God’s Commandments and Abiding in Christ
Ok before we start I said that I would tell you the book we will be working on next. Colossians will be our next 40 days of studies, starting in 11 days. Also if I have not responded to any of your post please forgive me. I am still trying to find a place to live and it is very hard here. There are very few places to live here. Please be tolerant and I will answer everyone’s comments.
God’s Commandments and Abiding in Christ
Obedience to God’s commandments and abiding in Christ go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other, In (John 15:10) we read were Jesus said “if you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” So we see, that the Ten Commandments are connected to love. Jesus made it very clear in His teachings (Matt. 19:16-19). The first 4 commandments reveal how we should love God, and the last six reveal how we should love our fellow man. John wrote of this close connection in his first letter (1 John 2:3-6). John clearly links our relationship with Jesus, His commandments, love, and abiding in Him together. He says that if we are abiding in Christ, we will be “walking” or living, as He lived. Why? Because we will be growing more and more like Jesus in love and character, our lives will be lives of obedience to God’s Ten Commandments.
In fact it was Jesus who before His incarnation gave Moses the Ten Commandments. When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses revealed Himself as “I AM” (Ex. 3:14). Then, Jesus stated that He was the “I AM” in (John 8:58).
So why is there so much space in the Bible devoted to God’s standards for us? Just like a parent is with their children, boundaries and standards must be set. If we did not know God’s will in these areas, we would not choose to let Christ manifest that aspect of His character in us.
Supporting Scripture; (2 Cor. 3:3), (Eph. 4:22-32), (Matt. 22:35-40)
Personal Reflection and Discussion
- How did Jesus connect abiding in Him and love with the Ten Commandments?
- How do you plan to apply this devotional to your life?
- Where does God write the Ten Commandments, today?
Prayer Activities
- Call your Partner and discuss this devotional.
- Contact the people on your prayer list and let them know you are still praying for them.
- Pray with then and ask for the following;
- For God to fill your heart with His nature.
- For God to write the Ten Commandments in your heart today.
- For the individuals on your pray list.
- That we continue to seek the Holy Spirit
- For today use the following Bible verse in your prayer (Ps. 119:126)
About bobh6
40 Days of study 
All of 1 John talks about this topic; a good Sabbath’s read. Even if you don’t read it all, skimming through you find some clear and beautiful sections that could stand on their own.
Love how it says in 4:9-17 (my light paraphese) The love of God was manifested to us through Jesus sent into the world, that we might live through Him. Here is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us, and sent Jesus to pay for our sins. If God so loved us, we also should love one another. We have not seen God at any time, but if we love like God loves, we know that God lives in us and we in Him (Judio), and His love is made perfect in us. Therefore, we give testimony of the love that God has for us. In this perfect love we gain boldness and don’t fear the judgement day, because we know we are one with God, and not of this world.
Jesus said it best, “If you love me keep my commandments.”
I enjoy reading 1 John and I agree that it comes down to love and we keep His commandments not because we are seeking salvation, but out of love for Him.
You are so right Amalia. That one sentence says it all and it is worth repeating.”If you love me, keep my commandments.” So simple. so straightforward. And yet how many times do we hear, the commandments are no longer important. They were nailed to the cross, etc. If it was so important that Jesus lived by the commandments, why then would He do away with them. Plain and simple, He wouldn’t.
The commandments were written by the hand of God Himself. The only reason to say the commandments no longer apply, is to justify not living by them. The last time I looked we could not kill, we could not take another man’s wife, and we still teach not to worship false Gods. We could go down all 10 if needed but it sound like they still apply to us today.
As long as they know we keep the commandments because they’re good not for salvation.
The key is to do it out of love for God and people and not motivated out of selfishness just for our salvation.
Love is the key to everything. and the worst part is to many times it is the hardest thing we can do.