“This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you.” vs12

We are to love as we’ve been loved. This means that we must know the love of Christ, if we’re going to love people. Otherwise, we are practicing DEAD RELIGION. There is too much of this in our churches. Men come to us with morality and duty, but there’s no gospel to spring us forward. Thus, we judge our relationship with God by how we’re doing, rather than by what Christ has done. Thus, there’s no joy, no peace, and there’s secret enmity against Christ and the cross. We don’t want to serve Him, but we must. There’s no wind behind our sails and no power upon us. We’re left to ourselves, striving against Satan: Christian on the outside, but inwardly filled with love of the world, love of self, and self-righteous showmanship. There’s no genuine love for others, because we can’t see God’s love. We are far off.

This is only remedied by the gospel coming to us in power. Then, we see justification by faith and full acceptance. Now, we know that our sins are forgiven, so we can love accordingly [Rom 8:1-6]. We have full acceptance, so we can live acceptably by the Spirit. Romans 8:2, “Because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” This is the life of faith: God works in us, while we look to Christ’s finished work upon the cross - how He satisfied justice for our sins and earned the Holy Spirit! This is the life and peace that He promised. Romans 8:6, “For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.”

Secondly, here is the test of friendship with Christ, we obey Him.

John 15:14 “You are My friends if you do what I command you.”

We do what He commands by the power of the Spirit; it is not just talk, but we get tangible proof of God’s grace to us by obedience. It is not just desiring, but it is proving the sincerity of our love, so we give [2 Cor 8:11]. It is not just being forgiven, but we have the gumption to forgive others. We overcome hardships, trials, and errors to stay united to His church, because His love has given us an example. We are not all about our comforts. We also desire the good of others, and show it.

This test of faith… this showing and proving… is the power that Christ gives His disciples [2 Thess 1:11]. He doesn’t just teach us with words, but He writes it on our hearts and causes obedience [Titus 2:11-15]. Get this power, and show yourself in your character to be His disciple and friend. Your deeds will prove you. Show your faith by your works. James 2:20, “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead also?”

Thirdly, the Father will give us fruit bearing.

John 15:16, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.”

He will enable us to do what Christ commanded, and we must have confidence in His power! We cannot be slack here and be happy. We must have boldness, assurance, and confidence; it is not humble to doubt GOD’S ABILITY. He can make us holy. Psalms 62:2 “He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken.” The blind men honored Him by believing that He is able, and we must have the same courage of faith, when our back is against the wall. It doesn’t matter how sinful we are or how dastardly the trial: We can do all things through Christ, even endure torture and hardship for His name [Heb 11:35-37]. We are not weaklings, or Chocolate Soldiers who melt in battle. We are strong and armed with God’s power [2 Tim 2:1]. We are mighty through His name.

Take confidence, child of God. The Father will hear our prayers for Christ’s likeness, and we must go to Him boldly. He must transform us. Therefore, go to His throne with confident humility. Ask, and it will be done [John 16:23-24].