CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15).
The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.
First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.
Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as loving God, keeping His commandments, doing His Works and glorifying the Father.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15).
IN CONTEXT
“Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:12-15).
REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:
“If I love You, I will keep Your commandments.” (John 14:15).
This statement, by Jesus, may at first seem out of place here. Why would He go from telling us that if we believe in Him, we will do the works He does, and that because He is going to the Father He will do anything we ask – to suddenly telling us that if I love Him, I will keep His commandments?
It is because these statements are inextricably connected. Everything that Jesus tells us, the ‘promises’ He makes in the preceding verses are predicated on this: If you love Me, keep My commandments. This could be considered the litmus test of your love for Him.
If your love for Jesus is not absolute, true and complete, these promises are not for you. If you are not fully committed and submitted to Jesus as His disciple, these promises are not for you. If you are not willing to follow Him in all He says and does, these promises are not for you.
‘Naming it and claiming it’ just won’t work here. This is for the disciple, the friend and brother of Jesus. This is so that the Father may be glorified in the Son – The Father is not glorified in you or me. He is glorified in the Son!
If you want anything to be done, believe in Him, prove your love for Him and keep His commandments, and this He will do, so the Father will be glorified in the Son.
Put it all in His Hands. He is able and willing!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
NEXT: (Coming Soon). CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you live according to the flesh you will die; but if you live by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13.
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