I certainly agree to the fruit of Christ's life which brings glory to Him alone is all of Him manifesting in and through us so that others can see the love and grace our loving Father and Lord have for them.
There are 2 ways or mind sets or "belief systems" in viewing "If you love Me you will keep my commandments".
All Christians agree what the true Christian life looks like when Christ is manifesting the fruit of His life in us. The dis-connect comes when people talk about "how is this done".
Works-based belief systems use the Old Covenant mindset of "doing to achieve" to try to effect transformation in Christians. The outward keeping of commandments as can be seen in the law of Moses.
Grace-based belief relies totally on the life and work of Christ in them to transform them by His love and grace towards us.
A very big factor in looking at scripture is the "lens" you use to view the scripture.
In the Old Covenant " you had to do or else"..If you do this..then I God will do that.." = conditional on the person performing
New Covenant = Jesus has done it for you which empowers you to "do"
Let's take a look at a common scripture with these 2 mindsets.
Jesus said.." If you love Me, you will keep My commandments"
Old Covenant mindset = conditional on the person "doing"..
So they would read it this way.."IF you love Me you will keep My commandments"..in their mind it's saying.."Keep My commandment and you will prove you love Me."
New Covenant mindset = it's a description of who you are in Christ.
They would see this "Jesus' love is in me so I keep His commandments"..it stems out of relationship and it is not conditional but descriptive of the believer.
1 John 4:18-19 (NASB)
[SUP]18 [/SUP] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
[SUP]19 [/SUP] We love, because He first loved us.
Then there is more..lol..there seems to be more sometimes eh?..just what are His commandments anyway?..Be perfect as My Father in heaven is perfect?...can we possibly do that?..of course not..that is Moses 2.0
Ahhh..found His commandments in 1 John 3.
1 John 3:23 (NASB)
[SUP]23 [/SUP] This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
...the "lens" that we view scriptures greatly affects us. We try to mix the Old Covenant ( before the cross and resurrection ) with the New Covenant and we get a religious mess.
Religious traditions of men, philosophies of men, ..what we were told all our lives in church or in the world etc. ..all influence how we view scripture. Sometimes some of our "sacred cows" can get sacrificed and it's painful.
Colossians 2:8 (NASB)
[SUP]8[/SUP] See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
AND DON'T FORGET THE HYPOCRITICAL MINDSET WHO BOAST OF THEIR SALVATION AND CHRIST IN THEM BUT WHEN FACED WITH A CHALLENGE TO PROVE THEIR FAITH CRIES FOUL AND STARTS ATTACKING THE ONE WHO CHALLENGED THEM AND MAKES ALL SORTS OF ALIBIS WHICH ONLY GOES DOWN TO THE MERE FACT THAT THEY JUST REALLY DON'T WANT TO OBEY AND SUBMIT TO GOD.
New International Version 1984 Matthew 19:16-30 The Rich Young Man Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS.” “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be PERFECT, go, SELL YOUR POSSESSIONS and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.” Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
THIS PASSAGE ONLY PROVES THAT EVERYONE WHO IS "WITH" GOD CAN OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS. NOW THOSE WHO CAN'T OBEY THIS, ONLY PROVES THAT GOD IS NOT "WITH" THEM.
Romans 8:7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
JESUS WAS SEEKING GENUINE OBEDIENCE THAT CAN ONLY BE LEARNED THROUGH SUFFERINGS;
Hebrews 5:8-9 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
Romans 3:31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
SO WHO THEN ARE THE "HYPOCRITES" AND WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THEM?
Matthew 23:3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
New International Version 1984 Jude 1:17-19 A Call to Persevere But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and DO NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT.
Good morning!