Marsha's Musings: On keeping God's Commandments (1 John 5:1-3 KJV)

                        

   

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:1-3 KJV)

Here are some more assurances of salvation.  

1. Believe that Jesus Christ is born of God.  This means one must believe He is deity...God.

2. Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.  This means you must have a Biblical view of Who God is and Who Jesus is. Any other view is to love a false God and Christ.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: 

It follows that if we love God we will keep His commandments and keeping His commandments results in love for other Christians.  If a Christian says he loves God but hates someone, then he is not keeping God's commandments and this proves he really does not love God.

His commandments are not grievous.

To the child of God, keeping God's commandments is not a grievous task. It is a joy to do so because we love Him and He has given us a new nature which desires to do so.   One who finds keeping God's commandments a grievous task is one who has not been saved by God and given a new nature which desires to please Him.  That person operates from a salvation by works view which makes keeping God's commands a grievous task because every time that person blows it, they must make up for it somehow or they may "lose their salvation" or standing with God.

I like how 1 John seems to be all about assurance of salvation.