Loving Jesus!

Jean Maurice Prosper

Copyright

Copyright Jean Maurice M. Prosper 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any
means, graphic,electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission
of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles
and reviews.All Scriptures, except if otherwise stated, are from the Holman Christian Study Bible (HCSB)version.
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Dedication

To my parents, Claire and Melchiade, who brought me up in a better way than they knew. The work
they performed when I was a small child is now producing its fruit.
To my wife, Esther-Grace, and my children, Holy-Grace and Matthew, for being very patient and loving to me. You have been the best things that God has given me. God has shown how great he is by blessing me with the gift of your presence in my life; I am forever grateful and thankful to the Lord for that.
To my friends at Praize, with whom I have spent so much time in studies and in Christian living discussions. It is thanks to you that I have learned so much and have been able to grow for the past years.
Finally, I want to dedicate this book to every reader. God has a great plan for each of you. He has provided salvation for you for better things. He wants a real fellowship with you all. I pray that you can
use this book as a tool that will help you discern and understand the difference between loving Jesus and
just knowing about him .
We are here to serve him with all our heart, with all our might, with all our soul and with all our soul.
Let us give him his rightful place in our lives, the place above all things.

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CHAPTER 1

Do I really Love
Jesus?
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
J.D is like the normal young adult, he likes to go out, like to have fun, is trying
hard to make more money and want to live a high-profile life. His idea of success
is to have a great brand car, big house and thriving on money. Like his peers of his
age, he is also what we could call a womanizer, for he has a quite active sexual
life. He does has lot of friends, hang out with them, and is the typical cheerleader
type of guy, the one that will always make a crowd or group of friends laugh and
feel comfortable, even with his foul languages.
Sarah on the other hand is a very attractive young individual, she is divorced
already at her young age, but already into a new relationship. She too has her sight
set on achieving success, which will be characterized with a wealthy bank account
and socializing with the rich, having her own SUV, big house and everything that
comes with living a life of wealth. She is a business woman and as such has an
iron-hand if we can say so. There is no room for compassion in business, time is
money and there is no time to be gentle. Its either her or them.
Paul, who is a married man, father of three kids, has a great spouse and a
great Job. As every young man of his ages (he is in his 40s), like to hang out in
night clubs and pubs to chill out. Just like his other friends, married and unmar-

ried, he occasionally cheats on his wife and dont feel that much uncomfortable
with this. The business trips are seldom occasions for this to happen.
Joyce is a hard worker, she is just working to make a sense of her life. She has
no wealth crisis, and is not looking to be a social success, but just working and living out her life peacefully. She goes to church, attends various Christian events and
believes that she is a born again Christian. She has her own house where she lives
with her boyfriend but they are not yet married. She is just as the normal couples
of this generation.
Lastly we have Chad, this one is quite a strange bird. He is in his 20s and is
still studying. He is looking up to be a good father, good spouse, brother and a family man. His free time he spends it with his group of friends that he meets every
Fridays and Sundays at Church. He still has no girlfriend as he thinks its not yet
important to look into this and is waiting for the right one to come, the one that
God will show him in the right time. Though he could be a very successful accountant or businessperson, Chad is not looking into becoming a social success.
He is rather willing to go where God will send him and has not personal plan except that Gods plan be his plan.
What do these four people have to do with our subject? Do I really
Love Jesus?
During the past weeks and month, I have been reflecting seriously on life. The
recent developments in my life has been quite a learning curve and its still not
over. I still wonder what is yet to come, and this is precisely what got me into thinking about life as a Christian, as a follower of Jesus. As I am updating this book, i
am undergoing chemotherapy for a cancer. As I lay on my bed resting, I still keep
thinking about what it means to really say that we love and follow Jesus. So the subject is more relevant yet again. In times of crisis, loving Jesus and expecting on
him is very crucial. Where man has no cure, or is faced with impossibilities, we seldom turn desperately to God.
All these four lads, all of them say that they love Jesus. They say that they are
Christians, believers in Jesus. They are not the only people I have met so far. Most
of those that I have met have these general type of life (enjoying it to the max,
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making the most out of it), but fewer are like Chad who is simply following what
God is leading him to.
I must admit that this is something that really bugs me practically on a daily basis. I have been around many Christians and believers this past years and
many saying they are born again. I was and am still always concerned and find it
difficult to understand how these people have no different life (Chad excluded)
than anyone else not professing a Christian belief. I have friends from all beliefs,
and I find no difference in their thoughts, reactions, way of life,etc with the first
three guys I mentioned above. How could that be? How could I not readily see a
difference between those following Christ, and those who are not? The bible mentions that when one meets Christ, his life is transformed and he becomes a witness
of something new. If a person is in Christ, not only does that persons worldview
change, but he or she also realizes that the world itself has changed as a result of
Christs objective death and resurrection. There is no business as usual any longer:
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold,
new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.(Ephesians 4:22-24)
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove
the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.(Ezekiel 36:26)
Matthew Henry in his commentary of 2 Corinthians 5:17, gives a clear description of what happens when one meet Jesus, He says that some read it, Let him be
a new creature. This ought to be the care of all who profess the Christian faith,
that they be new creatures; not only that they have a new name, and wear a new
livery, but that they have a new heart and new nature. So great is the change the
grace of God makes in the soul, that, as it follows, old things are passed awayold
thoughts, old principles, and old practices, are passed away; and all these things
must become new. Note, Regenerating grace creates a new world in the soul; all

