July 17, 2005
Morning Sermon Outline
“Loving Christ by Keeping His Commands”
John 14:15
I. We should understand Christ’s saying, “If you love Me, keep my commandments” as a response to His disciple’s sadness – John 14:1
1. Christ understands our frailties, our sinfulness and credits us beyond our performance – Psalm 103:14
2. Christ understands that even when we are right we are often still wrong and here we see Him redirecting the disciples energies – John 14:15; Luke 10:38-42
II. We should also understand Christ’s saying, “If you love me keep my commandments” in light of the commandments He had just given them at the table –
1. There is the commandment to remember Him in the Lord’s Supper – Luke 22:14-22
2. There is the commandment He gives in regard to their arguments about who was the greatest, a command He enforces both by words and His example – Luke 22:23-27; John 13:12-15
3. There is the command He gives them about “loving one another” – John 13:34-35
III. Yet we should also understand Christ’s saying “If you love me keep my commandments” in light of God’s commandments expressed throughout the Word of God, even the Ten Commandments –
1. Christ came not to destroy these commandments but to fulfill them – Matthew 5:17-19
2. Christ did not discount the commandments of the Old Testament but rather He enforced and reinterpreted them not according to the sinful standards of men but according to the holy standards of God – Matthew 5:20-48
3. By these high standards shall no flesh be justified in His sight – Romans 3:19-20
4. Yet by the grace of God we may be righteous in God’s sight:
A. Through the imputed righteousness of Christ – Romans 3:21-26
B. Through God’s working His righteousness into our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit – Zechariah 4:6; Galatians 5:22-25; Isaiah 40:27-31
IV. In this, our righteousness and love become almost the same as they work together in response to Christ (they are caused by God) –
1. Our love is first of all a response – 1 John 4:7-11 & :19
2. Our love is an empowered response, a fruit – Galatians 5:22
3. Our love is an obedient response – Romans 1:1; 2 Corinthians 5:14-14
4. Our love is an energetic response – Habakkuk 3:19
5. Our love is a glorious response because it is empowered supernaturally – Philippians 2:12-15
"Run, John, run," the Law demands,
but gives us neither feet nor hands.
Ah, better news the Gospel brings,
And bids us fly and gives us wings.
John Bunyan
