“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
—Jesus
How important to you is faithfulness in a relationship?
You would think that this one profoundly simple statement alone by Jesus in John 14:15 would be sufficient for us, to cover all areas of theological discussion and debate. Grace versus legalism, holiness, faith and works, thou shalt do this, thou shalt not do that, etc.
The truth is, what Jesus said here should be enough for us.
I am committed and faithful to my wife not because I am commanded to be, but because I love her. No one has to command me to draw near to her and spend time with her. I want to be with her.
True love is faithful.
So why does Jesus so often get far less of our love, faithfulness, time and devotion than He should?
While having lunch with a friend recently, he confessed an ongoing "struggle" with a particular sexual sin that many men (and women) practice today.
At the end of our lunch, I asked him; "Have you recently committed adultery on your wife?"
He said, "no."
"Why not?" I asked.
"Grace" was his reply.
I said, "Shouldn't it be because you love her?"
So then, shouldn't we who claim to love Jesus Christ, much more demonstrate our love through faithfulness to Him?
First, I want to correct the false notion that the ongoing practice of surfing the web for pornography is a "struggle." It's not a struggle, it's a choice. And it is sin. Take the word "struggle" and put it in a bag and take it to the street. It's a lie. Eliminate it from your vocabulary today.
What does God's Word say?
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to
man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond
what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape,
that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from
idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:13-14)
In the film, "Fireproof" the lead character had been unfaithful to his wife primarily through an insatiable lust for online pornography. However, once he gave his heart to God, he was convicted to take a baseball bat and beat the crap out of his computer and then throw it in the trash can. He repented of his sin and walked away from it.
I reminded my friend at lunch the other day of this scene in the movie, and challenged him to do the same, if that's what it takes for him to "flee from idolatry."
Some of you may already be accusing me of legalism. But you would be wrong. I am not promoting perfectionism because, this side of Heaven, none of us will ever be perfect.
But in giving the Church the Great Commission at the end of the book of Matthew, besides baptizing them, what did Jesus say was part of making disciples?
If you think teaching Christian disciples to obey everything that Jesus commanded is legalism, then you would be accusing Jesus Himself of legalism.
True love for God means being obedient and faithful to Him in all things.
Sadly, many people today who claim to be Christian have disgraced Grace by teaching that you can do whatever you want to since you're "under grace." That you can supposedly go out and continue in the same sinful, hellish, immoral life that God commanded you to repent from, and still think you're "saved."
Watch out.
Here are some verses, spoken directly by Jesus, to prayerfully ponder:
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who
abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do
nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is
withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they
are burned.” (John 15:5-6)
“These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.” (Revelation 2:18-23)
If faithfulness, obedience and repentance were not required of Christians by God, as some would have you believe, please consider why Jesus would say to one of His churches, "Nevertheless, I have a few things against you."
The stern warning given to repent of sexual immorality by Jesus to the church in Revelation 2:18-23 should be extremely sobering and convicting to any Christians who are living a sexually immoral lifestyle today.
Yes, we are saved by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9). Absolutely.
But faithfulness and obedience to God are still required of those who profess to be true followers of Jesus. James wrote that "faith without works is dead." (See James 2:14-24) True faith in God manifests itself in good works, or keeping His commandments.
The Apostle John wrote that the only true test or proof of knowing and loving God, and being "in Him" is if we obey His commandments.
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.” (1 John 2:3-5)
Many today teach false doctrine, suggesting that continuing in your sin is okay in the life of a Christian because you are now "under grace." As if you're totally free to live like Hell because of grace. Here is what God's Word says of these false teachers:
“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.” (2 Peter 2:19-21)
It always comes back to love.
If I say I love my wife, but I am out sleeping with other women, I am liar. If I surf porn, I am demonstrating that I hate my wife. It's the polar opposite of love; it's selfish, self-centered, self-idolatry.
But even much more so, if I say "I love God" and "I know Him" but I am committing spiritual adultery against Him by consistently leading a sinful, unrepentant lifestyle, I am a liar, and there is no truth in me at all.
The most frightening words any person who mistakenly considers themselves to be a true follower of Christ will ever hear are these from Jesus:
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we
not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name
perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.
Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:22-24)
Do you truly love Jesus?
Love is faithful.
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
