Introduction. “Jesus began His ministry at about thirty years of age” (Lk. 3:21-23) when John baptized Him (Mt. 3:13-17; Mk. 1:9-11), thus “revealing Him to Israel” (Jn. 1:29-34). After He was baptized to “fulfill all righteousness,” God said, “You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
What was so different about Jesus? Why was God more pleased with Jesus than any other man or woman who had ever lived? He was sinless! He had prepared himself to become the sacrifice that would save the world. He “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15). This alone allowed God to make “Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2Cor. 5:21). Jesus knew no sin! He was tempted like we are, but without sin!
Jesus perfectly reflected what God sought to see in men. Every emotion, every thought, every word and deed met the perfect standard by which all will be measured. He told the apostles “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9), and also told John the Baptist, “blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Lk. 7:23). When Peter sought to honor Jesus by placing Him on the same level as Moses and Elijah, God again said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (Mt. 17:5-6). Far from honoring Him, Peter had diminished Him. There is no one like Him! But it was only because He kept God’s commands
What was so different about Jesus? Why was God more pleased with Jesus than any other man or woman who had ever lived? He was sinless! He had prepared himself to become the sacrifice that would save the world. He “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15). This alone allowed God to make “Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2Cor. 5:21). Jesus knew no sin! He was tempted like we are, but without sin!
Jesus perfectly reflected what God sought to see in men. Every emotion, every thought, every word and deed met the perfect standard by which all will be measured. He told the apostles “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9), and also told John the Baptist, “blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Lk. 7:23). When Peter sought to honor Jesus by placing Him on the same level as Moses and Elijah, God again said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (Mt. 17:5-6). Far from honoring Him, Peter had diminished Him. There is no one like Him! But it was only because He kept God’s commands
It was Jesus’ obedience and submission to God’s will that gave Him this special status. He was the perfect vessel unto honor, wholly sanctified and completely prepared for God’s use. That is why God was well pleased, and why “the Father has loved Me, ... as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.” Without that obedience, we would still be in our sins and Jesus would not be our Savior.
Thus, love is not based on grace alone, but upon obedience. Jesus made it clear that He could only abide in God’s love as long as He kept God’s commandments. There was no grace for Jesus! Yet as God’s love for Him was based upon His obedience, so also is His love for His disciples (us). “Even as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.” (Jn. 15:9-10).
Grace is only for those who obey because Jesus made His love conditional. “If” is a word of opportunity. Only “If” we keep His commands can we abide in His love. Grace is the one amazing difference between how we keep His commands and how He kept God’s. If we sin, we can still keep His commandments by immediate repentance and confession! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn. 1:9). As Jesus watches His disciples, He can only love those who keep His commandments. Even more importantly, regardless of how we feel or what we say, we can only show our love to Him in this same way. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me” (Jn. 14:15, 21). If we want to be one of the friends Jesus laid down His life for, we must do whatever He commands. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (Jn. 15:13-14)
Jesus could not remain God’s “beloved Son’ unless He kept all God’s commands and we can’t remain His friends unless we keep all His commands. Only by setting aside our own feelings and needs can we “abide in His love.“ If we allow our wants to supplant His, we don’t love Him and we don’t know God. “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1Jn. 2:3-4). Even our love for God is measure by this standard. If we don’t keep God’s commands, we don’t love Him either. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1Jn. 5:3-4)
Conclusion. Jesus wants us to be his friends. He wants to love us, and He wants us to love Him. But just as the unique love God had for Jesus was based on keeping His commands, Jesus unique love for His disciples bringing all the blessings of His sacrifice to them is also based on our keeping His commands. No matter what we might say, it is all meaningless unless we are in submission to Him every day in all things.
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn. 8:31-32)
Thus, love is not based on grace alone, but upon obedience. Jesus made it clear that He could only abide in God’s love as long as He kept God’s commandments. There was no grace for Jesus! Yet as God’s love for Him was based upon His obedience, so also is His love for His disciples (us). “Even as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.” (Jn. 15:9-10).
Grace is only for those who obey because Jesus made His love conditional. “If” is a word of opportunity. Only “If” we keep His commands can we abide in His love. Grace is the one amazing difference between how we keep His commands and how He kept God’s. If we sin, we can still keep His commandments by immediate repentance and confession! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn. 1:9). As Jesus watches His disciples, He can only love those who keep His commandments. Even more importantly, regardless of how we feel or what we say, we can only show our love to Him in this same way. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me” (Jn. 14:15, 21). If we want to be one of the friends Jesus laid down His life for, we must do whatever He commands. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (Jn. 15:13-14)
Jesus could not remain God’s “beloved Son’ unless He kept all God’s commands and we can’t remain His friends unless we keep all His commands. Only by setting aside our own feelings and needs can we “abide in His love.“ If we allow our wants to supplant His, we don’t love Him and we don’t know God. “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1Jn. 2:3-4). Even our love for God is measure by this standard. If we don’t keep God’s commands, we don’t love Him either. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1Jn. 5:3-4)
Conclusion. Jesus wants us to be his friends. He wants to love us, and He wants us to love Him. But just as the unique love God had for Jesus was based on keeping His commands, Jesus unique love for His disciples bringing all the blessings of His sacrifice to them is also based on our keeping His commands. No matter what we might say, it is all meaningless unless we are in submission to Him every day in all things.
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn. 8:31-32)