METANOIA: IF YOU LOVE ME

There is no way to misinterpret this passage: “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The Bible has this common theme weaved throughout its living pages. No buts or what-ifs about it. Loving the Father, the Son, & the Holy Spirit is not a feeling. It’s an ongoing relationship of following and obeying the Creator of the Universe (1 John 2:3).

Jesus isn’t calling us to be religious robots, with no emotion, keeping strict order to a set law. What He’s saying is a matter of relationship over religion. Obeying laws isn’t enjoyable & doesn’t create any moral change within someone. We can see that all over society today. But obeying God’s Word because you have an unwavering love for Him, adoration for the Son, & longing for the Spirit? That will do it. If you think about it, it makes sense. If you love your parents or your spouse, would you do the exact opposite of what they ask of you just because you want to do something you want to do? No.

Obedience is also a surefire way to make out true Christians from the “Christians” of our day (John 5:2-3). It’s the method and proof of abiding in the love of Christ because obedience issues a higher love. Our obedience is the effect of our loyal love of the Father & it’s what gives us the power to continue dwelling in His divine love. Jesus lives out this statement. He obeys and fulfills the commandments & instructions of the Father because of His love for Him (John 15:10). Jesus only ever did the things that pleased the Father. Do you think that offering His life as a precious sacrifice for our sins was something that pleased the humanness of Jesus? Remember, He’s 100% man & 100% Diety, so He was plagued with the same carnal desires that we have today.

Obedience is not something we can accomplish on our own. Jesus said that keeping the commandments in this broken world would require the power of the Holy Spirit living within us (John 14:16). The Advocate comes to the Christian who picks up their cross every day to follow Jesus. It’s someone who forsakes themselves to live according to their actual reason for existence: to bring glory to God.

Many people who declare they are Christians don’t abide by the Father. These are the “Christians” who profess that they can do x, y, & z because God will forgive them. These people typically add an adjective to the word Christian: LGBTQ+ “Christian,” Pro-Choice “Christian,” etc. I’m sorry, but there is no such thing.

We cannot show love to our Heavenly Father by mere words & expressions or performances & rituals. God knows everything going on in our hearts & minds. Can you imagine if someone expressed undying love for you, but in their mind, their thoughts said the exact opposite? The love shown in obedience requires a total surrender of any personal pleasures we might be putting before God.