This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. (2 John 6)

Walking In The Commandments

Love is an emotion that bonds the child of God to the Father. The sinner finds grace from God to save him from condemnation and rejoices that God’s love is so great to redeem him. Grace is the measure of God’s love to save someone unworthy. Jesus died for those who blasphemed Him as He endured the cross, seeking the grace of His Father to forgive them for what they were doing. The love of Christ was incredible. Saving mankind was the eternal plan of God. The unmerited favor of the Creator to redeem His creation is the story of God’s love. As a sign of one’s faith, the redeemed show their love for God by walking according to the commandments of the Lord.

One of the great challenges of the religious world is accepting salvation by commandment-keeping. Many reject the idea of salvation through the works of following laws, instructions, and commands. Jesus told His disciples that if they loved Him, they would keep His commandments. Following the Lord’s guidelines or commandments has always been the key to the relationship between God and man. Adam and Eve enjoyed the blessings of God’s love, but they were given commandments to keep. When they did not follow those laws, God punished them. It was not that God did not love His creation, but through His love, He demanded obedience to His word. Throughout Biblical history, God’s grace was showered upon those who accepted God’s grace and love. That same love punished those who disobeyed the commandments of the Lord. The Jews were given a law through Moses that was instructive on how to please God. Grace and love are found in the Law, but when Israel rejected God’s commandments, they were rejected by God.

Jesus Christ gave His life to show the love and grace of God. He affirmed there were commandments to keep in order to be pleasing to the Lord. In the commissions given to the apostles, Jesus emphasized the necessity of keeping the Father’s will. Anyone who believed and was baptized was saved because that was the commandment of God. Jesus told the eleven to go into all the world, making disciples of every nation. They were to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and to teach them to observe all the things He commanded them. Observing all things is commandment-keeping. God’s grace is found when He washes sins away in baptism, but then commands the born-again to live according to the covenant of grace. Love is keeping God’s commandments.

Walking in the commandments of the Lord is an active part of the life of the Christian. Obedience is not found in accepting Christ and refusing to follow His commandments. Love for God is walking in accordance with God’s commandments. There is an expectation of obedience to the instructions of the Father. If a person refuses to follow God’s commandments, they do not love God. The Holy Spirit is very clear about defining love when He shows that walking in the commandments of God is necessary. Love is found in obedience. God has never placed upon man commandments he cannot follow. The commandments of God are not burdensome, but they are required. Love demonstrates the willing heart seeking the word of God to know how to walk and then establishing a pattern of walking that follows those commands. Do you love God? Walk according to His commandments.