“I love the Lord” is a common mantra spoken by those who frequent the world’s churches. A state governor, when asked how his spiritual life was going replied, “I know Jesus Christ.” As an age-old saying goes, “Talk is cheap.” We all talk a good talk. The question is, do we walk what we talk? To the man who claimed to “know Jesus Christ,” the Lord responds in 1 Jn. 2:4: “He that says ‘I know Him’ and does not obey His commandments is a liar and the Truth is not in him.” In Revelation 21:8 the Lord says that “… all liars will have their part in the Lake of Fire.” Notice that He places liars in the same group as cowards, unbelievers, the abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers and idolaters. “The abominable” (those who commit abominations) includes all sins not listed in this statement.

In John 14:15,23 we find Jesus talking with His disciples about the disciples themselves and others who would claim to love Him: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” and “If a man loves Me he will obey My Word” (Jn. 14:15,23). Note that His commandments and His Words are one in the same. What applied to His disciples and others at that time surely applies to those who claim to be His disciples (followers) now. In John 14:21 Jesus had this to say about the matter: “He that has My commandments and obeys them is He that loves Me, and he that loves Me is loved by My Father and I will love him ….” Notice it: GOD’S LOVE FOR MAN IS CONDITIONAL. Man must EARN God’s salvation-level love by knowing and obeying His Law. The love of God and Jesus for a professing Christian is contingent upon that believer’s love for Them. Such love must be proven by obeying their Law (the Bible). In verse 23 Jesus speaks to those who love Him and His Father, saying that They (the Godhead) will come and make their abode in him (in the form of the Holy Spirit). This is the only way a man can be led by the Spirit of God. The only way a man can be a son of God is to obey the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14). So says the Lord in His Holy Bible which was spoken and written by “holy men of old” as they were led by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21).

You will not hear in church what you are reading at this time. Satan will not allow it.  “Only believe” is the message heard from the world’s pulpits and podiums every Sun god day (Sunday). Anything beyond believing is labeled “works,” which, we are told, is proof that the worker has “fallen from grace.” This in spite of God’s Words found in James 2:14,17,18,20: “Faith without works is dead” and “I will prove my faith by my works” and “Though a man say he has faith, but does not have works, can (his) faith save him?” The question then becomes: What are the works required of us for salvation? The answer: Obey God’s Law. We must get sin out of our lives by obeying the Law, which defines sin: “To transgress (break) the Law is sin, for sin is the transgression of the Law” (1 Jn. 3:4). The opposite is also true. If breaking the Law produces sin, and sin is the opposite of righteousness, then obeying the Law must produce righteousness, which if maintained, leads to holiness, which if maintained until death or Christ’s return results in salvation (Rom. 6:18,19,22). In these verses we are told that we must free ourselves from sin (by obeying God’s Ten Commandment Law). By remaining free of sin we become righteous which leads to holiness, the end result (“fruit”) of which is eternal life. In Matthew 10:20 Jesus summarizes Romans 6, stating that those who “… endure unto the end” (in righteousness and holiness) shall (then) be saved.” Until the return of Christ to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, we are neither saved nor born again. The Lord tells us numerous times that in this life we have salvation, but rather the HOPE OF SALVATION (Acts 2:26; 23:6; 26:6/ Rom. 8:24,25/ Gal. 5:5/ Eph. 1:18/ 1 Thes. 2:19/ 2 Thes. 2:16/ Titus 1:2; 3:7/ Heb. 6:11/ 1 Pet. 1:13).

It is true that God loves the whole of mankind because He created them. However, His love for all men does not make all men His spiritual sons. We love our friends and neighbors, but not the way we love our spouse and children, which is a “marriage” and “family” level love. God’s true saints are “engaged” to Christ during this life. At Christ’s return His Very Elect will “marry” Him and become part of His spiritual “family” which will rule the universe forever. This rule does not apply to those Satan has lured into his Catholic/Protestant religious system. Because of His love for them God commands those within that system to “… come out of her (the Counterfeit Church) and be separate, touch not that unclean thing and (then) I (God) will receive you, and will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:17,18). The previous three verses tells the churchite why he/she must come out and stay out of professing Christendom. Those in professing Christendom do not have God’s Holy Spirit and are therefore not God’s sons and daughters. However, they can be His children IF they will believe and obey His Word. Sadly, few, He tells us, will do so (Mat. 7:13,14).

In order to do the above one must love God and Christ simply because They are Who They are. Love necessitates obedience. Obedience brings the entire Bible into play. The Holy Scriptures comprise God’s rules of governance. GOD GOVERNS HIS PEOPLE. Those who will allow Him to govern them will reap the rewards promised in the Bible. As the Apostle Paul said concerning what God had shown him about His plans for His Very Elect: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM” (1 Cor. 2:9). The key to receiving all that God has prepared is LOVE. Proof of our love for Him is OBEDIENCE. Obedience concerns only one thing–His Holy Bible by which we will all be judged (Jn. 12:48): “He who rejects Me and receives not My Words has one that judges him–THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WHICH WILL JUDGE HIM ON THE LAST DAY.” In His Word Jesus said that we must love Him and the Father with all of our heart, mind, spirit and soul, and to do so unconditionally. May we all keep this in mind as we go about our daily lives. L.J.