One of the signs of our perilous last days is religious people, with only a form of godliness, being lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God (2 Tim. 1:5). Just that truth alone about the seriousness of not loving God supremely is significant, but there are other Scriptures showing the same truth. For example, the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:29-31). Some commands are, therefore, greater than others and loving God is the greatest of all!
The Mark 12:29-31 command implies loving God must be related to eternal life since that is so important and we are also commanded to come to salvation — to enter through the narrow gate (Mt. 7:13), repent (Acts 17:30), etc. Loving God is directly related to having salvation and it is impossible to have salvation without loving God! Proof for this is revealed in various Scriptures, including one of the anathemas:
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Cor 16:22)
To be anathema is to be doomed to hell. Hence, not loving Jesus is to be without salvation. Also, those who love God are known by God (1 Cor. 8:3) and to be known by God is to have salvation. Again, that is reserved for those who love God. Thirdly, Jesus said this:
If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:23)
To love Jesus means the Father will love you and both the Father and Jesus will make their home with you. For our bodies now to be the house of God (temple of God) implies salvation now. After our death, to be at home with them is to be in God’s paradise kingdom. Both ways imply salvation. Also from John 14:23 it is clear that if we love Jesus we will OBEY him. That is what it means to love God, as shown here.
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, (1 John 5:3)
Loving God is a salvation issue and it is revealed by obeying God. Heb 5:9 says, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. That insight brings a fresh understanding to Acts 5:29. The Apostles wanted to have final salvation:
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”
One final point, obedience to God is not related to a works salvation. Paul stressed obedience (1 Cor. 7:19; Gal. 6:8; etc.), but fought against a works salvation.
