I am going to start a series of posts on the commands of Christ. This is an exceedingly important topic. In fact, the Great Commission describes the process of making disciples as baptizing people and teaching them to obey all Christ commanded. There are a number of lists of the commands of Christ. I am going to add to them by creating my own.
Perhaps the most well-known list of the commands of Christ summarizes them in just seven commands. I feel there is value, however, in a more complete look at the topic. If we want the simplest list possible then we should probably just limit ourselves to the Great Commandment (and the Second) as Jesus did. If we love God with all our being and love our neighbor as ourself then all the other commands will be fulfilled. In fact, Jesus equated loving Him with obeying Him. That is another way we can look at it.
Obedience to the commands of Christ has nothing to do with legalism or with somehow earning salvation. It is the response of our grateful heart in love to the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. It is done in the power of the Holy Spirit Whom He has given us. It is evidence of our new life in Him. It is the expression of our love for Him. As it says in 1 John 5:3, “this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” It is not an onerous duty but an overflow of loving gratitude.
Christ is our King. His desire is our aim. He has specific plans for what He wants to do in us in conforming us to His image. He has specific plans for what He wants to do through us as we are told in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We want to please Him. We want His will to be done. That is what life in the Kingdom is all about. Kingdom living is about seeing His will done on earth as it is in heaven. That starts with obeying Jesus’ commands.
Luke 10:25-28 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 6:9-10 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”
Romans 8:28-30 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands.”
