2022-2-27 PM, GG Teacher Appreciation

Throughout the NT, the apostle John summarized a Christian’s obligation to obey the Scriptures. He made it clear that walking in the ways of the Word was not optional.

First. Christ said that if one loves him, that person will keep his commandments.

John 14:15 ESV

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

On the other hand, the one who does not love him will not keep his words.

John 14:24 ESV

24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

A Christians obedience to the Bible demonstrates one’s love for Christ and the genuineness of one’s salvation.

2nd. John clearly stated that a Christian’s duty is to walk in the same manner as Christ walked.

1 John 2:6 ESV

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

God demands obedience to his Word.

Third, John broadly defined love in unmistakable terms: “This is love, that we walk according to his commandments (2 John 6)

2 John 6 ESV

6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

Fourth, John experienced great delight in watching and hearing of Christians beying God’s Word:..

3 John 4 ESV

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Finally, John announced the ultimate distinction of an obedient Christian- the Savior’s blessing

Revelation 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Specifically...

Receives

1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV

13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

Pray to understand it

Psalm 119:18 ESV

18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Feed

Job 23:12 ESV

12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

Obey

Numbers 14:24 ESV

24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

Honor

Nehemiah 8:5–6 ESV

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Study

Ezra 7:10 ESV

10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Preach/teach

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Compel, Apollos

Acts 18:28 ESV

28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Disciple

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Tremble

Isaiah 66:2 ESV

2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.