Jesus says those who love me will obey. People who love God because He loved them first - obey - from the heart. Not to earn love, but because they know they are loved.
Scripture says we love Him because He loved us first.
Which means our love for Him, started by receiving His love for us.
Scripture says those who love Him will obey.
So obedience is linked to knowing His love.
Do we see this idea in Scripture? Yes.
Apart from Me, you can do nothing. This is abiding in Christ, He is our Vine, and as we abide fruit is formed. What is this fruit? Self-control and faithfulness. Two keys to heart-driven obedience.
Paul discusses this topic with the following idea:
Philippians 2:
12Therefore, my beloved,
as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Our obedience is fueled by His grace. Like, I've said before, grace empowers holiness.
C.
We are all in agreement Jesus and love empower everything in our lives.
What was apparent to me was a group who called me a legalist, denied purity and purification
mattered, and felt the issue in the church was identifying the evil legalist and expelling them
from the fellowship.
I am now more convinced that the whole spiritual dilemma is simply purity, being cleansed in
thought word and deed through the blood, dwelling in Christ, focusing on spiritual things,
and walking in the Spirit.
There are though many issues to deal with and resolve, areas where things are still dark
and we often get things very wrong.
As has been demonstrated over the past few months, believing people are full of hate and
malice is projection unless you can actually find it in reality.
If a person comes from an unstructured background, the commandments give structure and
security. If a person comes from a over analytical condemning background, the structure is
punishment and something that wounds.
If we stick with our love of Christ, respect each others expressions, and do not talk against
Jesus's words and sharing we can find fellowship and a way through.
So I am what I preach, I share from my heart and walk openly. Now if this is evil and I am
full of hate, then it is you who has the problems. If you cannot see without this plank in
your own eye, then you are not listening to Jesus.
Only when you are clean, have forgiven everyone of the hurts done against you, resolved
your issues with your parents and family, can you begin to see openly. Clean vessels can
pour clean water of refreshing joy, purity and holiness. Would you go to a polluted well that
stank and was rancid and take water and drink? Then why do you think your judgments
from an unresolved heart will bring good things about?
If emotions run riot, anger, frustration, envy etc. without knowing why or how to resolve
them, where is your focus or you peace or communion with Christ?
I do not know what as a reader is in your heart, but I do know these realities and that
there is resolution in Christ, and walking them through in obedience. But it is like a ladder,
the first rungs have to be done before the higher ones are attempted.
What I do know is the extreme reaction of some, is a lot have a life of unresolved issues
that need dealing with that are stopping growth or even walking in the Lord.
