Tag: john

True Christianity – John 14:15

The backdrop of John 14 is the Last Supper, where Jesus is preparing His disciples for His physical departure. The disciples are deeply grieved, disturbed, frightened, anxious, worried, and confused by Jesus’s predictions of betrayal and eventual absence, as they cannot imagine a world without Him.

Jesus offers comforts, urging them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God also believe in me”. He promises to prepare a place for them in heaven and to come back again to take them there. He also states they will perform greater works. Furthermore, Jesus promises to answer their prayers if they are made in His name, to His glory, and to His purpose.

Amidst these promises, verse 15 appears: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”. This verse serves as the qualifier, defining for whom those promises are given: those who love Jesus and obey His commandments. This relationship is the defining character of a genuine Christian. A true Christian is one who loves and obeys.

Love and obedience are inseparable. Love is the inner motive, and obedience is the outer expression.

Jesus says “If”. This is a first-class conditional particle which assumes the condition is true. If you truly love Jesus, the result (obedience) is assured. The use of “if” describes the natural outcome of authentic faith, rather than expressing doubt or serving as a threat. This is the inseparable connection between love and obedience.

Jesus uses agape for love. There are other types of love, but eros for romantic, philia for friendship, and storge for familial. Agape love is self-sacrificial, selfless, conscious, and empathetic. It is an ongoing, active reality and a continuing state of love. Agape is unconditional love centered on the well-being of the loved one.

Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his only son, Isaac (Genesis 22:1-2), demonstrates agape love. Abraham revered and loved God so much that he obeyed God’s commandment, even though it was painful and costly. Abraham obeyed before knowing a substitute would be provided, revealing that love for God is relational, not transactional.

The word keep means to watch over, guard, or preserve with careful intentional observance. The grammar indicates an assurance: you will keep (future indicative), which is a prediction of what genuine love for Jesus produces in a believer’s life.

Commandments refers to a direct order or command from an authority, specifically referencing Jesus’s own teachings throughout His ministry. Jesus’s words are not separate from God, but are the Father’s words (John 14:10). God’s word is living, eternal (Matthew 24:35), produces life and spirit (John 6:63), and brings truth (John 17:17) and freedom (John 8:31-32).

Genuine love and obedience must not be confused with the following:

  • Not Mere Emotion: Agape is conscientious and intentional. Human emotions are fickle and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Relying on theatrical or emotional church experiences does not produce lasting change; away from the stimulus, these individuals may look no different than non-believers. Instead, the believer must “Delight yourself in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4) so that their desires align with God’s will.
  • Not Mere Profession: Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-17); external confessions or good intentions are worthless if not followed by genuine action. Peter spoke big game, promising to die for Jesus, but ran when Jesus was arrested. When Jesus later asked Peter if he loved Him (Agape/Philo), Jesus followed the affirmation with the command to “feed my sheep”, showing that love must manifest in obedience.
  • Not Legalism: Legalism emphasizes strict adherence to rules to earn favor (“If I do this, then God will do that”). Many who prophesied or performed miracles were rejected by Christ because they lacked a relationship built on love (“I never knew you”—Matthew 7:21-23). The will of the Father is simply to love Him. Eternal life is about relationship: to know God and Jesus Christ (John 17:33). Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed (Matthew 6:1); the true test of faith is found in what you do in secret, when no one else is watching.

Agape love is a divine gift that we cannot create ourselves. Our love is responsive, granted because God first loved us, initiating His love even when we were His enemies.

In His absence, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit’s indwelling as Helper and Spirit of Truth (John 14:16-23). If anyone loves Jesus and keeps His commandments, the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) will make their abode in them. The Holy Spirit awakens our dead spirit and enables us to obey his commandments. After Pentecost, the Holy Spirit empowered Peter and the disciples with boldness and fervor to obey God rather than men, even when jailed or threatened.

The true demonstration of faith rests on the relationship between agape love and obedience. Jesus died for your entire life, meaning your previous life is forfeit, replaced by a new life granted through the Holy Spirit. Because the Triune God makes an abode in you, you are able to love God fully and completely. The transformative power of the Holy Spirit dwells within you. Do not limit God by believing that genuine obedience is “not possible in my life,” or only for “more faithful men,” because God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. If you find yourself operating in a legalistic, emotional, or transactional manner instead of genuine, selfless love, the command is to repent and ask the Lord to grant you the love that enables you to obey His commandments.

