Evidence, Reward, Promise

Evidence, Reward, Promise

John 14:21

Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” – John 14:21 (NIV)

It’s amazing, that, in this single verse (John 14:21) Jesus weaves together the essence of what it means to be a Follower of Christ: obedience to God, love of God, and communion/fellowship with God.

It’s not simply duty... it’s not just a responsibly... it’s not only a mandate. It’s a delight; it’s our chief end.

Our purpose... is to glorify God and to enjoy Him, forever. And the path to God’s love and mercy, is to obey His Word as the means to enjoying God, forever.

Our love and obedience and fellowship with God molds us and makes us into the people that God has intended us to be. True love for Christ produces obedience, and in turn, such obedience draws us, as disciples, into a fuller revelation of Christ Himself.

Of course, Jesus begins, saying: “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.” This is the Evidence of our love for God. Keeping God’s commands.

Many profess Christ with their lips, yet show little to no regard for His Word with their lives. They profess Christ, but they don’t possess Christ! Words alone are not sufficient. Our love of Christ is always demonstrated... NOT by sentimentality or mere profession... but by obedience. Jesus makes no attempt to separate love and obedience.

To “have” Christ’s commandments (as in “whoever has my commands”) is to treasure God’s Word... His written Word? Yes! His Word hidden in our hearts (Ps. 119:11)? Yes! His Word that became flesh and dwelt among us in the 2nd Person of the Godhead (Jesus)? Yes!

In other words, to “have” means value and embrace God’s Word as the standard and rule of our lives.

Then... to “keep” God’s Word is to live in submission to that Word, joyfully walking in the light and fullness of God’s precepts, principles, and decrees.

Don’t misunderstand: Jesus is not talking about works-righteousness. We do not obey in order to be loved by God; rather, we obey because we have been loved by God. As 1st John 4:19 reminds: “We love because he first loved us.”

The famous Reformed pastor Charles Spurgeon said, “Obedience is the hallmark of love. If you love Christ, keep his commandments. If you do not keep his commandments, your love is a mere pretense.” In other words, it’s not real... we feign love for God when we fail to live according to His Word.

The truth is... we... as in those of us who live in the Western/American culture, seem to want God’s love, without wanting God Himself. We “honor him with our lips, but not our hearts” (para. Matthew 15:8). And we can’t love God without obeying him. You can’t have the one, without the other.

The Reformer, John Calvin, said, “True love to Christ will... show itself by zeal in obeying Him.” You won’t be able to help yourself! If you love Christ, you’ll express that love by doing what He says. Obedience is a side effect of our love for Christ.

Put another way, obedience is not the cause of our salvation... but it’s the evidence of it. It’s the natural outflow of a heart that’s been renewed by grace.

Jesus continues in our lesson: “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he is the one who loves me...” and... “he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him…” This is clearly the Reward of our Love of Christ!

Of course, at first, this sounds a little strange. Does not the Father love the whole world? Yes, indeed. So much so that He came into this world to redeem us... to die for us... to become the propitiation of our sins! But here Jesus is speaking of a special love... a covenantal love... an intimacy that is reserved for His children. In fact, a special relationship between God and God’s people in Christ is the context of the whole of Chapter 14!

The one who loves and obeys Christ enjoys the approval of the Father. God delights in His saints (Ps. 149:4). And even though His love toward us is not caused by our obedience, it is confirmed and enjoyed in the path of obedience.

One of the great Confessions of the Church, The Westminster Confession... reminds us that our sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit, transforming us more and more into the image of Christ. And even though none of us will perfectly obey God’s commands in this life... we grow in obedience... and that obedience is the evidence of our love for Christ. (WCF 13)

Again; obedience is not a condition for being loved, but it is the means of experiencing the love already given us, as God’s Children, in Christ.

Of course, Jesus brings this verse to conclusion with a promise: “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father …and I will love them and (manifest or) show myself to him.”

What does it mean for Christ to “manifest” Himself? This is not bodily appearance but spiritual revelation. The obedient believer enjoys a deeper sense of Christ’s presence, assurance, and communion.

As we walk in Christ, and obey His teachings, the fog of sin lifts, and the light of Christ shines more brightly. This is the “fellowship of the Spirit,” the experiential knowledge of Christ that Paul longed for, and expressed in Philippians 3:10... “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

When obedience and love unite, Christ reveals Himself more fully in the life of God’s Children... leading us into deeper intimacy with Christ... as we come to know more fully and deeply the “love that will not let us go.”

Of course, all of this should cause us to examine and re-examine our love for Christ.

Does our obedience show evidence of genuine love?

Do we treasure His commands?

Do we truly seek His presence?

Do you and I rest in grace?

John 14:21 makes it clear that obedience to God’s Word is the proof of true love for Christ. Those who walk in that love will experience the Father’s delight and Jesus’ real and manifest presence.

Let us not settle for a Faith of empty words. Let us, with grace-enabled hearts, love Christ in word and action.

For then, and only then, will you and I be blessed to know the sweetness of His promise: “I will love them and show myself to them.”

Amen.