat?
 
5. Which fruits of the Spirit would God want you to focus on? What can you do this week to make progress in that area?