How Do We Know That We Love God?

John 14:15
If you love me, keep my commandments.

Luke 6:46
Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?

Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

John 14:21
The one who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.

1 John 2:3-6
3  And by this we know that we know Him, if we keep his commandments. 4  He that says, I know Him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5  But whoever keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: by this we know that we are in Him. 6  He that says he abides in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.

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

1 Corinthians 7:19
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

Galatians 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.

1 Jonh 4:20-21
20 If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 This commandment we have from Him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.


See also: 

How Do You Love God with All Your Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength?

The Essence of Faith

Faith Implies Obedience

Bible Study on Sin

Freedom From Sin

Is Repentance Just a Change of Mind?

Suffer The Cross To Overcome Addictions

Love Out Of A Pure Heart (1 Timothy 1:5)

Total Dedication To God Versus The Sinless Perfection Straw Man Argument

Romans 7:14-25 Bible Study

The teachings in Romans 6 are a foundation for the new converts the apostle Paul was writing to. He is giving instructions to these Roman believers in Romans 6.

However, in the Romans 7:14-25 passage, he is talking about his personal experience. And he did that to illustrate more clearly what he started talking about at the beginning of Romans 7, namely the believer's relationship with God's law. So, he started talking about the time of his relationship with the law, being married to it, not being dead to it and alive to Christ yet. Romans 7:14 tells us: I am of the flesh, sold into bondage to sin. That does not describe someone who has been saved. I will strengthen that point. But before going further, let's notice that it is already established that both Paul and the believers he is writing to have come into a relationship with Jesus, so they are saved:

Romans 7:4
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

So, now let's visit Jesus' teaching about being in bondage to sin:
John 8:34-36
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Being sold into bondage to sin is being a slave of sin needing a deliverance from sin to be then "set free" from sin by the Son, the deliverer, e.g. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18).

Let's re-enter the Romans 7:14-25 section and see that in the state Paul is describing that he is, he is both admitting to a struggle that is fully caused by his "body" – his flesh that is ruling (and ruining) his life, and he is looking forward to a deliverance, which he did find in Jesus:
Romans 7:23-25
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

So, up to the very end of Romans 7 he affirms that he is walking according to the flesh, the opposite of what comes in the very next verse (Romans 8:1, with the "therefore" that signals a conclusion). It's then definitely the new life in Christ Jesus spoken of in Romans 6:4, where he is no longer being led by the sinful passions of his flesh and thus no longer in bondage to sin:

Romans 8:1-2
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

The Romans 8:2 reality puts an end to the Romans 7:23 struggle. So, we have to go back now to Romans 6, the foundational teaching, to get how he became free in Christ and under no condemnation:

Romans 6:4-7
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (cf. Romans 8:2). 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

So, that foundation having already been laid down, the apostle Paul was talking about a prior time when he made the present tense statement "I am of the flesh, sold into bondage to sin" (Romans 7:14). That foundation goes to the root of sin which is the sinful desires of the flesh that people indulge in. They are put to death in Christ, or when one comes to Christ through a real repentance according to what the Bible teaches. The old man gets crucified or put to death in that repentance. These are other scriptures that reflect what's happening or speak of what must happen in or through it:

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 5:24
And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 6:7-8
7 Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a person sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Romans 13:14
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Luke 9:23-24
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

John 12:24-25
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Colossians 3:1-11 
1 If then you were raised with Christ [unlike the Romans 7:14-25 person], seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died (cf. Romans 6:4), and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth*: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

*Such exhortations as the above are necessary, because a person only needs to feed his/her flesh that should have been put to death in Christ, for it to come back alive and it will surely rule him/her life and drag him/her right back to bondage to sin worse than before (e.g. 2 Peter 2:20-22), which is then no longer freedom in Christ. The devil is always seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). That is what "losing salvation" would mean if salvation itself is understood as being set free from sin and walking on the narrow/difficult road to eternal life (Matthew 7:14), and not being stuck in a Romans 7:14-25 experience. So, Jesus also taught that a slave does not remain in the house forever (John 8:35), which is reflected in his do or die messages to five backslidden churches in Revelation 2 and 3. He gave them notice to be zealous and repent (e.g. Revelation 3:19) and warned them of the severe consequences of not cleaning up their act.
 
It is thus settled for me that in the Romans 7:14-25 account, the apostle Paul was not yet led by the Spirit (Romans 8:1), which would be the case for a saved person. I see the same kind of present tense language being used in 1 Timothy 1:15, albeit in a more brief contrast between 1 Timothy 1:15 and 1 Timothy 1:16
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
VS
16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

The apostle Paul did not say to the Corinthians "Be followers of me, even as I also am [a follower] of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1), being a "pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life" (1 Timothy 1:16), as presently then a chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) or a wretched man (Romans 7:24) still. Someone who is a new creation in Christ or born again could not be so described.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
 

See also:

Who is the man struggling in Romans 7?

How Do We Know That We Love God?

Bible Study on Sin

Freedom From Sin

The Gospel of Jesus (video)

Who is Hebrews 10:26 Speaking To?

Comments on Willful Sin After Salvation and Eternal Security (Focus on the Family)

 
Is Repentance Just a Change of Mind?

The Essence of Faith

"Am I Saved?" Why Do You Ask?

