Be a Disciple

John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
1 John 3:24 & 4:1 “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.  Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 
 
These are discipleship verses.  They are not about how to receive everlasting life but what to do with the everlasting life Jesus Christ gives to everyone who believes in Him for it.  At first glance you can see that obedience is tied to loving God not the gift of life.  And that fits well with how God defines love in the Bible.  He defines love as actions not feelings.  Check out 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and you’ll see what I mean.    
 
There are benefits for obeying Jesus Christ’s commandments.  You will experience God’s love for you.  And notice in the first verse John 14:21 that Jesus will manifest Himself to those who are obedient.   My personal view is essentially the same as the fruit of the Spirit.  The Trinity is so unified that what one does all three do together.  The Fruit of the Spirit is the Holy Spirit manifesting His personality in those who walk according to Him.  That is living in obedience to the word of Christ.  There is also the reality of the Father, Son and Spirit taking up residence in the obedient Christian. 
 
By making themselves at home in a person, that is what abiding means in 1 John 3:24, pictures an active participation with that person.  Imagine God being an active partner in everything you’re doing!  How much do you believe that might change you?  I imagine it would change almost everything and in a good way.  But that is what comes from being a disciple.  Disciples are people who continue in God’s word.  They know the truth about God and life.  That is the truth that makes one free John 8:31-32.