Obedience Thru Love

One grace described by Christ was the presence of the Holy Spirit with the Apostles. This grace was given in lieu of obedient love.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

and

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Two requirements are clearly taught here.

1. They had to know God thru Christ.

2. They had to obey after love.

Love did not force obedience, it was still a choice.

Grace of the Holy Spirit's presence was after obedience of love. Even though love was possible because God first loved us, the exercise of that love was an act of freewill. In the beginning of John 14 Jesus says we know the Father thru knowing Christ, those who loved Christ would love the father also, they are one in nature and thought and action. You cant love one and hate the other.

They came to love the Father through knowing Christ. This knowing was a grace. Yet, Jesus said right after that it is an obedient love.

Pelagius was correct that some reward and grace came after obedience.

Most faith only groups side with Augustine, since any required obedience would destroy their theology.

This was true of the Apostles, but also of all Christians in general. The presence of God comes after obedient love and repentance.

Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

God's presence is actuated after repentance and conversion. Repentance here includes the act of baptism toward Christ's name. Of course God is with you as you are being taught, but his presence is new and different after conversion.