If You Love Me You Will Keep My Commandments Commentary – John 14:15 Explained (Watch)
Does The Bible Say, If You Love Jesus You Will Keep the Law?
Actually, it does…..NOT.
The Religious Deception: Religion loves to talk about keeping commandments so we can remain close to God, and as such it improperly tosses around verses like John 14:15 “if you love me keep my commandments” and John 14:23 “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching”. This message totally undermines being saved by ‘hearing and believing with faith’ and suggests that after we are saved it’s up to us to keep in good standing with God. It says our behavior is now what draws us close to God and if we are not obedient to the law and God’s commandment then God will turn from us, and maybe even curse us. Today, you will get the real meaning about keeping commandments if we love God!
The Truth From a Grace Perspective: In this video, we discover these commandments Jesus is referring to in John 14 are not laws. The same author makes that abundantly clear just one chapter later in John 15:12 as he writes “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you”. While God does not want us to sin he never commands Christians to be under the law, but rather He tells us just the opposite. We are free from the law, not under the law, not supervised by the law. He wants us to seek our righteousness from Christ alone, not part Jesus and part law. Yes, the law is perfect and holy, but the problem is Christians being under the law which no one will be found righteous. The law came in that sin would increase (Romans 5:20) so apparently, the law has no power in leading us away from sinning and actually produces even more of it. Romans 2:4 tells us it’s actually God’s kindness that leads us away from sin and Titus 2:12 says grace teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions.
Also, Jesus told His disciples to teach people everything that He taught them, and we don’t see any of them teaching law, but rather we see them teaching a message of love and being saved by grace, apart from works, and apart from law – less any of us boast like those religious hypocrites used to (and still do today).
If You Love Me You Will Keep My Commandments.
Surprise “Commandments” are Not “Laws”
Take Away:
John 14:15 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It reads, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” This statement was made by Jesus Christ during what is commonly referred to as the Farewell Discourse, a long conversation Jesus had with his disciples just before his crucifixion. It’s crucial to consider this verse in its broader context to fully understand its implications.
My suggestion is to interpret this verse in a way that does not directly reference the commandments given to Moses in the Old Testament, often referred to as the Mosaic law. Instead, it centers on two primary “commandments” that Jesus himself emphasized during his ministry: to believe in him and to love others.
- Believe in Jesus: In John 14:1, just a few verses earlier, Jesus says, “Believe in God; believe also in me.” This belief is not just intellectual agreement with the fact of his existence, but also trust in him, in his teachings, his way of life, and the salvation he offers. It means accepting his identity as the Son of God, and the Savior of mankind.
- Love others as he loved us: Jesus explicitly stated this commandment in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” The standard of love Jesus set here is the selfless, sacrificial love that he demonstrated throughout his life, and ultimately in his death on the cross.
John 14:15, when viewed in light of these commandments, carries a profound message about the nature of Christian discipleship. Jesus is saying that those who truly love him will demonstrate that love through their faith in him and their selfless love for others. It’s not about rigidly following a set of rules, but about transformation of the heart that leads to a life reflecting the love and character of Jesus himself. This interpretation also aligns with other teachings of Jesus and the New Testament writers about the importance of faith in Jesus and love for others (e.g., Matthew 22:37-40; Galatians 5:6).
If you liked this video you may also enjoy these:
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What Did James Really Mean by ‘Faith Without Works is Dead’?
Would God Really Spit a Christian out of His Mouth? Lukewarm Christians Debate
The Sabbath. Oh, it’s not What Religion Tell us
When Jesus said “Keep My Commandments” He was not referring to the law
Religion says tithe, but what does God say?
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13 Comments
Hey Mike. My dad just passed away from covid and I have been listening to your videos and reading your messages. They help me get through the day when I start feeling myself getting bitter over him being taken so soon so thank you. I know he’s more alive than he’s ever been.
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Yes, now, he surely knows Jesus in a way that none of us do. I am sure you know, you will see him again. 🙂 Thanks for your kind words.
I don’t think I have ever heard anyone quote Jesus and then say this teaching undermines ones understanding of being saved. So Jesus go it wrong. Hmm I think not.
Glenn, you can hurl combative comments, or we can discuss the video with good intent.
We can both agree that Jesus said “if you love me you will keep my commands”.
As best I can tell, you’re not willing to acknowledge that Jesus never once made a single reference to the Law. You are assuming that Jesus said something that he did not say. He did not say “if you love me you will keep the law”. If you want to have a discussion centered around there, let’s do so. But I think you’re going have a difficult time putting legs on that comment, especially in light of the following….…
Jesus literally spelled out Word for Word what those commands are when he said ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you’.
I believe you have to perform a great deal of mental gymnastics in order to make the case that love and law or the same. Jesus literally said a NEW COMMAND I give you, love others as I have loved you. New. Not the old combined with the new.
