Big Idea: God’s love is seen in regenerating our hearts which causes us to love and delight in keeping God’s commands.
- What the __________________ of God is _________________.
1 John 2:4 (ESV) — 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
John 14:6 (ESV) 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
When Jesus takes residence in our inner man, this produces good works. It must. It is the very reason why Jesus came to earth. The fruit of God’s love is seen in a new ability to delight in and keep God’s Word/commandments.
- What the ______________ of God __________________.
1John 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him…
The principle aim of God’s love being poured into our hearts is that we would obey God’s word.
ἀληθῶς ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ τετελείωται
Truly, in this one, the love of God, is being perfected.
Teteleiotai: to bring to completion, to fulfill, to carry out.
John 19:30 (ESV) — 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished (tetelistai),” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
God’s love is God’s uncompromising commitment to our spiritual well-being that compels God to act on our behalf for our flourishing.
Genesis 2:15–17 (ESV) — 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Proverbs 6:23 (ESV) — 23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
Proverbs 12:28 (ESV) — 28 In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.
Psalm 16:11 (ESV) — 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Romans 7:12 (ESV) — 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
In Jesus, and in the indwelling Spirit, God gives us the capacity to see his commandments as good and to delight in keeping them. (2Cor. 5:17)
Questions to Consider:
- How is God’s love and keeping God’s commandments connected?
- Why is it important for us to understand that obeying God is a fruit of God’s work in us and not the cause of it?
- How is your love for your children demonstrated? How is this different form and the same as God’s love for us?
- How is God calling you to obey and what is holding you back from see the goodness of God in your obedience?