things are new. The renewed man acts from new principles, by new rules, with
new ends, and in new company.

How is it that change is not manifested in the lives of these people?

Why is it not the case for them?
The struggle came a personal one as I started to ask myself: Am I not different
after meeting Jesus? Have I not changed a bit? Has my life not started to seem different to others, dont they see I am a changed man? Have I really accepted Jesus,
Do I really Love him? Are these verses applicable to the new me? I was concerned
because the proof of having Jesus in our life is the radical change that takes place.
If I had met Jesus but that my surrounding did not see any change in me, then it is
a real problem and it has to be with me.
When I meet these other Christians, we start talking about what is required
when we follow Jesus and what it meant to have a Holy Life. We talk about things
like remaining pure (by this I mean to be sexually pure and inactive), avoiding adultery (adventures as we call it now) and fornication, seeking the things of heaven,
giving up on lies and foul languages, having a prayer life, helping the poor, treating
others well, loving your enemies (or those who you do not get along well). Showing
love and respect in business environment and in ANY relationship, not conforming to this world (avoiding to follow culture and social pressure) Homosexuality
and all these similar topics. I am surprised to see that these thing are NOT important to them or that they find it normal that these are present in their lives and accepted by the society. Many do not want to give up on these or they don't even
want to think about these issues. Its not important for them, at least it the impression that I get from our discussions.
When I talk about no sex before marriage, its as if I am someone who came
from the past. When you explain that going out to night clubs is not something
that is to be encouraged, then you dont know anything about stress and socializing. Some even say that Jesus would have gone to the Night Clubs if there were
any in his time. Dating and having sex is seen as normal. Divorce and remarriage
is normal too, just as having a slip that leads
to adultery. Others also think that be6

ing gay (living a homosexual life) and being a Christian is okay too. These things
can happen and are in a certain way acceptable. These very people say that they
do have a relationship with Jesus and that they love Jesus. After all, Jesus is Love
and He loves everyone just as they are.
As I read the verses about the holiness of God, I asked God about them?
What had happened to this following request?
But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written,
You shall be holy, for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16)
Being Holy is required in strong terms, and enforced by three reasons, taken
from the grace of God in calling us,from his command, it is written,and from
his example. Be you holy, for I am holy. The grace of God in calling a sinner is a powerful engagement to holiness. It is a great favor to be called effectually by divine
grace out of a state of sin and misery into the possession of all the blessings of the
new covenant; and great favors are strong obligations; they enable as well as oblige
to be holy. Complete holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian. Here is a
two-fold rule of holiness: It must, for the extent of it, be universal. We must be
holy, and be so in all manner of conversation; in all civil and religious affairs, in
every condition, prosperous or reverse; towards all people, friends and enemies; in
all our intercourse and business still we must be holy. For the pattern of it. We
must be holy, as God is holy: we must imitate him, though we can never equal
him. He is perfectly, unchangeably, and eternally holy; and we should aspire after
such a state. The consideration of the holiness of God should oblige as to the highest degree of holiness we can attain unto. The written word of God is the surest
rule of a Christians life, and by this rule we are commanded to be holy every way.
The Old-Testament commands are to be studied and obeyed in the times of the
New Testament; the apostle, by virtue of a command delivered several times by
Moses, requires holiness in all Christians. (Matthew Henry)

