Gospel Musings on 1 John 5:3

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

When I was still ignorant of God’s righteousness, and stuck in works-religion, I used to cite this verse all the time to people. I used to beat people over the head with the Law, guilt-trip them, and say something snarky like “If you really love God then why are you still sinning? Loving God means doing his commandments! John says it plain as day!”, all the while turning a blind eye to my own sin and imperfection. Today many false teachers use, not only this verse, but the whole book of 1 John, to cause fear, misery and doubt in those struggling with a burdened conscience. They use this epistle to justify their legalistic fruit-inspecting and judging of other believers.

Now knowing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and being completely assured of my salvation, knowing that it is grounded entirely upon Him and His finished work, I love the first epistle of John. It is honestly one of my favorite books in Scripture. It offers great instruction regarding the practical walk of the Christian, focusing all of our attention upon Jesus Christ in doing so. I now understand this verse as clear as day. Why is it not grievous for the child of God to keep God’s commandments? Why is it not burdensome?

I know, for one thing, that I don’t keep God’s commandments perfectly. I keep them very imperfectly. I love my brethren, but I fail in many points. I love God, I go to church, I pray, I read my bible, but I fail every day in many, many ways. How can John then tell me, that God’s commandments are not grievous? The simple, beautiful truth, as it is in Christ, is that His commandments are not grievous because heaven and hell does not hang in the balance. My right standing before God does not depend upon my doing or not doing, but entirely upon Jesus Christ.

I’m not burdened by God’s commandments, because I know that if I confess my sin, God is faithful to forgive me, and to cleanse me by the blood of His son. Not only does God not expect me to pretend to be sinless, He commands me NOT to do so, lest I should make Him a liar (1 John 1:8–10).

God’s commandments are not grievous to me, because I know, by faith, that Jesus Christ is the propitiation for my sins, and He ever intercedes for me as my advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1–2). I am engrafted into Jesus Christ by faith, and in Him there is no sin (1 John 3:5). He was manifested to take away my sins, and take them away He did.

God’s commandments are not grievous to me because I have the promise that “the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you…and even as it hath taught you, YE SHALL ABIDE IN HIM”

It is fascinating to me, that throughout this epistle, when John speaks of doing righteousness, walking as He walked, loving the brethren, etc. it is always prefaced by a statement about Jesus Christ and His redemptive work for His people. What do you think the reason is? Not to strike fear, but to cultivate gratitude and encourage believers to walk in God’s service. He is writing to believers so that their JOY MAY BE FULL (1 John 1:4).

It is amazing how clear Scripture becomes when we look at everything in its proper, Gospel context.