John 14:15-31

"If you love Me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of Truth.  The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.  But you know Him, for He lives with you, and will be in you." John 14:15-17

"Because I live, you also will live.  On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you."  John 14;19b-20


Jesus gave His all for us on the cross.  Jesus, the Son of God, paid the horrible penalty for our sins on the cross.  We need to be filled with gratitude and love to the Lord for the awesome sacrifice He made for us.  We show our love and gratitude to the Lord by our obedience to His Holy Word.  Our salvation is all of grace through faith.  We can do nothing to earn our salvation. Thankful obedience always accompanies true faith, however.

Jesus said in John 14:15, "If you love Me, you will obey what I command."  Jesus said these words to His disciples the night before He went on the cross, and He says these same words to His children today.  Jesus promised His disciples to send the Holy Spirit as their helper in their life of obedience. The Holy Spirit today also helps us in our comprehension of God's Holy Word and in the comprehension of God's will.

Jesus tells us in John 14:17 that the Holy Spirit will be with us forever and that He is "the Spirit of Truth.  The Holy Spirit brings us to the truth of God.  The Holy Spirit always stands by us who are God's children.  The Holy Spirit is our comforter, encourager, counselor, advocate, and the One who strengthens us.  The world does not understand this, but Jesus' promise to you and I in John 14:17b is that the Holy Spirit "lives with you and will be in you."

As children of God we will live eternally!  Jesus says to us in John 14:19b, "Because I live, you also will live.  Jesus goes on to say in John 14:20b, "I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you."  Jesus, the Son of God, is in the Father.  Furthermore, we are in Jesus Christ, and He is in us! Isn't that an exciting thought?

Jesus goes on to remind us again in verse twenty-one, however, that we need to show we are children of God by our lives.  We show we are children of God and show our love for Him by our obedience. Then and only then will the Lord reveal Himself to us.  Then the triune God will come and make His home in our lives and hearts!

The Holy Spirit is our homemaker and lives in us to transform our lives lives and hearts into a fit dwelling place for the Father and the Son.  The Holy Spirit in our hearts teaches us and reminds us of God's commands and promises in His Holy Word.  The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, and He comforts us in our times of difficulty. He helps us to experience the peace of Christ in our lives even in the worst of times.  The Holy Spirit also helps us in our obedience to the Lord. Jesus' life was a perfect example of obedience to the Father.  Jesus said in John 14:31b, "I do exactly what My Father has commanded Me." Jesus was speaking here of His death on the cross the very next day! Jesus paid the entire penalty for your and my sins!  We owe Him our obedience.  We owe Him our all!