CHAPTER 2

Knowing Jesus ?
Fortunately I have also met other people whose lives have been completely transformed (just like Chad), who gave up on many things (the change just happened
naturally), and are now leading a life that is characteristic of the teachings of Jesus, heading for holy lives.
One day while I was still thinking on this subject and trying to make sense of it
all, I started to pray and asked God for help, because I was really not making any
sense out of it all. I wanted to be able to know which is right and which is wrong,
how to be able to discern between the true heirs of the kingdom and those who
are not. Is it true that change do not happen when we meet Jesus and that we can
continue o live our past lives with Jesus forgiving our sins and fault every time
now? Its not to judge or condemn them, but to be able to help them change and
lead them to the right path. If we want to be able to help, we need to know how to
recognize them.
One morning, as I was reading my bible, I had these thoughts in my mind:
Jesus, how will I know that I really love you? How do someone know someone
has really given his life to you? What are the signs that can help me know who my
true brothers are?
My attention was brought to some verses, and these are the verses I want to
share with you. These have helped my understanding and this is how my questions
were answered.
In John 14:15 Jesus says: If you love me, you willkeep my commandments. Then Jesus continues and says that he will send the comforter to help us
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(the Holy Spirit) and be with us forever. In this particular verse or at this particular
moment, Jesus was talking to his disciples and was also replying to some of their
questions and questions. So Jesus tells them that if they really loved him, they will
keep his commandments. It dawned on me then, that part of loving Christ is to
obey his commands, in love.
When I think about it, I seldom tells my kids that if they dont do what I say or
obey my commands, they cant say that they love me much. It is not the same
thing as with Jesus and his disciples, but I can certainly relate to this! We can surely
relate also between the spouse and his wife, how can you say you love each other
and yet dont do that the other ask of you? The basis of loving is to do what is
asked of you. You show your love by doing what the other ask of you.
Then, later in the texts, precisely in verse 14:21, Jesus makes a broader declaration. In the previous verse, we saw that he was talking and addressing his immediate followers and disciples. In this verse, Jesus is talking to a broader audience, he
is making a general declaration to anyone who would hear (and read about it).
Whoever has my commandments andkeeps them, he it is who loves me. Andhe who loves
mewill be loved by my Father, and I will love him andmanifestmyself to him. (John 14:21
NIV)
Jesus is saying thatWhoever anyone, everyone has my commands
who knows what his commands (teachings) are and keeps them and obey
these commands by putting them in practice, making them their rule of life, literally living by them He it is who love me this is the person who really loves Jesus.
If I had to rewrite it on todays way of saying things, then it would be like this:
Anyone who has heard all of my commandments, and has accepted them, acknowledge that they are true and decides to adopt
them, live by them, then this persons is really showing that he loves
me.
This is the verse that shed much light on my questions. After reading it and
meditating on it, I have come to the conclusion that there is a sequence of events
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preceding to obtaining the grace of salvation, ( I am not saying that there are
works that we need to do, but simply that some things are important that explains
why so many people dont live up to Jesus demands). My remarks are based on
what Jesus says (for he continues to say the same thing to anyone that comes to
know of his teaching by reading or hearing the bible) in John 14:21.
The first important note is this: Who has my commands. The first step is to
become aware of that and WHO Jesus is really. We need to know his teachings
and what he expects of his followers. I think that the first thing is to really listen to
Jesus. This is how it was in his time, with so many people coming to hear what he
had to say before they could make up their minds, and we know that so many
failed because they could not accept what he had to teach. Remember of the
young rich man who wanted to know how to get to heaven? We cant really say we
know Jesus without really knowing what he talks about, what he thinks and what
he wants us to do. Similarly you dont normally enter a relationship with someone
unless you have come to know this person, his views, his thoughts, his expectations,
etc. Only then you accept to live your life with this person.
This is the reason that there is so many divorce today. Many couples have this
tendency of entering into a marriage covenant without really knowing or understanding that this means for commitment and sacrifice. Same can apply to every
segment of your life, even for your studies and job! We must always take time to
learn about what we are engaging ourselves into. Take this as a good principle in
everything you do.
So its imperative that just at the crowd spent time and days following Jesus and
listening to him, we too have to know his words and teachings before we can take
a real decision about following him or not. Else it is not a decision of the heart, it
will be a lightly taken decision.
Second, what struck me was when he saidThose who keeps them. This second part is crucial in my opinion. It is the personal conviction that the commandments of Jesus has touched us and that we have decided to start following them
and living by them. We decide after having heard his teachings and his requirements to put them to practice and experiment them, we turn down our old ways,
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and try the new ways that Jesus is showing to us. We do this by changing our
minds, hearts and life to reflect what and how Jesus is asking us to live and behave.
We do this because we have at this stage developed a sense of trust and confidence
in what Jesus has been teaching. After careful mediation, much analysis and pondering, we finally see the teachings of Christ as being the only way. The crowd
that continuously followed Jesus, is an example. I think that they continuously
came because they wanted to know more and make up a decision before choosing
to become his disciple or not. These were people who had many problems and
were looking for solutions. Once convinced that Jesus was the way, they become
part of His disciples. This leads to the last part.
He it is who loves me. By adopting and living by the commandments (and
various teachings) of Christ, by fully accepting to live by these, we are showing our
love for him because we see that we find ourselves renewed. This is where we then
can fully accept Jesus in our lives and confess that he is indeed the LORD of our
lives, doing so, shows that we love and trust him. We do this because we love him,
we love his commands, and we know that this is the truth and that we can only
hope in him.
Who they are whom Christ will look upon, and accept, as lovers of him; those
that have his commandments, and keep them. By this Christ shows that the kind
things he here said to his disciples were intended not for those only that were now
his followers, but for all that should believe in him through their word. Here is, (1.)
The duty of those who claim the dignity of being disciples. Having Christs commandments, we must keep them; as Christians in name and profession we have
Christs commandments, we have them sounding in our ears, written before our
eyes, we have the knowledge of them; but this is not enough; would we approve
ourselves Christians indeed, we must keep them. Having them in our heads, we
must keep them in our hearts and lives. (2.) The dignity of those that do the duty
of disciples. They are looked upon by Christ to be such as love him. Not those that
have the greatest wit and know how to talk for him, but those that keep his commandments. Note, The surest evidence of our love to Christ is obedience to the
laws of Christ. Such is the love of a subject to his sovereign, a dutiful, respectful,
obedient love, a conformity to his will, and satisfaction in his wisdom. (M.Henry)
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CHAPTER 3

