WHATS KEEPING ME FULL
WHATS KEEPING ME SERIES

Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word’” (John 8:31–37 see also John 12:44–50). I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. How can you say that we shall be set free?’ Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone.

WHATS KEEPING ME FULL

These commands involve the full scope of Christ’s revelation: “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. These words you hear are not my own they belong to the Father who sent me’” (John 14:23–24). Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. These “commands” encompass all of Jesus’ words and teachings, which, in truth, are God the Father’s words: “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.

WHATS KEEPING ME SERIES

What does Jesus mean when He says, “Keep my commands?” Is Jesus referring to keeping a list of rules and laws like the Ten Commandments, or does He have something else in mind? The words John uses in the original language are not merely to be understood as obeying a series of moral instructions. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them” (John 14:21 see also 15:14). In the same upper room discourse, John quotes Jesus saying yet again, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands” (1 John 5:2–3). The connection between love for Christ and obedience to Him is a recurring theme in the apostle John’s writings: “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

The unmistakable meaning of the passage is that obedience to Christ’s commandments is both a sign and a test of our love for Him. As part of the instruction, Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV). This discourse in the upper room takes place right after the Lord’s announcement that one of the disciples will betray him and Judas leaves the room. On the evening before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ gave a lengthy private teaching to His disciples.

Whats keeping me