Not By Works
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Here is an excellent article addressing "Just what are the commandments of Jesus?"
"If you love Me - you will keep my commandments". John 14:15
( 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 nor does it have anything to do with works for salvation or maintaining it as some try to teach - but it has everything to do with the true Sabbath rest which is found only 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/
"If you love Me - you will keep my commandments". John 14:15
( 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 nor does it have anything to do with works for salvation or maintaining it as some try to teach - but it has everything to do with the true Sabbath rest which is found only 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/
Who on earth could believe Jude is teaching against obedience to GOD through Faith in the Messiah.
Only those without the Spirit it seems to me.
a saint is someone who keeps the Commandments of GOD and has the Testimony of the Messiah. One word: love.
Jude
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Only those without the Spirit it seems to me.
a saint is someone who keeps the Commandments of GOD and has the Testimony of the Messiah. One word: love.
Jude
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
John 14
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 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.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 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.
24 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.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 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.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 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.
24 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.
The Messiah did not teach things that are impossible and then send people to enlighten which is darkening you to not believe.. No the Holy Spirit does not subtly teach against His Testimony.. no that is darkness posing as light to deceive you. But I have to say... it is subtle and crafty... so beware and pray for Strength and wisdom ask for the Holy Spirit.
The Beloved
The apostles wrote to believers and addressed them as "Beloved," as opposed to lovers of God.
One cannot be a lover of God without first understanding that they are beloved of God.
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 2 Thessalonians 2:13
It is 100% IMPOSSIBLE to love God, without allowing HIM to love you!
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10,
We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19
Knowing His love for and in us - releases His life to be manifested
The apostles wrote to believers and addressed them as "Beloved," as opposed to lovers of God.
One cannot be a lover of God without first understanding that they are beloved of God.
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 2 Thessalonians 2:13
It is 100% IMPOSSIBLE to love God, without allowing HIM to love you!
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10,
We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19
Knowing His love for and in us - releases His life to be manifested
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Above is the spirit of the person sharing here.
Jesus is saying keep my commandments, but He is not meaning it.
So my brothers and sisters, here is a teaching that is denying Jesus's words.
And the real problem is how to judge loving God and loving their neighbour.
As a legalist or as Jesus meant it, from the heart?
The whole foundation of g7's theology is that a pedantic view of the commandments
can be argued that everyone fails to love God to some degree.
What they miss, is God is calling us to love, and when we love this love will grow.
It is like a plant, once sown starts to spread through ones soul, and transform us.
Unfortunately for these believers they kill this dead at the start with the bitterness
and disappointment of a legalist. And they argue like the enemy that all expressions
of love are just partial and hypocritical so do not fulfill the command of God.
God says differently. He desires we grow in His grace and love, and not be disappointed
but learn how to pick ourselves up when we fail and walk on. This is the way of Christ.
Jesus is saying keep my commandments, but He is not meaning it.
So my brothers and sisters, here is a teaching that is denying Jesus's words.
And the real problem is how to judge loving God and loving their neighbour.
As a legalist or as Jesus meant it, from the heart?
The whole foundation of g7's theology is that a pedantic view of the commandments
can be argued that everyone fails to love God to some degree.
What they miss, is God is calling us to love, and when we love this love will grow.
It is like a plant, once sown starts to spread through ones soul, and transform us.
Unfortunately for these believers they kill this dead at the start with the bitterness
and disappointment of a legalist. And they argue like the enemy that all expressions
of love are just partial and hypocritical so do not fulfill the command of God.
God says differently. He desires we grow in His grace and love, and not be disappointed
but learn how to pick ourselves up when we fail and walk on. This is the way of Christ.
U
Sorry PHart but there are so many flaws in your reasoning. 
The faith that brings the gift of eternal life is one time event.
The work of Jesus upon the cross (one time event) is the object of one's faith.
What you have done is also reverse the positive act of faith in the work of the cross for salvation, to a negative act
by saying if faith is not maintained in the cross then salvation (eternal life) is forfeited, this is not scriptural.
As well, you have completely denied the corresponding action of God that states when we place our faith in Jesus for salvation He gives us eternal life.
You state unbelief nullifies one's status as saved, this unbelief is then an unbelief in the efficacy of the cross to save.
As well, you seem to negate the effect of the relationship that has started when one has become a believer.
If I should stop believing in the sacrifice of my Father, He is my Father, right? Do you not think He will remind me of what He has accomplished in me?
Who is greater the Father or the son?
The faith that brings the gift of eternal life is one time event.
The work of Jesus upon the cross (one time event) is the object of one's faith.
What you have done is also reverse the positive act of faith in the work of the cross for salvation, to a negative act
by saying if faith is not maintained in the cross then salvation (eternal life) is forfeited, this is not scriptural.
As well, you have completely denied the corresponding action of God that states when we place our faith in Jesus for salvation He gives us eternal life.
You state unbelief nullifies one's status as saved, this unbelief is then an unbelief in the efficacy of the cross to save.
As well, you seem to negate the effect of the relationship that has started when one has become a believer.
If I should stop believing in the sacrifice of my Father, He is my Father, right? Do you not think He will remind me of what He has accomplished in me?
Who is greater the Father or the son?