- Obedience is tied in knowing God and loving Him
I John 2:5 we read, “But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in Him. This is how we know we are in Him” (NIV)
There’s the obedient man. The obedient man obeys God’s word and knows God and loves God.
Remember: Jesus Christ came to earth to reveal God and to show us how to draw near to God. Therefore, to know God, we must draw near to Jesus and follow the example He left us. We must follow the Word of Christ; we must keep the Word of Christ living exactly as He lived.
The more we draw near Him and obey His word and please Him, the more we learn about Him and love Him.
II. Obedience Brings Blessing
Note the words, “My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
What a blessing to be love by God the father. What a blessing both the Father and Christ come to abide in the believer in the person of the Holy Spirit. All three live or dwell within believer.
When we obey God, the love of God will enrich us greatly, as there is no such thing as obeying Him and not being blessed. He does not operate that way. Blessing follows obedience.
III. Obedience is not optional for believers
Jesus Christ simply states the fact: “If you love me you will keep my commandments. Jesus is not giving here an optional obedience. Take note: “if you love me, then [optional] obey what I command you.” He is saying that the man who truly loves Him will obey His commandments.
To the believers there is no option. He loves Jesus; therefore, he obeys His commands. It means we follow them and treasure them.
In 1John 2:3-4 we read, “We know that we have come to know Him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.