Topical Bible: Love to Christ: Manifested in Obeying Him

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The concept of love for Christ is a central theme in Christian theology and practice, deeply rooted in the teachings of the New Testament. This love is not merely an emotional or abstract affection but is profoundly demonstrated through obedience to His commandments. The Berean Standard Bible provides several passages that illuminate this relationship between love and obedience.

Biblical Foundation

The Gospel of John emphasizes the connection between love for Christ and obedience. In John 14:15, Jesus states, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." This verse succinctly encapsulates the idea that genuine love for Christ is evidenced by a commitment to follow His teachings. The reciprocal nature of this relationship is further highlighted in John 14:21: "Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him."

The Role of the Holy Spirit

Obedience to Christ is not achieved through human effort alone but is facilitated by the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16-17, Jesus promises the Helper, the Spirit of truth, who will dwell with believers and be in them. The Holy Spirit empowers Christians to live in accordance with Christ's teachings, making obedience a natural outflow of a Spirit-filled life.

The Example of Christ

Christ Himself exemplified perfect obedience to the Father, serving as the ultimate model for believers. Philippians 2:8 describes how Jesus "humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross." This act of supreme obedience underscores the depth of His love for the Father and sets a precedent for believers to emulate.

The Fruit of Obedience

Obedience to Christ results in a life that bears fruit, reflecting the transformative power of His love. In John 15:10, Jesus assures, "If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love." This abiding relationship produces spiritual fruit, as described in Galatians 5:22-23, where love, joy, peace, and other virtues are listed as the fruit of the Spirit.

The Assurance of Love

The Apostle John further elaborates on the assurance that comes from loving Christ through obedience. In 1 John 2:3-5, he writes, "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. But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him." This passage underscores that obedience is both a test and a testament of genuine love for Christ.

The Call to Obedience

The call to obey Christ is a call to discipleship, where love is the motivating force. In Matthew 28:19-20, the Great Commission commands believers to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything Christ has commanded. This mission is rooted in love for Christ and a desire to see His kingdom advanced through faithful obedience.

In summary, love for Christ is intricately linked with obedience to His commandments. This obedience is not burdensome but is a joyful response to the love that Christ has first shown to believers. Through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, Christians are called to live lives that reflect their love for the Savior, manifesting in a commitment to His teachings and a life that bears witness to His transformative power.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 14:15,21,23
If you love me, keep my commandments.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether the Human Action of Christ could be Meritorious to Him?
... such as love Christ that He will be manifested to them ... loved of My Father, and I
will love him and will manifest Myself to him." Therefore Christ did not ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the human action of.htm

"One Thing Thou Lackest"
... He saw the love that Christ manifested toward the children brought ... the love of God,
his supreme love of self ... Christ made the only terms which could place the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 57 one thing thou.htm

The Saviour's Last Command.
... O that all who profess to love Christ, manifested such zeal in obeying him as to
be strange and singular men! How soon would every human being hear his Gospel! ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter iv the saviours last.htm

Hallowing Christ
... the tribe of Judah, and forgetting that whilst He is manifested in the ... They who have
the awe and the reverent love that knit them to Jesus Christ, and who ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/hallowing christ.htm

The Last Discourses of Christ - the Prayer of Consecration.
... which the condition was love to Christ, manifested in the ... of the present selfish
enjoyment of Christ's Personal Presence ... more power of showing their love to Him ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xi the last discourses.htm

Love's Triumph Over Sin
... a poor heart has strayed from Him, the mightier must be the forthputting of manifested
love, if it is ... Let us learn how the love of Christ, received into the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/loves triumph over sin.htm

"Let not Your Heart be Troubled"
... God was manifested in Him that He might be manifested in them. ... from sin; and those
who love Him will show their love by obedience ... It was heart work with Christ. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 73 let not your.htm

Trials to be Met.
... can be allowed to come in competition with the supreme affection which we owe to
him. This love to Christ must be manifested by obeying his commandments. ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter viii trials to be.htm

Attributes of Love.
... Christ has expressly made whole-hearted self-denial a ... an essential attribute of holiness
or love; that there ... of the self-indulgent spirit manifested by others ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xv attributes of love.htm

Palm Sunday
... of ordinary mortals while all the time he manifested the divine ... Not having tasted
God's love, they cannot impart it ... As Christ was cast to the lowest depths and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/palm sunday.htm