John 14:
15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
It’s a statement of fact....not a threat ....try reading in that way...
It’s NOT a call to return to the “ WEAK and USELESS” Law that can only “ Stir up Sin”
The Bible says God gave the Law so that “SIN MIGHT I N C R E A S E ! “
Why would Jesus promote more Sinning? Why would you ?
Here’s a hint.....Jesus left us with ONLY TWO Commandments —#1 BELIEVE #2 LOVE
The Law is burdensome.....Jesus said His Commandments were NOT “ Burdensome”.....and the ain’t, if you have the Holy Spirit in you ...
How do you get that “ Holy Spirit” in you ? Simple.See and admit that you are a Lost Sinner That MUST have a Savior ( only a CONTRITE Heart , which is a Gift Of God ,will bring you to “ that” Saving Insight ) then Turn to God ( the ONLY Type Of REPENTANCE that will Save you) with Faith in Jesus Christ......
Right there, you got the Whole Magilla —- it will make you fit for Heaven...#1 was the Conviction Of Sin by the Holy Spirit ( “ Nobody can come to God lest the Spirit draw him”..... that “ Drawing” is the Conviction in your heart that you are a Lost Sinner who needs a Savior ) #2 was the only actual type of “Repentance” That will SAVE you, which is Turning to God ( TURN to ME , and “ I” will Turn to you).The OTHER type of “ Repentance” which is the sorrow and guilt for Sin and the determination to “ do better” BECAUSE you are Saved, not in order to GET Saved , will occur in the Walk Of Faith because at the exact same instant that you receive your TOTAL FORGIVENESS for ALL SINS ,God also grants you a NEW HEART that takes the “ Fun” out of Sin and makes Sin Repulsive.....it is part of God’s Promise to “ TRANSFORM” you into the very Image Of His Son.Sometimes it can take a while.....it’s ALL God’s Doing.....
“ WE” can “ CHANGE” that Outer Man that your Church Buddies can see and nod their heads in approval of. Only GOD can “TRANSFORM”, that Inner Man , though.The ONUS for Behavior Changes, improvements in your Morality —- in other words, Good Fruit, etc ....yes , that Onus is upon God’s Mighty Shoulders —- just the Way He Wants it.
God will “ Finish the Good Work that HE started”, if you do things HIS Way .As Paul told us —you must Finish this Christian Walk the Same Way that you started it. FAITH.PLUS NOTHING . It’s just like the Song says, when you are talking about Salvation( and I am speaking of Salvation ONLY here) , it’s “ Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus”...... God Bless.....