Can you have faith in someone without loving that person; What do you say?
I think that Jesus would say no; based on His statements here: ‘If you love me, keep (obey) my commandments’, Jn.14:15. ‘And hereby we do know that we know (love) Him if we keep (obey) His commandments’, 1Jn.2:3. Again, He reminded us through inspiration that His father loves us when we obey His commandments which are not burdensome, 1Jn.5:3; and referencing His father’s statement in 1Jn.5:3, He said that His yoke is easy and his burden is light Matt.11:30. Speaking of His father’s kingdom, He warned us that no one will enter without obedience to His father’s will, Matt.7:21; and like God, what we love becomes our will. So, based on these statements by Jesus, it is fair to say that He would reject anyone who says that he has faith in Him without obedience to His will, His commandments.
He offered an example of faith with works (obedience) too. When the woman with ‘the issue of blood’ moved to touch His garment, Matt.9:21 recorded that she said within herself, ‘If I may but touch His garment I shall be whole’, so she did. Jesus, feeling the touch commended her faith and healed her. Needless to say, that the woman’s faith alone could not accomplish her desire. It was this moral conviction, this faith, this confidence in Jesus, that propelled her to touch His garment, without which, there would have been no evidence of her faith. On the contrary, while preaching to a crowd on the subject of sincerity and obedience, He asked, ‘Why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say’, Lk.6:46? A clear example of faith without works (obedience); and Jm.2:26 told us that faith without works (obedience) is like the body without the spirit. It is dead.
Here is something that baffles my understanding: God, through Jesus Christ, created everything including human beings, ‘and without Him (Jesus), was not any thing made that was made’ says Jn.1:3. So Jesus was instrumental in establishing the Ten Commandments law; a law which is designed to govern, especially, the conduct of all who desire to enter into a future heavenly kingdom, explained by Christ Himself, ‘my kingdom is not of this world’, He told Pilate.
Furthermore, it was God’s intention that His work of creation be remembered by His creatures, Ps.111:4; so after He made man, it was no after-thought that He asked man not to forget the only one that identifies Him as the creator, Ex.20:8-11 (is it not ironic that man has forgotten the only commandment that they were asked to remember?)
Why then, do most Christian churches of today preach and teach that the commandments are unnecessary for salvation, as a result of Jesus’ death on the cross; although Jesus was absolute, stating in Matt.5:17-18, that He did not come to abolish the law or the prophets? In fact, verse 19 continued that anyone who breaks the least of these commandments and teaches men so will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Don’t they believe Him? We rely on Jesus for our salvation through our faith in Him. So, where is the proof or evidence of this faith in Him without our obedience to His will? If you love me show it by obeying my commands, would seem to be His implicit answer here; confirmting that love for Him is at the very centre of the law.
Love to God and man are fruits of obedience to God’s will, His commandments, Jn.14:15 &14, Jn.15:14; and should not be confused with faith, although they are inseparable (faith and obedience) Jm.2:26. Scripture defines faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence (the margin says confidence) of things not seen, He.11:1. So even before receiving something there must be that confidence, that assurance it will appear. That confidence or assurance is faith, which must materialize or else it is dead. Yes! When we hope for something or ask God for help, there is proof, evidence, that we will have it; based on our trust and confidence in His word. That evidence is not material or physical (that which we can feel, see or touch) but rather the spiritual evidence of faith.
Prayer is a spiritual dialogue between God and us. God is a spirit and so, they that worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth, says the bible. The only assurance we have, that He hears and will answer our prayers is our spiritual evidence of faith, this confidence in His word, and not the physical result of our prayer, which is the fruit. The same can be said of our entrance into God’s kingdom; it will most certainly be the fruit of our faith coupled with our obedience to His will, (His commandments) that get us there, Jm.2:26.
True, the bible says that the just shall live by faith, He.10:8, but do we void the law to live by faith (only to commit spiritual suicide)? Let Paul answer this pertinent question about our salvation: ‘Do we then make void the law through faith’? No, he said. On the contrary, ‘We establish the law’, he continued, Rom.3:31. Clearly, Paul is saying that our faith in Christ confirms the commandment law through our obedience.
Needless to say that the conflict between God and Satan is over worship; and since he cannot create life, then he must use human beings to achieve his ambition of being like God. That being the case, Christians become his primary source of attack by inspiring them to establish these several churches with their differing beliefs, targeting God’s Law; while affirming their faith in Him through His Son.
Today, most Christian denominations teach that it is not necessary to worship God on Saturday as He commanded, since they have given Him Sunday in honour of Christ’s resurrection. They will tell you that they are no longer under the law but under grace (quoting Rom.6:14) convincing themselves that the law was nailed to the cross. Some will point to Eph.2:15 and Col.2:14, as proof of their doctrine. But in neither of those passages is there any reference to God’s law.
You be the judge: ‘Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace’, Eph.2:15. ‘Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross’, Col.2:14. In your judgement, consider these questions: Where in scripture is God’s law referred to as an ordinance; Did Jesus say that He did not come to destroy the law; and that obedience to the law is our only proof that we love Him; did Paul say that the law was holy, just and good; and told the Corinthians that nothing matters but the keeping of God’s commandments? So why would he be saying that it is against us and was nailed to the cross?
The Greek word ‘dogmah’ from which the English word ordinance was translated, means a law (ceremonial or ecclesiastical) decreed by man. These are the laws, enacted by the Jews of Paul’s day which he explained was against us and nailed to the cross. These edicts bear no relationship to God’s law which Jesus said are not grievous.
Don’t be deceived by these false prophets and teachers who use the bible so professionally that if it were possible they would deceive the very chosen of God, Jesus warned in Matt.24:24.