“…and that he is a rewarder…” (Hebrews 11:6c)

The last step in knowing ‘Who is JESUS?’ is abiding in His Love. To do this you must keep His Commandments.

John 15 records the words of Jesus:

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:10-11)

There are four steps that I have mentioned in these devotions and have also used as a guide in my daily walk with Jesus:

1)    Surrender to God, that Jesus is God in the Flesh, my Lord and Master;

2)    Submit to Him as the Living Word in the flesh;

3)    Obey His Word, because He is God and His Word is perfect; and

4)    Endure in His Love unto the end.

The key to knowing who Jesus is can be found in step four: Endure in His Love unto the end. You have surrendered, you have submitted, and you are obeying. But what remains is to endure, to be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

When a person keeps God’s Commandments (now, today, tomorrow, forever, and always), then he shall abide in Christ’s love. The reward of this enduring in obedience is that Christ’s “joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

The Commandment of Christ is Love – to God and to your neighbor. Jesus said in John 15:

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:12-14)

When you endure in His Commandment of Love, the reward is Christ’s Joy remaining in you and your joy (which is Christ) being full.

What is Christ’s Joy? It is the reward of complete surrender, submission, and obedience to the Father’s Command (John 15:10b), and endurance in the same. The reward is complete holy joy; complete Oneness with the Father.

So it is when a Child of God endures in the Love of God. It is the perception of Oneness in Christ. There is no greater joy (or completion) in the believer than to know he is One in Christ. This Oneness means:

First, you are where Christ is; in answer to Christ’s prayer in John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am…” That is, to be in the understanding that you are One in Christ (verses 21-23), in His Glory, “that they may be made perfect in one,” and know that God sent Jesus, and God loves you as He loved Christ.

There is no greater joy than to know that you are “in Christ”; that you are perfect in Him; that you stand perfect in His Righteousness; that nothing can ever separate you from His Love (Romans 8:29-39). To have the knowledge that you are One in Christ; that you share in His Perfection, Preeminence, and Perception; that you are One in His Love; and that you have the power to perform His Commandments. Not just for the present time, but the power to endure today, forever and always.

Second, it means you are in a position to behold His Glory, or His Place of Preeminence, His Place of Honor, the Place of the King of kings; and to know that you are in this place. Then you have His Joy; and this Joy is full (or complete). You know that you are an heir of God, even a joint-heir of Jesus Christ; which means now you are in this position by faith in the Spirit. But one day you shall be in His full presence for all eternity in your new body, when death takes you from this life.

Then, at that day (of which now you have a down payment of the greatest joy there is), the Joy of Christ, will be full for all eternity.

What greater reward than to possess His Joy? And that this Joy remain in you for all eternity?

His Joy in you – is the last proof and also the reward – that you know who Jesus is, God Himself, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End; who lowered Himself to be subject to time and a human body; was tempted in every point; suffered spiritual and physical death on the cross; raised from the dead to be declared the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness (Romans 1:4); ascended on high; returning in power and glory as King of kings and Lord of lords; ruling and reigning in the Holy City, New Jerusalem, the Body of Christ, the Church.

Reader, can you say with me: Yes, I know who Jesus is – the One born of a Virgin; laid in a manger; walked among men; was perfect in everything; became my Substitute and my Savior on the Cross; raised from the dead and declared to be my God, the True and Living God, my King, my Lord and Master.

If not, follow these four steps, especially the last one: Endure in His Love unto the end. Then and then only, will you receive the reward, the icing on the cake, the Rejoicing in His Court.

(This was originally posted on August 21, 2014.)