What Did Jesus Mean When He Said “He Who Loves Me Will Keep My Commandments”?
When Jesus said “he who loves me will keep my commandments,” we must consider 1 John as the doctrinal teaching. Jesus was referring to the “new commandment.” This is not an outward demand, but something that is true for those who believe in Christ.
The New Commandment
The new commandment is different from the “letter” and the “law” in that it is not required of us, it is installed in us! It is Christ Himself as the Eternal life (1 John 5:11-12). In John’s epistles to the Churches, he teaches us that the new commandment is to believe on the name of Jesus Christ and to love one another, and he says that this commandment is “true in us” as it is in Christ, because the “darkness passed and the true light now shines” (1 John 2:7-8).
To love the brethren is the same thing as believing the Gospel, because we recognize other sons of God by their faith and credit them with the benefits of being in Christ, just as we stand in the same way by the same faith (Galatians 3:26-29). This is our practical love towards the body of Christ, causing us to cooperate with God and His working in each other’s lives (1 John 4:7-12). .
The new commandment is not burdensome. This is because the New Commandment is not something we do; it is the Eternal life, which is Christ Himself. We know that it is true in us because we believe that He came by water and by blood and that He is the propitiation, not only for our sins but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 5:6-13). A believer will acknowledge the faith of another believer. If someone professes the testimony of Christ, it is because they have the Spirit bearing witness that they have believed God’s testimony concerning His Son and are therefore born of God (1 John 5:1). We cannot deny their salvation by faith alone apart from works without denying our own. I may not like someone because their behavior is obnoxious, but if they profess the testimony of Christ accurately, I am to distinguish them from antichrists by what they confess. This is how Paul knew that the sinful believers in Corinth were actually brothers and sisters. He said the testimony of Christ was confirmed in them because they were enriched in all utterance and knowledge (1 Corinthians 1:4-9). The utterance to speak the doctrine of Christ accurately is the evidence of faith and is our assurance that we can have eternal life, according to 1 John 5. Again, I cannot deny you what I rely on myself to know that I am saved! In contrast, the antichrists in the book of 1 John did not recognize the children of God and went out from them while denying the Person and work of Jesus Christ yet boasting that they had no sin. We are not antichrists, even if we are sinners. We believe in the blood of Jesus Christ, who is the propitiation for our sins and the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2). This is the basis of our love, which is just the flip side of our faith. Just as the sin in 1 John is to deny Jesus Christ and to hate the brethren (like Cain), the practice of righteousness is to believe in Jesus Christ and recognize the brethren, and it all comes down to whether or not we believe the Gospel! Someone who believes the gospel for themselves will recognize those who believe it and identify them as brothers. This is the evidence of Christ in us, working through us to love others and to live for Him (1 John 5:3).
Keywords: Christ, commandments, love, belief, Gospel, faith
I. Introduction
A. Jesus’ statement on keeping His commandments (John 14:15)
II. The New Commandment
A. The doctrinal teaching of 1 John
B. The difference between the new commandment and the “letter” and the “law”
C. The new commandment is installed in us through Christ Himself as the Eternal life
III. The New Commandment in Action
A. John’s epistles to the Churches
B. The new commandment is to believe on the name of Jesus Christ and to love one another
C. The commandment is “true in us” as it is in Christ
D. Loving the brethren is the same as believing the Gospel
E. Our practical love towards the body of Christ
IV. Keeping Jesus’ Commandments
A. Believing in Him and loving one another in a practical way
B. Holding fast to the doctrine of Christ
C. Not being moved away from it
(1 John 2:3-6, 1 John 3:23-24, 1 John 4:20-21, 2 John 1:5-6)