Why did Jesus say, “If you love me, keep my commandments”?
John 14:15
AMP - 15 If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.
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Asked May 29 2022
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Charles James
Supporter
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Good question, Charles James! 1 John 3:21: "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him." These two verses do not give us all the conditions for answered prayer, but they emphasize the importance of obedience. One great secret of answered prayer is obedience, and the secret of obedience is love. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.… If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love” (John 15:7, 10). https://bethelchurchmuncie.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/wiersbe-commentary-new-testament.pdf But isn't it impossible to keep Christ's commandments? Yes! That's why we need the Holy Spirit. And so, did you notice that John 14:15 is connected to John 14:16 with an "And"? "if you love Me," Jesus said in John 14:15, "keep My commandments." How? The Holy Spirit is the answer! Because Jesus said in this very next verse, John 14:16, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever." Jesus’ statement If you love me, you will obey my commandments --[NET BIBLE] provides the transition between the promises of answered prayer which Jesus makes to his disciples in vv. 13-14 and the promise of the Holy Spirit which is introduced in v. 16. So, see John 14:13-14, 15-16.
Dave Larsen
Supporter
I believe for the same reason a man and woman say marriage vows, and why GOD called the covenant He made with Israel a marriage contract. Jeremiah 31:31-32: “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. I believe it is also why John said, the LORD'S commandments are not burdensome? 1 John 5:1-5: Everyone who believes that Yoshua is the Messiah is born of GOD, and everyone who loves the Father loves His children as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of GOD: by loving GOD and carrying out His commands. 3 In fact, this is love for GOD: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome. I don’t believe it’s possible to truly love the Father and Son and knowingly not keep His commandments.
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