An Article of Faith

True or False: Do you live in obedience to God’s Word?
This is the third question in our 10 Question Quiz concerning the assurance of eternal life.
“By this we know that we have come to know [God],” assures John, “if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His Word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” – i.e., as Jesus walked (1 John 2:3-6).
How did Jesus walk in relation to God’s Word? In John 8:29 Jesus says, “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”
Do you live in the same obedience to God’s Word? Do you keep His commandments? Do you always do the things that are pleasing to Him?
A woman once told a pastor that a relative of hers had died. To which the pastor inquired, “Was this man a Christian?”
She said, “Oh, yes! He made a profession of faith when he was 7 years old. He never went to church,” she continued, “or read the Bible in the 70 years after that. But,” she insisted, “I’m sure he was a Christian.”
How about you? Would you be so sure your relative was a Christian if they never went to church or read the Bible?
Jesus connects obedience to Him and His Word as an inseparable link of love for Him: “If you love Me,” Jesus says, “you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
He goes on: “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. ... If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.” (John 14:21, 23–24.)
Do you love Jesus? If so, does your love for Him express itself in obedience to Him? Of course, this doesn’t imply “perfection” on our part. Only Christ was perfect in His obedience to the Father (see Hebrews 4:15). But it does imply perseverance on our part. Concern for obedience to Christ is clearly Christian; carelessness is not. Just as we consciously come to know Christ, so likewise we consciously seek to obey Christ: “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’” asks Jesus, “and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46.)
True or False: Do you live in obedience to God’s Word?

(Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.)