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The Anatomy of Faith – John 20:24-31

In John 20:24-31, we find the famous story of Thomas after Jesus’s resurrection. Initially, he did not believe the other disciples when they claimed to have seen Jesus risen from the dead. Unless he saw Jesus himself and felt his hands, he would not believe. He needed evidence. Later, Jesus appeared to the disciples again and invited Thomas to touch his hands. Thomas believes and confesses to Jesus, “My Lord and My God”. This message is titled “The Anatomy of Biblical Faith”. Anatomy means examining something carefully to understand its nature and meaning.

We need to know who Thomas is. Thomas, also called Didymus, means ‘twin’. He represents someone who doubts, hence ‘doubting Thomas’ throughout history. His personality is impulsive and emotional, as seen in John 11:16, when he said, “Let us go so that we may die with Him”. But Thomas is also curious, as in John 14:5, when he asked, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?”. He is also rational, stating, “Unless I see… I will not believe”. Thomas is the first example of evangelism because the other disciples told him they had seen the Lord. Thomas represents all believers in the beginning, as many of us have little faith and doubt. Faith is the initiating issue in our Christian life; without it, we cannot be Christians.

How does faith begin?

The timing of genuine faith is decided by God. God is the kickstarter. Faith is a gift of God. He has to present, give, initiate, start, open it up; then we will believe. When you start believing, it is true and persevering. Our faith may waver, but it eventually gets up again. After eight days, Thomas was with them. This is the day Thomas was saved; until God initiated, Thomas was not a Christian. God calls the sinner. Believers remember who shared the gospel with them; that is God calling them. So, we must continually share the gospel.

What is real faith?

Truth biblical faith is defined with two foundational elements.

The first is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every Christian’s faith is grounded in Christ’s faith, which is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection defeated the final enemy of death. This truth must permeate every aspect of our faith. Jesus was bold to show the resurrection to Thomas. He commanded Thomas: “Bring your finger here and see My hands; and bring your hand here and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing”. Jesus wants to spread His resurrection, for everyone to live by resurrection faith. Jesus picked His resurrection as the specific, best miracle for our faith. Romans 10:9 states, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”. Everything about Jesus, the gospel, and salvation is true because the resurrection is true. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching and faith is in vain”. Satan relentlessly tries to distract our hearts from Jesus’s resurrection. Some deny or downplay the resurrection, hindering faith, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:35 and 2 Timothy 2:17-18. This resurrection defines our faith.

Faith is action and obedience. Faith becomes alive when the resurrection takes a central place in our lives. Think about Hebrews 11:36-37, how people endured hardships and became martyrs. Polycarp served Christ for 86 years and wouldn’t blaspheme his King and Savior, because Jesus is the living God. Daniel prayed despite the king’s edict because God is the living God. Paul and Silas prayed and worshiped in jail because Jesus is the living God, the risen Lord. When Jesus’s resurrection is the centerpiece, our faith continually revolves around it.

Second, an essential element in real faith is confessional. Thomas responded to Jesus’s resurrection with a confession: “My Lord and my God”.

  • Lord: This means Jesus is sovereign; He has full and complete control and authority. Jesus alone possesses controlling authority. Jesus’s Lordship is a fact. Genuine faith expresses Jesus’s Lordship in all circumstances. To follow Jesus, you must see Him as Lord. Matthew 19:21-22 shows Jesus’s demand for the young rich ruler to surrender everything. Without Lordship, faith is dead. James 2:26 says, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead”. Works are our obedience to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
  • God: This means Jesus is deity; He is the only true God, divine in nature. John 1:1-3 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. Philippians 2:6-7 shows He existed in the form of God. Colossians 1:16-17 says all things were created through Him and for Him, and He holds everything together. Nothing happens without His permission. We worship Jesus because He is God. True faith looks like 1 Thessalonians 1:10, “turning to God from idols to serve a living and true God”. Thomas’s confession, “My Lord and my God,” shows Jesus is ‘mine,’ indwelling and operating within. This means trusting the Lord in all circumstances, knowing He is Yahweh. Psalm 23:1-4 exemplifies this: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me”. John 10:11 says Jesus is the good Shepherd who gave His life for you; that’s why He became “my God and my Lord”.

