Jesus stated, if we loved him we’d keep his commandments. What are those commandments? Can we innumerate them into a checklist?
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 KJV)
If You Love Me Keep My Commandments
- I) Parallel verses
- He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21 KJV)
- Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23 KJV)
- He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. (John 14:24 KJV)
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10 KJV) - Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (John 15:14 KJV)
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. (Matthew 7:24 KJV)
- II) The Context of John 14-15 is love. The word is used an unusual amount of times. Jesus is wanting his followers to love each other. He even states in chapter 15 that this IS his commandment.
- III) So Why do we keep his commands?
- Fear of going to hell?
- Desire to go to heaven?
- To be a better Christian?
- None of the Above. – We keep commands because WE LOVE HIM. Remember he doesn’t call us servants but friends. Christianity is a close relationship with the very creator of the universe!
- Anyone can keep a command; but it takes a son, a friend, and a bride to love.
- IV) What Are These Commands?
- 1) But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.
(Matthew 22:34-40 ESV) - 2) Many others but they all relate to those two:
- Repent of Sins (Love God) – (Matthew 4:17)
- Follow Me (Love Jesus) – (Matthew 4:19)
- Rejoice (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 5:11–12)
- Let Your Light Shine (Love Neighbors and God) – (Matthew 5:16)
- Be Reconciled to Brothers (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 5:23–25)
- Do Not Lust (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 5:28)
- Keep Your Word (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 5:37)
- Go the Second Mile (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 5:38–42)
- Love Your Enemies (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 5:44–45)
- Be Humble in Your Service (Love God) – (Matthew 6:1–18)
 - Seek God’s Kingdom (Love God) – (Matthew 6:33)
- Do not Judge Believers too Harshly (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 7:1–3)
- Do Not Judge Unbelievers at All (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 7:6)
- Ask, Seek, Knock (Love God) – (Matthew 7:7–8)
- Treat People with Love (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 7:12)
- Pray for Laborers (Love God) – (Matthew 9:37–38)
- Be Wise but Harmless (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 10:16)
- Fear Not People But God (Love God) – (Matthew 10:28)
- Listen to Me (Love God) – (Matthew 11:15)
- Come to Me and Learn (Love God) – (Matthew 11:28–30)
- Beware of Being Self-Righteous (Love God) – (Matthew 16:6)
 - Deny Yourself (Love God) – (Luke 9:23–25)
- Value All People Equally (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 18:10)
- Go to Those Who Offend You (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 18:15–17)
- Beware of Covetousness (Love Neighbors and God) – (Luke 12:15)
- Forgive Offenders (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 18:21–22)
- Serve Others (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 20:26–28)
- Invite the Poor (Love Neighbors) – (Luke 14:12–14)
- Pay Taxes But Give God What’s His (Love God) – (Matthew 22:19–21)
 - Await His Return (Love God) – (Matthew 24:42– 44)
- Commune (Love God) – (Matthew 26:26–28)
- Be Born Again (Love God) – (John 3:7)
- Watch and Pray (Love God) – (Matthew 26:41)
- Feed the Hungry, Take in Strangers, Clothe the Naked, Visit the Sick, and Visit Prisoners (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 25:33-40)
- Feed My Sheep (Love Neighbors) – (John 21:15–16)
 - Go, Teach, Baptize, and Disciple (Love Neighbors) – (Matthew 28:19-20)
- and many, many more all relating to love.
- 3) Paul re-emphasizes how love fulfills all commands – (Romans 13:9-10, Galatians 5:14)
- 1) But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.
Resources
In this episode we told you about our new Theononymous prayer service. Please visit this tool, confess sins, prayer for others, and sign up as a prayer warrior for your brothers!
Go here: http://prayer.theonautspodcast.com
We also talked about the work in Haiti and helping to get clean water to the locals.
You can help by visiting here: http://www.footprintsofcharity.org