Keep My Commandments.

John 15: 9 – 17

9 ¶ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

 

1.       Many in the world and in the church are confused as to what commands are binding and how they are binding today.

2.       Because they are confused they:

          a.       Loose where God has not loosed.

          b.       Bind where God has not bound.

3.       God was never pleased by either.

a.       Deut. 4: 2  The old testament law of Moses.

2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

This was the law of Moses.

b.       Prov. 20: 5 – 6  Solomon the wise man wrote these words.

5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.        

c.       Rev. 22: 18 - 19  John writes similar words.

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

I.       A Command gives instruction.

          A.      One must do something to obey a command.        

          B.      Eph. 6: 1 – 3  Paul gives a command to children.

                   1 ¶ Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

                   3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

II.      A Command is General or Specific or General and Specific.

          A.      Mark 16: 15  To go is general.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

1.       Luke 9: 5  some walked.  Jesus told them what to do when leaving.

5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

                             2.       Acts 27: 1  Paul taught while going by ship.

1. And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.

 

 

 

                             3.       Acts 8: 29  Phillip came running and then road in a chariot.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

4.       How to go is not specific so today we can go by car, plain, T.V., Radio or any other way that we might go into all the world.

                   B.      Mark 16: 15 is also specific.  Jesus said to preach the gospel.

                             1.       This gospel is the Good News about Jesus.

                                      a.       Acts 8: 35  Phillip preached Jesus.

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

                                      b.       Luke 7: 22  Jesus says the gospel is preached to the poor.

22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

2.       This good news was Jesus Christ.  It was not the local news or happenings.  It was not their opinion of the Roman Empire and what they were doing.  It was not politics or philosophy         .

3.       John 1: 17  Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

          Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

 

          III.    A Command is Illustrated by Examples.

                   A.      Mark 16: 15  They were told to go and teach.

                             1.       Luke 8: 1  Jesus showed his disciples what to do.

1 ¶ And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

                             2.       Luke 9: 6  Jesus taught his disciples what to do.

6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

                             3.       Acts 8: 4 – 5  The Christians went everywhere preaching the gospel.  

4 ¶ Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

                   B.      Mark 16: 16  Baptize the believers.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

1.       Acts 2: 36 – 38, 41  Peter preached the gospel and about 3000 believed and were baptized.

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

 37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

                             2.       Acts 8: 35 – 36  Phillip preach Jesus and he was baptized.

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

3.       Acts 8: 38  Baptism is specific and illustrated.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

a.       Rom. 6: 4  Paul told the Roman Christians baptism was a burial.

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

                                      b.       Col. 2: 12  Paul tells the Christians baptism is a burial.

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

4.       When a specific command is given with examples it excludes all else.

          a.       Sprinkling is not a burial.

          b.       Pouring is not a burial.

          c.       Praying a prayer like the sinners prayer is not a burial.

d.       Seeing that the command is literal because the examples are literal it excludes any feeling that your saved without obeying.

          If only one will study with an open mind the scripture, for what it says, it is understandable.  It is possible for all to understand the scripture alike.

Deut. 29: 29  Moses said that we can.

29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

 

Psalm 119: 104  David said that we can.

104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

 

John 20: 30 – 31  John said that we can.

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

 

John 17: 20 – 21  Jesus prayed that we all be one.

20 ¶ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

 

Do we think Jesus would pray for something that could not or should not happen?

 

John 14: 15  Do you love Jesus enough to obey him today and for the rest of your life?

15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.

                             WILL YOU COME TO JESUS TODAY, BEFORE IT IS TO LATE?