Men Bib La

Tout lis la:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQKBVZh0-tlKyjn_0RG8yLBfrqrMXlra_

Sanctification in the Bible

A lifelong process of sanctification where sinning goes on but keeps on decreasing is not what's taught in the Bible. But "without holiness, no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). Thus, any day we need to be ready and holy for Jesus. Not 25% now and hopefully 100% by the day we die or the day Jesus returns. So, if we got to 65% by either of those deadlines, would there be a speedy sanctification to reach 100%? That is taught nowhere in the Bible. Instead, servants of God are so exhorted:

1 Peter 1:14-16
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also BE HOLY IN ALL YOUR CONDUCT, 16 for it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Conduct = behavior = conversation (KJV).

It's not about getting to a threshold of holiness that is acceptable to God at the end of our life or at Jesus' return, but about remaining in the state of holiness that Jesus keeps his servants in as long as they remain faithfully obedient to Him (that is the essence of having faith in Him and abiding in Him). There is growth in that but in no case there is room for willfully sinning and using the idea of being in a lifelong process of sanctification as an excuse!

John 15:4-6, 10
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and withers; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

'Holiness' and 'sanctification' are English renderings of the same Greek noun:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G38&t=KJV

'Holy' and 'saint' are likewise translations of the same Greek adjective:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G40&t=KJV

'Sanctify,' 'be holy' and 'hallow' also translate the same Greek verb:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G37&t=KJV

The apostle Paul wrote like this of the new born again Christians in Corinth:

1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you.* But you were washed, you WERE SANCTIFIED, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

*See verses 9 and 10 for their past sinful behaviors.

This passage also speaks of someone who for sure was sanctified:

Hebrews 10:29
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which HE WAS SANCTIFIED a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Sanctification has to do with consecration, the fact of being set-apart. There is nothing mystical about that. Biblical Israel was sanctified (set-apart) among all nations of the earth by Sabbath-keeping under the Old Covenant (Exodus 31:13, Ezekiel 20:12). Sanctification today under the New Covenant brought in by Jesus is by faith in Him (Acts 26:18), which means more than believing true facts, but is fidelity towards Him in obedience to his teachings (Luke 6:46-49, John 12:46-48). 

A sanctified person or saint or set-apart one (according to the Bible's definition) is called to remain holy or set-apart, never to return to unclean behavior as to one's vomit like a dog (2 Peter 2:20-22). That's foolish and leads to utter destruction, not salvation. Hence, the warnings in the Scriptures.

2 Corinthians 6:17
Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

At the end, every one will remain in whatever state he/she had maintained him/herself:

Revelation 22:11
He that is unrighteous, let him be unrighteous still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God," Jesus said in Matthew 5:8. There is no purity of heart if someone is taking pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:12), not hating it enough to cut it out as both an act of worship to God and an expression of love for God.

This word must be heeded:

James 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

So then this can be said of the FORMERLY wicked / unrighteous / sinning person who came clean with God in true repentance and started on a path of righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24, 2 Peter 2:21):

1 Peter 1:22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Only a formerly unrighteous person, an ex-sinner or ex-worker of iniquity can be on the way to heaven. Sin is not the way into which Jesus leads someone who is following Him (Mark 8:34). Jesus' way is the way that leads to eternal life. That's the way He calls everyone who is willing to follow Him to walk on and stay on.

Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

This is the solution for the problem of the sin-causing flesh: kill it / put it to death / crucify it.

Crucify the Flesh
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQKBVZh0-tlKdbQIK0XeRx9dpcPT-EJzE

That's what the Bible teaches, not to get better at managing it and its sinful passions.

Galatians 5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts [desires].

1 Peter 4:1-3
1  Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; 2  that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for human desires, but for the will of God. 3  For enough time in the past has been spent doing the will of the unbelievers, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.

Struggling with sin is struggling to put down an idol in one's heart, it's struggling to love God with all one's heart, all one's soul, all one's mind and all one's strength (Mark 12:30). That's the truth and "the truth will set you free" as Jesus said (John 8:32). He was talking about freedom from the death trap of sin which is what salvation is about (John 8:34-36, Matthew 1:21, Romans 6:18). [See Saved From What?]

This is the ministry that was given to the apostle Paul who was sent to preach the Gospel to the nations. It was a calling to him by Jesus "to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me" (Acts 26:18). 

50% sanctification + 50% still sinning willfully isn't sanctification at all and won't enter the kingdom of heaven.

Revelation 22:11
He that is unrighteous, let him be unrighteous still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

See also: 
The Essence of Faith
Repentance According to the Bible 

Jesus vs False Teachers

Study on Uncleanness

ADDENDUM

Luke 5:31-32
31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

There is no way of answering Jesus' call to repentance and remain a sinner, or in any case, not be converted to be what the Bible calls a righteous person or a saint.

SIN LEADS TO DEATH OBEDIENCE LEADS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADS TO HOLINESS cf. Romans 6:16-19. JESUS SAVES FROM SIN cf. Matthew 1:21, John 8:34-36


This is a caricature of the endemic sin-rooted sickness of professed Christians:
I am still sinning and I twist the scriptures. 
-1 John 1:8 is my defense 
-Romans 3:10 is my shield 
-Romans 7:20 is my stronghold 
-Isaiah 64:6 is my cover 
(all used out of context) 


OBJECTIONS

The one who says, "I know Jesus", and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1 John 2:4). 

The one who does what is right is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous (1 John 3:7). 

The one who sins is of the devil... (1 John 3:8). 

The one who is born of God does not sin... (1 John 5:18). 

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid (Galatians 2:17). 

Revelation 22:11 
He that is unrighteous, let him be unrighteous still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 

If you remain in sin or return to sin after having been delivered from sin, you will be found unrighteous and filthy at Jesus' coming, not righteous and holy. If that's the path you are on, be zealous and repent (Revelation 3:19), and stay obedient to the King of kings.