The ONE thing that encompasses EVERYTHING (Part 2)

The Lord Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."  
John 14:15  

The Apostle Paul said these words:

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.  The commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Romans 13:8-10

Paul quotes from the Ten Commandments, and includes "whatever other commandment there may be."  This means the laws of the land (where they agree with the one command of love.)  This means all principles and every principle.  They can all, according to Paul, be summed up in the one command, the "golden rule," "Love your neighbor as yourself."  Love does no harm, therefore love fulfills the law, AND ALL LAWS.  

Now, Jesus and Paul, of course, agree.  Love is the fulfillment of ALL of God's commands. And love for God is expressed in obedience to God.  But how does one obey a command unless one first HEARS the command?  Now we can go all the way back to the first man, the first woman, and the first Garden, where the man and woman LISTENED to Satan instead of God.

The first woman LISTENED to the deception of Satan.
The first man LISTENED listened to the deceived first woman.
Neither of them LISTENED to God.

The Apostle Paul said, "The only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself in love." Remember, love for Christ expresses itself in obedience.  So we have this progression:

Faith--Love--Obedience.

Yet Paul also says, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

Now we have this progression:

Listen--Trust--Love--Obey

The one who loves God with all of his heart and soul and strength listens to God's commands, trusts in God's supreme authority and perfect goodness, loves God above all others, and does what God says no matter the consequences.  But it all starts from listening.