By Dr. Robert C Crowder
Reading:
Deuteronomy 6:4-6 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.
John 14:15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:21 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.
John 14:23Jesus 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.
Reflection:
Love and obedience are inseparable in Scripture. Moses gave Israel the greatest commandment: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” But love for God was never meant to be merely emotional or sentimental. Moses immediately adds: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.” Love and obedience are inseparable from the beginning. Centuries later, Jesus echoed this same principle. In a culture that defines love almost entirely by emotion and sentiment, this connection sounds harsh, even legalistic. We prefer to think of love as warm feelings, affectionate words, and romantic gestures. But Jesus cuts through all sentimentality with a straightforward declaration: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” This is not legalism. This is reality. From Moses to Jesus, the message is consistent: true love for God expresses itself in obedience to His Word. Love for Christ that does not produce obedience to Christ is not love at all; it is self-deception. True love always expresses itself in loyal obedience. The commandments are not a burden to bear but the path to walk, the proof of love, and the means by which we experience deeper fellowship with the God who first loved us.
Jesus repeats this truth three times in John 14, each with slightly different emphasis, because He knows how easily we drift toward a Christianity of emotion without commitment, profession without practice, and affection without action. In verse 15, He says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” The “if” is a conditional clause that assumes the truth of the statement: “Since you love me, keep my commandments.” This is not a test to see whether we love Him; it is a statement of what love looks like. The Greek word for “keep” (tēreō) means to guard, to protect, to observe carefully, to hold fast. It implies intentionality, diligence, and perseverance. We are not to glance at His commands occasionally or obey when convenient. We are to guard them, treasure them, and build our lives around them.
In verse 21, Jesus expands the statement: “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.” Notice the progression. First, we must have His commandments; we must know them, possess them, be familiar with them. Ignorance is not an excuse. If we claim to love Jesus but have no interest in learning what He has commanded, our profession is empty. Second, we must keep them; not perfectly (we will fail), but persistently. The present tense suggests ongoing, habitual obedience. This is the lifestyle of the believer, not sinless perfection but directional consistency. Third, this is the evidence that we love Him. Our obedience does not earn His love, but it demonstrates the reality of our love for Him.
The reward for this obedient love is breathtaking: “And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” The Father’s love rests upon those who love the Son. Jesus Himself loves those who obey Him; not with a love conditioned on performance, but with a love that delights in the obedience of His children. And He promises to “manifest” Himself; to reveal Himself, to make Himself known, to grant deeper communion and clearer understanding. This is not a mystical experience reserved for spiritual elites. This is the normal Christian life for those who walk in obedience. When we obey, we experience Christ’s presence more fully. When we disobey, we grieve the Spirit and distance ourselves from the fellowship we were created to enjoy.
In verse 23, Jesus adds another dimension: “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.” Here the language shifts from commandments to “words,” logos in Greek, referring to the entire teaching, the complete revelation of Christ. To love Jesus is to treasure everything He has said, not to pick what we like while ignoring what challenges us. And the promise is staggering: “We will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” The Father and the Son will take up residence in the life of the obedient believer. The word “abode” (monē) means a dwelling place, a permanent residence, not a temporary visit. This is the doctrine of the indwelling of God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dwelling in the heart of the believer through faith.
This connection between love and obedience is not unique to John 14. It runs throughout Scripture. Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”[1] John wrote, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”[2] Strong words. John does not say such a person is weak or immature. He says that such a person is a liar. A profession without obedience is false profession. James echoes the same principle: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”[3] Self-deception is the danger of those who claim to love Jesus but refuse to obey Him.
This does not mean that obedience is the basis of our salvation. We are saved by grace through faith, not by works. No amount of obedience can earn God’s favor, atone for sin, or merit eternal life. But obedience is the fruit of salvation, the evidence of genuine faith, and the proof of authentic love. Paul makes this clear: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”We are not saved by works, but we are saved to do good works. Grace produces obedience. Faith works through love.[4]
The motive for obedience is love, not fear. We do not obey to avoid punishment or earn approval. We obey because we love the One who first loved us. We obey because we trust that His commands are good, His ways are right, and His will is best. We obey because the Holy Spirit within us inclines our hearts toward God and enables what we could never do in our own strength. Obedience flows from a heart transformed by grace, not from duty imposed by law.
But let us be honest: obedience is costly. It requires denying self, taking up the cross daily, and following Jesus wherever He leads.[5] It means saying no to sin, even when sin is appealing. It means forgiving when we’d rather hold a grudge, serving when we’d rather be served, giving when we’d rather keep, and speaking truth when silence would be easier. Obedience often brings hardship, misunderstanding, and persecution. Jesus did not promise a comfortable life to those who follow Him. He promised tribulation[6] and warned that the world would hate His disciples as it hated Him.[7]
Yet He also promised that His yoke is easy and His burden is light,[8] not because obedience requires no effort, but because it is empowered by grace and brings the deep satisfaction of walking in fellowship with God. The paradox of the Christian life is that obedience is both demanding and delightful. It costs us everything, yet we count it joy. It requires sacrifice, yet we find that we gain far more than we give up. To obey Christ is to discover that His commandments are not burdensome,[9] because they lead us into the fullness of life He designed us to experience.
This Advent, examine the connection between your profession of love and your pattern of obedience. Do your actions align with your affections? Does your life reflect the lordship of the One you claim to love? If there is a gap, do not despair. Confess where you have failed, repent of your disobedience, and return to the path of loving obedience. God’s grace is sufficient, His Spirit is willing to empower you, and His promise stands: those who love Him and keep His Word will know His presence in ways that transform everything.
Prayer:
- Ask Jesus to align your heart with His Word and make obedience your joy.
- Confess where you have claimed to love Him while walking in disobedience, and pray for forgiveness, heart renewal, and Spirit empowerment to keep His commandments, letting your life prove the reality of your love.
Consider:
Identify one specific area where you have delayed or resisted obedience to God’s Word. It might be a command you know but have ignored, a sin you’ve tolerated, a relationship you need to restore, or a step of faith you’ve avoided. Commit today to take that step of obedience, not to earn God’s favor but to demonstrate your love for Him. Write down what you will do and when, then follow through in the power of the Holy Spirit.
[1] John 8:31
[2] 1 John 2:3-4
[3] James 1:22
[4] Galatians 5:6
[5] Luke 9:23
[6] John 16:33
[7] John 15:18
[8] Matthew 11:30
[9] 1 John 5:3
Robert C. Crowder Ministries 
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