“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26.

These verses are written in the context of Jesus telling his disciples that he was going back to Heaven to prepare a place for him.  However, to believers, he has left behind the Holy Spirit to indwell them and lead them unto all truth – first though the ministry of the apostles and then through the Scriptures (John 16:13; I Corinthians 3:16; II Timothy 3:16-17).

Interestingly Jesus here talks of sending his Holy Spirit to the one who loves God and shows that love by obeying his teaching.  The requirement of keeping God’s commandments goes hand in hand with salvation (which is believing in Christ’s death on the cross to save us from our sins).  Although we are saved by faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8), those that love God will keep his commandments (John 14:15).  That is not to say that Christians will ever keep his commandments perfectly this side of Heaven but their great desire will be to always keep God’s commandments and they will be grieved when they fail.  A life that is consistently, even though not perfectly, lived following His commandments is evidence of salvation (I John 2:3).

Believers in Christ can rejoice in the certainty of spending eternity with God in heaven.  In the meantime, they can rejoice in the indwelling Holy Spirit to help keep them from straying from the truth to the extent they walk close to God and listen for his leading.  Further, keeping God’s commandments on a consistent basis and loving the things of God gives us assurance of our salvation.