John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” is probably the most well known verse in the bible. God loves the sinner so much that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. But when we give our lives to God through Jesus Christ, we must learn to live in God’s love. To love God is to keep his commandments. Jesus is our example. In John 10:17 NIV, Jesus stated that “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.” Jesus was obedient to the Father even unto a horrible and humilating death by crucifixion on the cross. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Many of us are not called to die for our faith, especially in the United States, but everyone is called to be obedient to God.
The first step is to genuinely repent of your sins and make Jesus Lord and Savior over your life. The next step is reading your Bible regularly to learn about God’s ways and how He expects us to live. The Bible is clear. When we obey God, we live in His love.
Don’t get it twisted. We can’t earn God’s love or salvation. It is a free gift from God. Again, John 3:16 states that God so loved the world that He gave. God gave His son Jesus because God loves the sinner. He wants you to come as you are, but he doesn’t expect you to stay as you are. He wants you to let Him change you. That process includes learning to love God and learning to keep His commandments because you must learn to love God of your own free will. Only those whose hearts are truly for God will inherit eternal life in Heaven.
John 14:15 NIV
“If you love me, keep my commands.
1 John 5:3 NIV
In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV
However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—
John 15:9-10 NIV
[9] “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. [10] If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
Romans 8:28 NIV
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Deborah K. Givens, Admin
