Does God Love You More Than He Loves His Commandments?

From the man who brought you teaching like this: "For the Bible tells me so, and this is where our trouble began." And teaching like this: "Thou shalt not obey the ten commandments because those aren't your commandments."

Andy Stanley is back! And this time... is just like the other times. In a recent sermon, Stanley said, "God loves you more than He loves His commandments."

Except Psalm 138:2 says God has exalted above all things His name and His word (oops!). It is an act of love that God condescended Himself and gave us His commandments. Deuteronomy 4:8 says, "What great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous" as the Law of God?

His Law is a revelation of His holy character. Romans 7:12 says, "So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good." But we broke God's Law. And through His Law we realize we deserve judgment for our sin. So God sent His Son, Jesus, who kept the Law and died in our place. By faith we are forgiven, and His law is written on our hearts that we may keep it (see Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Jeremiah 31:31-34).

In John 14, Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments... If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (v.15, 23). Those who love God love His Law. Those who diminish His Law and teach others to do the same, Jesus said they're in big trouble.

Stanley also understands this, for in the same sermon, he said: "When religious leaders used the law of God to manipulate people made in the image of God, Jesus was quick to remind them they were on the wrong side of God."

And Andy Stanley should be really concerned about that, when we understand the text!