1st John 5:3 | Loving God means keeping his commandments [obeying], and his commandments are not burdensome.
Earlier this week, we read 1st John 5:3 to learn that people who love God also do what?
1st John 5:3 tells us that keeping God’s commands isn’t burdensome for people who love Him. What does this mean?
John 14:23-24 | Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.”
According to Jesus, who obeys? Who doesn’t obey?
Mark 14:35-36 | He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
In this passage, Jesus is praying about something God asked Him to do. What hard thing did God ask of Jesus?
Philippians 2:8 | He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Who is Philippians 2:8 speaking of?
1st John 5:3 | Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.
What does loving God mean, according to 1st John 5:3?
Why does the Bible equate loving God with obedience?
Over the next few weeks, we’re digging into to the two Great Commandments–
Matthew 22:37-40 | Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
To understand how to love God and love others, there’s no better place to look than to Jesus’ own example as He was a human here on Earth. After all, Jesus tells his followers we should follow His example [John 13:15]; that’s really what following Jesus as Lord is all about.
Read MoreRomans 8:29a | For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son
2nd Corinthians 3:18b | And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
Read MoreJohn 13:15 | For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
Who is speaking in John 13:15? [If you’re not sure, head to John 13 to read the verses around this one]
