THE FRUIT OF OBEDIENCE 1 john 5.3

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Colby on February 5, 2013 at 1:13pm

        A central theme repeated throughout the New Testament writings of John the Apostle  is that we demonstrate our love for God by obeying his commandments: 1 John 5:3; John 14:15; John 14:21,23; 1 John 2:3; 2 John 1:6.  But, he's not talking about obedience in a legalistic sense, of slavishly conforming to prescribed religious rules, rituals and practices.

"The observant reader cannot but be impressed, in reading the Gospel of John, with the place
the Son takes in obedience to His Father's will. ... We learn of the Son's obedience where He
says, 'I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (John 5: 30). [1]

        In the Gospel of John, Jesus asks us to "remain" in his love, just as he remains in his father's love.

What does love have to do with it?  Everything!

• Paul tell us that love is the first fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
•  He also says: "The love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5.5).
• Matthew's Gospel tells us, "by their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" (7:16)
• Love is the paramount Christian virtue enduring beyond even faith and hope in the age to come. (1 Cor 13:13)

        Jesus demonstrated his love for us by obeying his father's will by dying on the cross so that we might be reconciled with God; so that we might have certain victory over sin and eternal life.

        How do we "remain" in God's love?  Not passively, by doing nothing, like sitting in a car in stop-and-go traffic.  He calls on each of us, through our obedience, in how we live out his teachings, to be a powerful witness to the world of the transformative power of God's amazing grace and incredible love for us.

        Jesus says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love  for one another” (John 13:35) and "whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love". (1 John 4:8)

* * *

[1] Excerpted from The Obedience of Jesus Christ, an article on stempublishing.com.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tammy on February 5, 2013 at 6:19pm

Awesome

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Seek on February 6, 2013 at 11:59am

I've struggled so much with "obedience" as in...what is it?

I felt God once told me "wait" and therefore I waited...and I'm waiting, and waiting.  I felt He once told me to tell mom I loved her, and that being a very difficult thing with my upbringing and family history, it was so very foreign and awkward.  I simply told Him I was not ABLE to do this of my own strength as it was so foreign to me and I needed HIM to make a way and help me.  And within a month, I was able to do this.  And have done it more since.  It's not as awkward as it once was.

Yet it is the other things that plague me, such as when God says in His Word, do not get angry, do not be bitter, love your neighbor, be kind, do good, etc. 

Well....I still get angry over things.  Bitterness keeps cropping up and I keep shoving it back and praying for God's help not to let it overtake me.  I try to love my neighbor, then that jerk of a neighbor (sorry Lord) who cut me off in traffic causes that first reaction (anger) to happen all over again, and then I start telling myself....you don't know what was on that guy's mind, maybe he didn't see you, etc. and I sheepishly say "Sorry Lord".  And I try to be kind and do good until some more hurt overtakes me and I find I'm too busy licking my own wounds to help anyone else.

Are those what one would consider commands and is it so much we're being disobedient if we get angry or bitter at times, etc. or is it just the human nature we have to keep overriding?

There are THE commands, and then there are the "grey area" commands, and there are those commands of how to live that are more habit than anything, and habits need to be broken before they can be laid down. 

• ▶ Reply