1 Corinthians 13:13
Right now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 John 4:16-19
16 We have come to know and rely on the love that God has for us. God is love, and the person who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 This is how love has been perfected among us: we will have confidence on the day of judgment because, during our time in this world, we are just like him. 18 There is no fear where love exists. Rather, perfect love banishes fear, for fear involves punishment, and the person who lives in fear has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because God first loved us.
1 John 5:3
For this demonstrates our love for God: We keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.
John 15:9-10
9 Just as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. So abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you’ll abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
It's just a wrong and terrible mindset that prevents someone from taking these words to heart because "salvation is by grace not by works." Deliverance won't come without offering to God a heart that is ready to obey Him in all (that's total, wholehearted, surrender to God - no more rebellion). That's how we show God we love Him. And He wants that in our relationship with Him. It's an honor to suffer for Jesus' name, for the sake of doing what's right. But Satan has convinced countless believers that Jesus having done what's right before the Father exempts them from having to do what's right and their deliberate sins are allowed to go on, with no self-denial and taking up one's cross to follow Jesus (Mark 8:34). Following Jesus is walking on the way to reach eternal life (John 6:68) and cannot be something Jesus has done Himself on behalf of the believer. The believer / disciple / follower has to do what Jesus says (Luke 6:46), obey Him, and that expression of love for Him will lead to victory with Him over sin, the flesh and the devil.
1 John 5:18
We know that whosoever is born of God does not sin; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one does not touch him.
1 Timothy 1:5
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.
1 Timothy 1:5
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.
See also:
What Would Jesus Do?
What Would Jesus Do?
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