Hereby Know We the Spirit of Truth - Part 625

"Hereby perceive ye the love of God because He laid down His life for us." (I John 3:16)

As a consequence of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice that paid the price for our transgressions once and for all -- combined with His love -- His abundant grace -- His endless mercy -- His free gift of salvation to you and I, we can know without a doubt that we have passed from death unto life. The scriptures state: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments." (I John 5:2) The scriptures here are not referring to Old Testament Law or the Ten Commandments dictated to those under the old covenant. Rather,  as Matthew 22:40 states: Jesus gave only two commandments and "on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:40)

These commandments? "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all my mind." This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matthew 22:37-40)

When we begin to willingly do His will and practice these commandments, we become partakers of the blessed gospel in Jesus. We become victorious in our daily lives. Why? Because the Bible states: "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." (I John 4:4) There is a justified rationale for this. They that are of the world speak only of the world and the world hears only them. But for those of us who trust in our Lord God and Saviour and know that He hears us, "hereby know we the spirit of truth." (I John 4:5-6) Think about this. If God so loved us enough to become the Saviour of this world -- and if we love Him enough to confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and similarly believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, then we can rest in His blessings. The peace that passes all understanding.  

At the same time, we ought also to love one another. (Romans 10:9) While no man hath seen God at any time, if we love one another, God dwells in us. His love is perfected in us. Hereby we know that we dwell in Him and He in us because He hath given us His Spirit. The Comforter that was promised from the beginning. 

Therefore we are no more strangers and foreigners in the gospel, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. In whom -- as members of the body of Christ -- we also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The following conversation with Jesus in the book of Matthew is telling. "While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, "What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He? " They said unto Jesus, "The Son of David." And then Jesus said unto them, "How then doth David in spirit call Him Lord, saying, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. If David then call Him Lord, how is He His Son?" And as we see from the text, no man was able to answer Jesus. Not a word. Not even the lawyer could respond. In fact, "neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions."" (Matthew 22:42-45)

Give Jesus your heart today. Ask our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ to have His way in your life. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you -- according to the riches of His glory -- to be strengthened by His Spirit. Be rooted and grounded in Jesus' love. There is no other. Stand in the offering plate.