We read in John 14:21 that Jesus is telling us if we love Him, we will obey Him. This is used by the HRM to prove we are to obey the Mosaic Law. Let’s look at this verse and surrounding Scriptures a bit closer.
John 4:15-31 is a beautiful discourse from our Lord Jesus about His relationship to those who believe in Him. He also shares with us a greater truth, the love and relationship the Father has with His children because they follow Jesus. He begins in John 4:15 by declaring those who love Him will obey His commandments. This is repeated several times in the next few verses. The question is, “Whose commandments are we to follow?” It is clear here, it is Jesus’ commandments. This is further confirmed in John 15:10-17 and Matthew 28:20. In John 15:10, Jesus even distinguishes between Jesus’ commandments and God’s commandments!
In the verses following, Jesus promises to send His Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Only those who love Jesus will receive the Holy Spirit, the world cannot. Not only that, but Jesus and the Father will also reside with the Christian (John 14:23). Since the world that God created did not accept Jesus, they will not accept His people either (John 1:9-12, John 15:20, Matthew 24:9). As His people, His children, we are to live in unity with one another (John 17:19-23) for there is one Spirit, one God, one Lord, one hope (Ephesians 4:11-5, Colossians 3:14-15).
John 14:26 declares to us that the Holy Spirit who abides in His children will teach them all things and bring to remembrance what Jesus taught. Those who do follow Jesus do not have His Spirit. They will be unable to understand Jesus and His teaching. In His great wisdom, Jesus gave us a way to know who has His Spirit, namely, those who love one another and do not cause division and dissension within His body (John 13:34-35, Romans 13:8, 2 Corinthians 13:11, 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, 1 Peter 1:22-23, Galations 5:22-26, Romans 14:13-21, Romans 16:10, Titus 3:10).
Now to the question, “What are Jesus’ commandments?” Mainly, all that Jesus had spoken. He summed up all His teaching when He said to love God and love others (Matthew 22:38-40). The rest of the New Testament reiterates this (note Scriptures previously quoted in this article). Even with this, those from the HRM have told me we are still to obey the commandments from God the Father. John has the answer in 1 John 3:21-24 explaining God’s command is for us to believe in Jesus and love one another. Jesus also confirmed this when He spoke of searching the Scriptures (at that time was the Old Testament: the Law and the prophets) for life when life was found in Him (John 5:39-40). After His resurrection, Jesus explained how He had to fulfill the Law, the prophets and Psalms of all that was written of Him (Luke 24:44). Yes, following Jesus Christ as your Lord fulfills the requirements of the Mosaic Law because only He could meet the righteous requirement.
