There are certain signs present in our lives that show what we believe, enjoy, and even love. For instance, a sign of a couple in love is holding as they walk through the mall. A sign of a football fan is that they were their team’s colors on Friday and talk about the game on Monday. Everything we do and believe shows itself in our life in some way. Because these signs exist in other aspects of our life it should come as no surprise that they exist in our faith as well. Jesus said that the sign of someone who loves Him is obedience to His commands.
John 14:15 (ESV)
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
What’s interesting is that John does not just record that Jesus said this once as if it was said in passing. No in the same passage this statement saying those who love Jesus will be obedient to His commands is reiterated several times. Even going on to says that those who don’t love Jesus will not obey Him.
John 14:21 (ESV)
21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
John 14:23–24 (ESV)
23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
Under the inspiration of God, John even made a few statements like this in his first letter. Pointing every Christian to the fact that obedience is a direct sign of their love for Jesus. Those who love Him will do all that He instructed them to do.
1 John 2:3–5 (ESV)
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
1 John 5:3 (ESV)
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
While many people say they love Jesus these verses show that many of those claims are invalid because they lack any obedience to His commands. While we are not saved by our actions, it is our actions that prove our faith. Just are we are told to not simply say we love others but to show it by our actions. We also must not simply say we love Jesus. Instead, we must show it through our actions and obedience to His word.
1 John 3:18–19 (ESV)
18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;
Acts 26:26 (ESV)
26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.
Our obedience to the commands of the Lord such as make disciples, be baptized, love one another, and so on, show that our love is more than just a claim. We have no room to argue with God over what we should or should not do. If we truly love God, believe He is real, and that the Bible is His word then our only option is to do all He has said. That is just what the Apostles and those who joined the first church did.
Look at those who Peter preached the first message to on the day of Pentecost. They asked them what they needed to do to be saved and when they were told they did not argue. They obeyed the word of the men of God and those who were counted as believers were baptized that day. Their newfound love for Jesus was shown by their willingness to be immediately baptized in His name.
Acts 2:37–41 (ESV)
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
The message is not to do everything Jesus said or He won’t save you. On the contrary, it is you won’t be able to find salvation if you don’t live in obedience to His word. There is only one path that leads to Heaven and those that walk in it do so in love by obeying the word of the Lord. We will never make it to Heaven living contrary to what God has said we must do. Those who love God will find the path and be willingly do all His word says.
Matthew 7:13–14 (ESV)
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
It’s possible that you have never questioned your love for Jesus but I hope you will at this moment. Does your life show obedience to all His commands? Have you always done your best to do everything His word says to? If your answer to those questions is no then, you have to know that you don’t truly love Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life. But it’s not too late to change that.
Turn to His word and really spend time in it. See what He has done for you. He lived a life without sin yet died a sinners death so you could be forgiven of all your sins and receive the gift of eternal life. See the very commands He left for his people in scripture. Not to be a burden but to give them life more abundant.
John 10:10 (ESV)
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Be sure to pray, calling on His name, asking for His forgiveness, and opening your heart to Him. Then simply begin to live in obedience to His word. No longer fighting against the things you know He has called you to do. Then your life will show that you truly love Jesus Christ the savior of the world.
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