What are the commandments of God in the New Covenant? What is the faith of Jesus - that He has redeemed us from the law. That He depended on His Father and now we too depend on Jesus Himself for all things. That all the Law , prophets and Psalms speak of Him.
Galatians 4:4-6 (NASB)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
[SUP]5 [/SUP] so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
[SUP]6 [/SUP] Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
Here is an excellent article addressing "Just what are the commandments of Jesus?"
( Hint: it has nothing to do with following the Sabbath day as in the Old Testament way which was a "shadow" of things to come - but it has everything to do with the true Sabbath rest which is found in Christ Himself )
I like to use this site from time to time as it gives a grace-based view of the finished work of Christ. it also has a place at the bottom where people can ask questions. I have found I have learned much from that area too.
John 14:15 – The Commands of Jesus
If God loves us unconditionally, how do we account for those scriptures that link His love with our obedience, like this one:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (Jn 14:15)
A legalist reads this backwards: “You will keep my commandments if you love me.”
In other words, we must prove our love for God by doing what He commands.
Commandment-keeping is our duty, a condition we must meet if we are to enjoy His love.
But someone who is walking in grace reads it just as Jesus said it. He understands that keeping His commands is a by-product of love.
Paul explains this in Romans 8:3-4, but let me give you an everyday example inspired by something I read.
"Here in New Zealand we have a big problem with domestic violence. Consequently, there are many laws governing the responsibilities of fathers. Break any of these laws and you might go to jail or have your kids taken away.
It’s a serious business. But to be honest, I couldn’t tell you what these laws are. I’ve never read them. Yet I can confidently declare that I am keeping every one of these laws.
How do I know? Because I love my kids. I don’t keep the laws to show the authorities that I love my kids and I don’t relate to my children on the basis of these laws. I relate to them on the basis of love and keeping the laws of the land flows naturally from that love relationship.
I know the laws serve a good purpose, but they weren’t written for me. They were written for fathers who don’t love their kids."
Similarly, the laws found in the Bible were not written for those who love Jesus (1 Tim 1:9). Contrary to what the legalist may tell you, keeping the laws to earn what He freely offers is a surefire sign that you don’t know the love of God.
A legalist reads the words of Jesus above and sees a threat. Do the commandments or else! But love makes no threats. Jesus is returning for a bride and it won’t be a shotgun wedding.
What are the commands of Jesus?
The next time someone tells you that you must keep the commands of Jesus to prove your love, ask them, “what are the commands of Jesus?”
They will probably respond with the greatest commandment which is, “love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul” (Mt 22:38). This is fine, I guess.
But if you insert that command into the phrase above it becomes, “If you love me, you will love me with all your heart, mind and soul,” which is kind of redundant.
If you read John 14:15 in context, you will see that on this occasion Jesus is referring to two specific commands. Here’s the first:
“A new command I give you: Love one another….” (Jn 13:34)
And here’s the second:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me… Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves” (Jn 14:1,11)
How can we be certain that these are His commandments? Because John – who was there when Jesus spoke these words – says so in one of his letters:
“And this is His command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.” (1 Jn 3:23)
What does it mean to keep His commands?
Lest we dilute His commandments to accommodate our experience, Jesus outlines His expectations of obedience for both. Here’s what He expects from the first:
“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (Jn 13:34)
How did Jesus love us? By laying down His life for us (Jn 15:3). That’s a high standard of love! Indeed, there is no greater love. And what are His expectations regarding the second commandment:
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these…” (Jn 14:12)
Believe in Jesus and you will do the works of Jesus. Put it altogether and Jesus is saying this:
“If you love me, you will love one another as I have loved you and your faith in me will lead to miracles like I have been doing and greater miracles still.”
If you’ve been in any church for at least five years, you will know that Jesus’ first commandment is pretty much humanly impossible to keep, while the second commandment is definitely impossible.