Not all faith is equal.

Not all faith is equal. Jesus evaluated Thomas’s confession and implied a better, blessed faith. He said, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed?”. Jesus didn’t disqualify Thomas’s faith, but there is a better faith: “Blessed are those who did not see and yet believed”. Why is a faith without seeing stronger and blessed? Because seeing does not always mean believing; many people saw Jesus’s countless miracles, even Judas, yet still rejected or denied Him. Believing by seeing is not consistent. Faith is stronger when it’s without seeing. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”. It’s a deep trust in God’s character and His word, even when the outcome is not immediately apparent. Faith has its own sight. The centurion in Matthew 8:10 had such “great faith”. We believe in the deity of Jesus, which is superior to everything else and will be revealed one day. 1 Peter 1:8-9 says, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls”. How can we have a faith that believes in the most difficult circumstances? Because of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3 states, “no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit”. The Holy Spirit continually holds onto us as we believe and trust His resurrection and bow to Him as Lord and God.

True Christian faith is not blind.

Lastly, true Christian faith is not blind. Blind faith believes something without requiring or seeking evidence or reason; it is an unquestioning acceptance, even if unreasonable or illogical. Christians do not believe for the sake of believing. We believe because the content is true, not because emotions lead us. There is enough evidence. John 20:30-31 says, “Many other signs Jesus also did in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name”. The evidence shows itself today in the transformed lives of believers. We know how good Jesus is, His word, and His church. The power of God’s word transforms lives; for example, Robert Germaine Thomas, a missionary to Korea, whose Bible became a wallaper and simply by people reading that wallpaper, led to a house becoming the first church in Pyongyang. For Christians, blind faith is impossible because the word of God contains mountains of evidence. Don’t let your Bible get dusty; that’s a huge sin. The word of God is full of evidence to free us from blind faith, leading us to know who Jesus is and proving He surely rose from the dead, becoming God and Lord.

Conclusion

This is what faith is all about. Who’s going to defeat God and Lord? Who’s going to defeat someone who defeated death? He’s mine and He’s yours. Let’s walk by faith, not by sight.

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Back to Basics: Worship – Exodus 20:1-3 & John 4:21-23

Worship is a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith, yet it is often misunderstood. Many struggle with defining its true purpose and significance. Sunday, as the first day of the week, is set apart for corporate worship, yet worship is not limited to a single day; it is a daily practice that reflects a believer’s devotion to God. Understanding worship requires recognizing its foundation in God and its role in the believer’s life.

At the core of worship is the object of our adoration—either the living God or false idols. Worship directed toward anything other than God is ultimately in vain. Both Greek and Jewish cultures regarded worship as the highest form of reverence, demonstrated through devotion and humility. Worship is not merely an external ritual but a profound act of the heart that acknowledges God’s sovereignty and majesty.

True worship, according to Scripture, begins in the heart. A redeemed heart naturally moves a believer to praise and glorify God. The magi exemplified genuine worship when they sought Jesus with joy and bowed before Him, demonstrating both inward devotion and outward reverence. In the same way, Christians today should approach worship with joyful hearts, preparing throughout the week to honor God on the Lord’s Day. Worship is an ongoing practice that reflects the believer’s gratitude for salvation and reverence for Christ.

In contrast, false worship is revealed by impure motives, as seen in King Herod’s deceptive claim to worship Jesus while secretly plotting to kill Him. This stark difference emphasizes the importance of the heart’s intent in worship. What or whom we worship reveals our true priorities, and misplaced worship leads to idolatry. Therefore, believers must be intentional in worshiping God alone, ensuring that their devotion is genuine and aligned with His truth.

God is worthy of worship because He has revealed Himself through His Word. In biblical times, He spoke directly to the prophets, and today He continues to communicate through Scripture. Unlike mute idols that offer nothing, God is a living and active presence who guides, convicts, and strengthens His people. Worship is a response to God’s self-revelation, acknowledging His power, wisdom, and faithfulness.

