The Gospel of John: John 15.9-17

Read and meditate on John 15.9, 10.
Jesus made no separation between the love of God and the Law of God. The Law of God comes from the love of God, and shows us how to love God and our neighbors as He does. We cannot love, or abide in Jesus’ love, without keeping the commandments of God.

                                              ⁹“In my love abide, for I
have loved you as the Father loves Me. ¹⁰So
if you keep My commandments, you will know
you are abiding in My love, as I
have kept My Father’s Word, and so abide
in His.”

- John 15.9, 10

Reflect
1.  A tendency exists in some Christian circles today to downplay or even avoid the Law of God. The claim is, “We’re not under Law, we’re under grace.” Mention keeping the Law in some Christian circles, and you’ll be labeled a Pharisee, or a promoter of salvation by works. But here we find Jesus insisting on both. Let’s back up a bit and see if we can get a right understanding of the Law. Look at Leviticus 18.1-5. How did God envision the Law? What was His purpose in giving it? Complete this prayer: Lord Jesus, when I think about the Law of God, I…

2.  We know that Israel was unable to keep the Law, and so enjoy fullness of life as God intended. But even in Moses’ lifetime, God pointed forward to a day when His people would keep His Law, after He had done a new work in their hearts. Look at Deuteronomy 30.1-10, then Ezekiel 36.26, 27. When would God’s people finally keep His Law and know fullness of life as He intends? Jesus promised the Spirit as our Helper. What does He help us to do? Lord, let Your Spirit be powerfully at work within me, to make me willing and able to…

3.  Jesus came announcing the Kingdom of God, a realm of grace and truth that would bring righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit to the world. How did He expect the citizens of His Kingdom to conduct themselves? In your answer, meditate on Matthew 5.17-19 and 1 John 2.1-6. Lord, I know that I can only realize my calling to Your Kingdom and glory as I…

4.  Mediate on Matthew 22.34-40. How did Jesus summarize the purpose of the Law and the prophets? What did Solomon warn concerning those who neglect the Law of God, according to Proverbs 28.4, 9? How did Paul regard the Law (Rom. 7.7, 12; Rom. 3.21)? And what about James (Jms. 2.8-12)? Lord, I want my attitude toward the Law, and my practice of keeping Your commandments to be the same as…

5.  Now we’re ready to consider Jesus’ words in our text for today. How did Jesus understand the relationship between the love of God, the commandments (Law) of God, and the love we are to bear for one another?  Bring together into one the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Now, if observing the commandments is the essential sign of love, it is very greatly feared that without love even the most effective action of the glorious gifts of grace—even of the most sublime powers and even of faith itself and the commandment that make a person perfect—will not be of help.… It is evident, therefore, and undeniable that without charity—even though ordinances are obeyed and righteous acts are performed, even though the commandments of the Lord have been observed and great wonders of grace effected—they will be considered as works of iniquity … because those who perform these acts have as their aim the gratification of their own will.” Basil the Great (330-379 AD)

Meditate on Psalm 1. How should a follower of Christ practice what David recommends here?

Closing Prayer
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 1

Psalm 1 (St. Thomas: I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord)
How blessed are they that shun sin’s vain and wicked ways.
For them has Christ salvation won; He loves them all their days.

God’s Word is their delight; they prosper in its truth.
In it they dwell both day and night to flourish and bear fruit.

Firm planted on the banks of God’s great stream of grace,
They raise unending praise and thanks to His great glorious face.

The wicked are not so, but, driven by the winds,
They fall and perish, weighed with woe, when once God’s wrath begins.

In Jesus’ righteousness, though sinners fail and fall,
His flock He will preserve and bless, who on His favor call.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.