Yes, the New command is the Last command re: love. He initiates love (grace, mercy to me and through me with eyes “on my heart” to see from HIS perspective), and each believer gladly responds as work of the ministry is customized from within. Comparative myself to someone else, like a Pharisee, is not what I am to do. He shows me how He sees me (complete), and the inner healed attitudes walk me by faith to the next steps as to how His New Creation workmanship looks like as His love to me overflows to others. My gory story, that took Him to the Cross, is to His glory, not mine. Time after time, He frees me from previous attitudes of the heart resulting in egoic activity in seeking the emptiness of vain glory. Bein In Christ means I am rich with liberty in what really matters eternally while passing through this temporary existence.
So many things you said are incorrect. Jesus he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Ten Commandments is the law especially the last six. Your interpretation gives a green light to the “red ink” Christians to pick and choose Gods word, which is truth to obey.
It is true, Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfil it. Who is arguing with that? No us!
The Scriptures teach us:
For Christ is the END of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes – Romans 10:4
So, if you are debating this, it’s not with me. You are debating Jesus.
Side Note: If you are implying that you keep the 10 commandments then it’s clear that you truly have a distorted understanding of how perfect and holy it really is.
Who respects the law more? The one who thinks it’s really easy to do, if you just try, and when you mess us, just ask for forgiveness, and everything is fine? Or is it the one who knows the law is perfect, and no one will be found righteous through it (rom 3:20)? That the law is a ministry of condemnation and death (2 Cor 3:9)? That the law came in so sin would increase (Rom 5:20)? That the law cause s every kind of sin (like coveting) Rom 7:8-9?
The law is an ALL or NOTHING deal. You either keep it perfectly, or you are guilty of it ALL (James 2:10). The law perfects nothing (Hebrews 7:19).
So, Kevin, you do have a choice. You can chase after the law as a means of daily living and keeping you from sin, or you can choose Jesus for both. Jesus is more that able to teach you to avoid sin, and to live an upright godly life.
So, no, Jesus did not abolish the law, but he did release believers from the law (Rom 7:6) and now that has come we are no long under the law (Gal 3:25).
Let me give you some advice, because you can NOT date the law and be married to to Jesus at the same time. That, Kevin, is spiritual adultery.
Just like human law, when two individuals are married. If she dates another man while he is still alive, it is adultery……
[Romans 7:2-3] For the married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he is alive; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is alive she gives herself to another man, she will be called an adulteress;
But she will not be committing adultery if her husband died. That’s because she is Dan free from this human law
[Romans 7:3] but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress if she gives herself to another man.
It’s no different in the spiritual world. You are committing spiritual adultery, if you are trying to be married to the law in Jesus at the same time. You are not invited to both covenants.
[Romans 7:4] Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in regard to the Law through the body of Christ
Why?????
[Romans 7:4 continued] so that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
So clearly, you need to die to the law, to be joined to Jesus. Because it’s only van that you can bear fruit for God. Which means, to the extent that you’re trying to strap the law around your neck, you are bearing fruit for death, not God.
I know it seems super religious and righteous to chase after the law. That’s the deception. You’re trying to get your perfection, daily guidance, and spiritual nourishment from a system rather than a person. You are not convinced that Jesus is enough to keep you from sin, to make you righteous. I certainly hope you will reconsider your position.
If we really obey the new commandment that Jesus gave, we will keep the 10 commandments. I’m still a work in process, so I can’t say much else. I fail in a lot of areas.
Still a work and progress…….
Fail in a lot of areas…….
Those two comments alone should put an end to this debate. Do you realize how much trouble you are in if you “obey the commandment”?
The wages of Prestons sin is DEATH – Rom 6:23
If Preston keeps the ENTIRE law buy stumbles at ONE point, he is guilty of it ALL – James 2:10
You seem to be missing the point that the law is not a do your best and all will be okay. The law means you need to get 100% or 0%. So buy your own confession, you fail, and your punishment will be eternal death. So you might want to reconsider this idea that you can fail in a lot of areas, but as long as your work in progress, everything is going to be OK under the law. Everything would not be OK. And for this reason Preston, you’re not even remotely qualified to suggest that people should just try to be a work in progress when it comes to keeping the Law. You are only qualified to lead them to Jesus. No one who can admit they are not able to keep the law is qualified to be pushing it.
PS Jesus never gave a command to obey the mosaic law.
Truth is so refreshing! This was so good! I have often struggled with this as it seemed to be a contradiction of Grace.Thank You.
Amen 🙂
Mike C, I’m sorry I’m having trouble with my messaging. I didn’t mean that in a legalistic way but in a spiritual sense. I can’t keep the law, and I can’t bear fruit without Christ. I can’t earn my way to heaven. I just meant that if I loved, then I wouldn’t harm others. I wouldn’t lust at their wives or steal from them, I wouldn’t hate them committing murder in my heart. I’m not talking about me physically trying to live by the law.
Mike C, if you have time can you email me please. I am in agreement with you on this matter, I just had a tough time communicating what I meant. But I am going through some struggles and would like to ask you for your insight on a couple of things.