So the next time someone tries to lay a heavy burden on you by telling you that you must keep Jesus’ commandments to earn God’s love, just ask them how many people they’ve raised from the dead!
When they look puzzled, tell them that Jesus commanded us to believe in Him and He said that those who did would do the same works He did and greater works besides!
Now that we begin to understand what Jesus wasn’t saying – He wasn’t saying that we need to keep His commandments to prove our love – we’re ready to dig deeper into what He was saying.
That’s the subject of the next post. You won’t want to miss it. When you see what Jesus was promising His disciples and you, it’s going to blow you away!
Maybe you’ve been intimidated by John 14:15 and the other new covenant laws. If so, prepare to be set free. When you get a hold of the words of Jesus you’re going to be so pumped that you’ll want to frame them and hang them on your wall. Stay tuned!
Unquote:
Here is the link if anyone wants to look at the questions or to see the next post as he mentioned at the end of the article.
https://escapetoreality.org/2011/06/03/john-14v15/
I HOPE EVERYONE READS THIS
Grace,,,
What's the difference between:
If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (Jn 14:15)
“You will keep my commandments if you love me.”
Please explain in more detail.
To me they sound the same...
IF you love me, you WILL keep my commandments.
You WILL keep my commandments, IF you love me.
I mean, really, you're gettng pretty desperate!
Also, I get from your post that Jesus lied.
Also, you read too many links.
You're intimidated by John 14:15?
John 14:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
How come?
I'm not.
I guess I'm perfect and NEVER SIN.
yeah. That must be it.
OR, Jesus just didn't know how to express Himself !!
I'll bet most persons on this thread ARE NOT intimidated by John 14:15.
Because they know whom they have BELIEVED on.
And they're doing their best to follow the Master's footsteps.
Instead of trying to convince Others that Jesus DOES NOT want to be followed.
Poor Jesus.
3 1/2 years wasted on persons who want to preach everything HE DID NOT.
Oh. BTW, can YOU come up with the verses I've been asking for?
NO?
Gee. I wonder why???
Maybe because THEY DON'T EXIST?
I point you, and Others, to 1 Timothy 4:1-16
Paul is telling Timothy that in later times some will fall away from the faith, leave the faith, abandon the faith. They will pay attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.
The fallen away will listen to men who forbid marriage and teach abstinance of foods which are sacrificed. And which God means to be shared, and which God means for persons to be married.
Timothy, a pastor, is told to be nourished by the Word of God and sound doctrine. Paul tells him that Godliness is profitable for all things since it holds promise for now and the life to come.
Paul tells Timothy that it is for THIS that we LABOR AND STRIVE (verse 10) for we have fixed our hope on the Living God.
Timothy is to teach these things. Timothy is to show himself in an
examplary way as to speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
Timothy is to be AN EXAMPLE.
Timothy is to take pain with these things, be absorbed in them, so that his PROGRESS may be EVIDENT to all.
VERSE 16: Paul tells Timothy to PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO HIMSELF AND TO HIS TEACHINGS.
TO PERSEVERE IN ALL THINGS. FOR AS TIMOTHY DOES THIS, HE WILL INSURE SALVATION FOR BOTH HIMSELF AND THOSE WHO HEAR HIM.
It's truly a shame that Jesus, Paul, and every other writer in the N.T. EXHORTED us as to behavior and actions, and here some are --- teaching new Christians and Others, that it's NOT NECESSARY to do anything of what Jesus or Paul or Others stated
BECAUSE ALL WE NEED IS FAITH.
A LIE as anyone reading scripture will know and something for which these Teachers will have to answer to God.
I post this for YOU and those who teach as you do:
James 3:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a [a]stricter judgment.
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1 Timothy 4:1-16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Apostasy
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will [a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;
5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
A Good Minister’s Discipline
6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the
sound doctrine which you have been following.
7 But [c]have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.
10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
11 [d]Prescribe and teach these things.
12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example [e]of those who believe.
13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the [f]presbytery.
15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will [g]ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
