Keeping it Simple
With a theologically-packed passage.
This short passage is full of a wide variety of foundations for key Christian theologies. If you want the $5 words, it includes Christology, understandings of relational trinitarian formation, pneumatology (literally, the “paraclete”), and the Second Coming.
Thankfully, John keeps the wording simple and if you take it verse-by-verse, it’s not too hard to understand.
Being in a loving relationship with Jesus will result in following his commandments.
= Loving God, Loving neighbor, Abiding in him
The Holy Spirit is with us.
…and so is Jesus.
God loves you.
John 14:15-21
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will send another Companion, who will be with you forever. This Companion is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be with you.
“I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
Psalm 25:4-10
Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth—teach it to me—because you are the God who saves me. I put my hope in you all day long.
Lord, remember your compassion and faithful love—they are forever! But don’t remember the sins of my youth or my wrongdoing. Remember me only according to your faithful love for the sake of your goodness, Lord.
The Lord is good and does the right thing; he teaches sinners which way they should go. God guides the weak to justice, teaching them his way.
All the Lord’s paths are loving and faithful for those who keep his covenant and laws.
Prayer1
God,
Draw my heart, Father, that I may love what is holy.
Breathe in me, Spirit, that my thoughts may be holy.
Act in me, Christ, that my work, too, may be holy.
Guard me, God, that I may always be holy as you are and have called me to be.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
Inspired by a prayer from St. Augustine.