What does "does not love Me" reveal about our relationship with Christ? The Key Text “Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me.” (John 14:24) Unpacking the Phrase “Does Not Love Me” • Love for Christ is not merely sentimental; Jesus immediately ties genuine love to obedience. • Negation (“does not”) signals absence, not deficiency—there is either love that proves itself in obedience or there is none. • Because Christ speaks for the Father, failure to love Him equals rejection of the Father’s authority (cf. John 5:23). Love and Obedience—The Unbreakable Bond • John 14:15: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • 1 John 2:3-4: “By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” • Obedience is not the means of salvation but the unmistakable evidence of saving faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). What “Does Not Love Me” Reveals about Our Relationship with Christ 1. Separation rather than fellowship – Lack of love shows the heart remains outside the abiding union Christ promises (John 15:4-6). 2. Rejection of His lordship – Without love, His words carry no moral weight, exposing a self-ruled life (Luke 6:46). 3. Disconnection from the Father – Jesus’ words are the Father’s; spurning the Son means spurning the Father who sent Him (John 12:48-50). 4. Spiritual blindness – Love opens eyes to Christ’s glory (2 Corinthians 4:6); its absence leaves the heart darkened (John 3:19-20). 5. Absence of the promised Helper – The Spirit is given to those who love and obey (John 14:16-17). Where love is missing, the Comforter’s indwelling is absent, and so is assurance. Diagnostic Markers in Daily Life • Habitual disregard for Scripture’s commands. • Selective obedience—choosing what is convenient while dismissing what costs. • Indifference toward Christ’s church and His people (1 John 3:14). • Lack of repentance when confronted with sin. The Gospel Remedy • Love is “poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5); it begins with new birth (John 3:3). • We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Gazing on the cross stirs authentic affection that blooms into obedience. • Repentance and faith unite us to Christ; obedience then becomes the joyful overflow, not a burdensome duty (1 John 5:3). Putting It into Practice • Regularly measure affections: Do Christ’s words shape choices, plans, and priorities? • Invite Scripture to challenge any area of selective obedience. • Cultivate love by abiding in His word daily (John 15:7) and gathering with His people (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Depend on the Spirit to empower obedience that springs from genuine love (Galatians 5:22-25). “Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.” (Ephesians 6:24) |
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