I came across this in my Bible reading today:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
– 1 John 5:1-4
John concludes his first letter with some strong affirmations, and look at the logical path he’s taking: anyone who truly believes is born again; there is no philosophical conundrum here, as you often see in critiques of Calvinistic thought about predestination. The true believer who is excluded based on election is not possible, it would be an oxymoron. The gift we’ve been given from the Lord is our faith – we do believe and testify to the truth of the gospel – therefore it follows that those who believe are the regenerated ones of God. And then the fruit of that life of faith is obedience to the Word of Lord, expressed in his commandments. It’s such a strong connection that John argues further in the letter, that to keep on sinning and to disregard his commandments may be evidence that you do not actually believe, that you are not part of the kingdom of God.
And we should find that these commandments are the opposite of restrictive, they are freeing. They free us to live the life that is best for us according to our creator. Just as a parent tells a child to not run into the busy street out of love, so our God keeps us from calamity by keeping us tightly aligned to his will. And what would the world look like if everyone made in God’s image did what he commanded, lived lives according to his will? It would literally be Heaven – that’s what Heaven is. The world will offer you other alternatives, surely, and yet there is something greater, a better way – the way of faith in the creator of Heaven and earth.