The Bible has a great deal to tell us, and to teach us. It tells us that we should have faith and believe in the Lord. It tells us that we should practice repentance for our sins, and to obey the ten commandments. These are all important.
It is good to pay attention to what Jesus says is most important. When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, He answered:
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
Love Is the Essential Message of Scripture
Jesus said loving the Lord and loving the neighbor are the basis of all Scripture. New Church teachings focus on Jesus’ emphasis on loving the Lord and one’s neighbor as the most important elements of Christianity.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
“Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7).
“Above all things have fervent love for one another.” (1 Peter 4:8)
“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2)
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
“You see then that a person is justified by works, and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24)
From New Church Theology
“What else is love but a partnership with God through goodness that shapes our intentions and desires? ... The ultimate purpose in creating us citizens of heaven and also citizens of the world was this partnership. ... Through this partnership we have salvation and eternal life.” (Emanuel Swedenborg, True Christian Religion 369:3)
“Life received from the Lord is the life of love towards the entire human race.” (Secrets of Heaven 6467)
"We are not born for the sake of ourselves, but for the sake of others." (True Christian Religion 406)
“There is no adequate way to describe God except in terms of pure love and pure mercy towards the whole human race. That mercy is God's desire to save everyone, to make everyone happy forever, and to give us everything He has.” (Secrets of Heaven 1735)
“The whole of heaven rests on love as its foundation.” (Secrets of Heaven 1055)
“In the Christian world it is their doctrines that cause Churches to be distinct and separate, and because of these they call themselves Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinists or the Reformed, and Evangelicals, among other names. It is solely by reason of their doctrines that they are called by these names. This situation would never exist if they were to make love for the Lord and goodwill towards the neighbor the chief thing of faith. In this case their doctrinal differences would be no more than shades of opinion concerning the mysteries of faith which truly Christian people would leave to individual conscience, and in their hearts would say that a person is truly a Christian when he lives as a Christian, that is, as the Lord teaches.” (Secrets of Heaven 1799)
“Heaven is not located on high, but where the good of love is, and this resides within a person, wherever he or she might be.” (Secrets of Heaven 8153)
“Love is our vital core. We grow warm because of its presence, and cold because of its absence, and when it is completely gone, we die.” (Heaven and Hell 14)
"The nature of every individual is determined by his or her deepest love." (Secrets of Heaven 6872)
“The Lord is present with you the moment you start to love the neighbor.” (Secrets of Heaven 904)