Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Jesus' Commands

Bryan Schneider · August 28, 2021

John 14

sharonrpc.org/sermons/jesus-commands

Summary

On the night before his death, Jesus repeatedly joins love for him with having, keeping, and obeying his commandments.
Jesus summarizes God's moral law as wholehearted love for God and love for neighbor, which he himself fulfilled perfectly.
Christ did not abolish the moral law; he fulfilled it, while the ceremonial law reaches completion in him and Israel's civil laws guide through their general equity.
Obedience cannot justify sinners: God declares them righteous by grace through faith in Christ's imputed righteousness alone.
The moral law exposes sin, drives sinners to Christ, restrains evil, and trains redeemed people in holiness.
Christian obedience is neither legalistic self-salvation nor human willpower, because the Holy Spirit enables those who abide in Christ to bear good fruit.
When believers fail, they confess particular sins, receive cleansing in Christ, resume obedience, and seek help through Scripture, prayer, worship, and fellowship.
Apathy toward Christ's commands calls for repentance and renewed love, while weary believers are invited to find rest in the gentle Savior.

Why does Jesus repeat the connection between loving him and keeping his commands in John 14?
How do love for God and love for neighbor summarize the moral law?
What is legalism, and why is grateful obedience to Christ not legalism?
How does Jesus fulfill rather than abolish the law?
Why can no person be justified by works of the law?
How should Christians distinguish moral, ceremonial, and civil dimensions of Old Testament law?
What distinct purposes does God's law serve in conviction, restraint, direction to Christ, and growth in holiness?
Why is the Holy Spirit indispensable for loving Christ and keeping his commands?
What should believers do when they fail, become apathetic, feel distant from God, or grow weary?

Moral law: God's enduring standard of love and holiness, summarized in the Ten Commandments and fulfilled perfectly by Christ.
Legalism: Seeking justification through law-keeping or binding consciences with human rules added to God's commands.
Justification: God's gracious declaration that a sinner is righteous solely because Christ's righteousness is received by faith.
Active obedience of Christ: Jesus' perfect lifelong fulfillment of every command of his Father on behalf of his people.
Ceremonial law: Old-covenant ordinances concerning sacrifices, purity, and worship that are fulfilled in Christ.
Civil law: Judicial laws given to Israel as a nation whose exact form has expired while their general equity remains instructive.
Uses of the law: The law exposes sin, directs sinners to Christ, restrains evil, and trains believers in holy living.
Abiding in Christ: Living in dependent union and communion with Jesus, through whose Spirit believers bear obedient fruit.