As Yahweh, God is both sovereign and personal. He is transcendent, ruling over all creation, yet He is also near to His people through Jesus Christ. This personal relationship with God, made possible through Christ’s sacrifice, deepens the believer’s worship. Salvation is not earned through works but is a gift of grace, received by faith in Christ alone. Worship, then, is an expression of gratitude for this undeserved salvation.

True worship is marked by obedience, integrity, and a forgiving heart. God desires worship from those who live in accordance with His will, demonstrating faithfulness in their actions. A heart unwilling to forgive others hinders genuine worship, as believers are called to reflect God’s mercy. Worship is not just about singing or praying—it is a lifestyle of honoring God through righteous living, humility, and love.

Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman highlights the essence of true worship: it must be in spirit and truth. Worship involves both intellect and emotion, grounded in the truth of God’s Word and fueled by the Holy Spirit. Engaging with Scripture through reading, studying, and meditation strengthens a believer’s passion for worship. Ultimately, worship is an outpouring of a heart transformed by God’s grace, culminating in joyful praise and faithful obedience to Him.

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Jesus Wept – John 11:35

Pain and suffering are universal experiences in life, often accompanied by tears and weeping. Even Jesus, during his time on earth, shared in this reality. He wept and grieved over the death of his friend Lazarus. Crying, in some cases, serves as a form of social bonding, but there is a distinction between crying and weeping. Weeping involves a profound expression of emotion through tears, while crying is more about the audible expression of sorrow. Today’s text delves into the reasons why Jesus wept and what his tears teach us about human experience and divine compassion.

Jesus was not an emotionless figure or a distant deity; he was fully human with real emotions. He experienced the same feelings of joy, sorrow, and compassion that all people face. Though he was sinless, as stated in Hebrews 4:15, he sympathized deeply with human weakness. His compassion extended to those who were distressed and felt abandoned, likening them to sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). His sinlessness enhanced his ability to perfectly understand and empathize with human suffering.

One of the most profound lessons Jesus taught us is how to weep with purpose. When Lazarus died, Jesus wept alongside Martha and Mary, sharing in their sorrow. This act of solidarity demonstrates his deep empathy and love for humanity. It also reminds us that Jesus not only understands our struggles but actively shares in them. Just as he loved Lazarus, Jesus loves his church and all who follow him with the same depth and sincerity.

One reason for Jesus’ tears was the people’s limited understanding of death’s inevitability. Those mourning Lazarus may have been preoccupied with questioning why he had to die, yet death is an inescapable reality for everyone. Jesus used this moment to remind Martha of his power over death, saying, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me will live even if he dies” (John 11:25). Accepting the certainty of death allows us to live more intentionally in the present, grounded in hope rather than fear.

Another reason Jesus wept was to reveal the true cause of death—sin. While the world often attributes death to natural causes like illness or accidents, Scripture makes it clear that sin is the ultimate reason for death. Romans 6:23 states, “The wages of sin is death.” Jesus sought to shift the people’s focus from superficial explanations to the deeper spiritual truth: humanity’s need for redemption from sin. His tears reflected his desire for people to understand this crucial reality.

Jesus also wept because people failed to recognize him as the solution to sin and death. Instead of addressing the root cause of death, humanity often looks to temporary, worldly solutions. Jesus declared himself as the great “I AM,” the resurrection and the life, offering eternal hope to those who believe. By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus demonstrated his divine power and provided a foretaste of the ultimate victory over death. Faith in him is the only proper response, as he is the most reliable and trustworthy source of salvation.

Another cause of Jesus’ grief was humanity’s blindness to the eternal hope he provides. People mourn the loss of loved ones without realizing that, through Christ, a joyful reunion is possible. Jesus proved this truth by bringing Lazarus back to life and sharing a meal with him, symbolizing the joyful fellowship believers will experience in the resurrection (John 11:44; 12:1-2). This hope sustains Christians as they anticipate Christ’s return and the glory of eternal life, a joy that cannot be shaken.

Finally, Jesus’ tears reveal his enduring love for sinners and his desire for them to embrace the hope of eternal life. He is the God of the living, as demonstrated in his relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are alive in heaven. Through faith in Jesus, we find comfort and peace even in times of mourning. Although we grieve the loss of loved ones, we also experience the joy and hope that come from trusting in the living God. Jesus continues to weep with us in our sorrows, but his presence brings comfort and the assurance of eternal life with him.

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