“If you love me, obey my commandments”

''And when these things begin to come to pass, the look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.'' (Luke 21:28)

“If you love me, obey my commandments”

Gary Gibson

I have a Bible track in the form of a Million Dollar Bill…

Sort of an ice breaker and on the back, it asks the Million Dollar Question:

Will you go to heaven?

In a poll by ABC News 1, 85% of Americans who believe in Heaven, believe that they will be going there…

Belief in Heaven

If Believe, Think They Will Go

All

89 %

85 %

Evangelical Protestants

Non-evangelical Protestants

Catholics

Very Religious

Somewhat Religious

96 86

Not Religious

Have No Religion

NA*

That’s great news!! So what does it take to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Doing more good than bad? Being a Christian? Well let’s look at what Jesus told to His disciples…

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:22-23

So, does Jesus know you? Do you have a personal relationship with Him, or are you counting on your religion or good works to get you there?

The Bible says that our religion [righteous] is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) and of your good deeds it says:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-19

So how can you be certain that you know Him and He knows you??

The Bible says… “And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.” 1 John 2:3

Jesus, Himself, says…“If you love me, obey my commandments.” John 14:15

So the next logical question is… What are His commandments?

Well…we can start with the TOP 10 List from the Home Office on Mount Sinai …

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 NKJV)

1 ''I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

3 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

4 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

5 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

6 “You shall not murder.

7 “You shall not commit adultery.

8 “You shall not steal.

9 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.“

So if you think you know Him and continue to lie, steal, look at the opposite sex with lust, hate others, or put all your love, time and energy into things other than God, then you may want to do a little self reflection.

The Bible says, If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him. 1 John 2:4-5

Do we see a recurring theme here?

But God took the first step…

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

And what is the natural response to His love??

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:18-19

Jesus was asked, what is the greatest commandment?

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

So what is love? I asked that question of my 3 daughters, and my oldest daughter spoke up and said, “Isn’t it a human emotion?”

How does the Bible define love?

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is a life lived. Can you substitute your name for the word love above? Do you love your neighbor as yourself?

The Bible says…For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14

How do I do that?

Jesus answers that in a parable about the Day of Judgment…

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:41-42

Paul the Apostle writes:

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Romans 12:9-14

Finally, Jesus tells us…

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.'' John 15:9-17

My friend, I don’t know if anyone told you today. But let me tell you this:

I love you!

1. Poll: Elbow Room No Problem in Heaven, December 20, 2005, ABC NEWS.go.com