Loving Jesus.
This is the answer I got from scripture. NO one can really love Jesus and accept
him in truth without really knowing who He is about, what his commands are and
what he expects of us. This is why many people somehow accepted Jesus emotionally without really knowing what they were into. This was not a wholehearted
conversion, or conversion of the heart. This is why we see around us, so many
false or fake Christians and believers. They made a decision which was not based
on what they knew of Jesus and his profound life changing teachings. Their hearts
had not been touched by the message of the messiah. Their decision to follow Jesus was and intellect one. Perhaps they only chose to start following him because
of what they would gain from him. Remember that Jesus was doing many miracles, deliverance and other signs and wonders. The bible tell us that many came
and were healed and delivered. Many were interested in obtaining their miracle,
then head back to their day to day living. If they truly loved Jesus, they would be
coming back every day and kept following him and adopting his teachings as their
way of life.
Jesus is very clear in what he says.We understand that if you cannot keep his commandments, by his own declaration and understanding you dont really love him.
These people that I talked about earlier (and many more living out there) are
finding it tough to live by the commandments of Jesus. They are clearly NOT living by these commandments. If I apply the conclusion of Jesus, then I can tell that
they do NOT love Jesus really and that they have not chosen to embrace his gift.
This explains why on the long run, their true selves will appear. They have heard
of the ideas of Jesus, found his story great, liked it (not loved) and thought it was a
cool lifestyle that they could just adopt. As they move forward in life and now that
Jesus starts talking to them, and that they come face to face with the commandments of Christ, they suddenly realize that this is not what they thought it was and
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many have problems to accept the various changes and sacrifices that life in Jesus
requires.
For those who have understood, and known Jesus really, they have obtained salvation by grace, for it is not by our effort but by our true faith in Jesus. Salvation is
free but it requires a little bit from us: To know and trust in Jesus.
For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved ( delivered from judgment and
made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of
your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; (Eph 2:8)

According to Wiersbe, God could have allowed us to go on in sin and live eternally with the devil in hell, but instead He chose to save us. He gave us life (quickened us), raised us from the grave of sin, and took us out of the graveyard! More
than that, He made us members of Christ! We have been quickened together,
raised together, and we sit together in the heavenlies. God did this because He is
rich in mercy and great in love. Mercy means that God does not give me what I do
deserve; grace means that He gives me what I dont deserve.
By His grace God has granted new life to believers (2:46). The basis for the
new life is Gods great love and mercy. Believers have been united with Christ in
His resurrected life. Formerly people apart from Christ were dead, enslaved, and
objects of wrath. In Christ believers are now alive, enthroned, and objects of
grace.
My intent is not to criticize but to make you reflect on your true life in Christ.
The world offer so many alternative Christlike behaviors and beliefs, but yet these
are not the ones that will lead you to salvation.
When we come to know Christ, our lives MUST be transformed in such a way
that the new life has nothing to do with the previous one. If you are not yet there,
dont let the evil one seduce you and make you believe its normal to know Jesus
and yet still continue with your struggles, addictions, failures, sins and worldly lusts
and love. This is not what Jesus promised and certainly not what being transformed in the image of Christ means. Jesus came to earth to deliver us from the
dominion of sin, and transfer us into the kingdom of light.

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Who saved us from the power of darkness, and transferred into the kingdom of the Son of his
love: (Colossians 1:13)
Matthew Henry explain this verse in his own clear terms: He has rescued us
from the state of heathenish darkness and wickedness. He hath saved us from the
dominion of sin, which is darkness (1 Jn. 1:6), from the dominion of Satan, who is
the prince of darkness (Eph. 6:12), and from the damnation of hell, which is utter
darkness, Mt. 25:30. They are called out of darkness, 1 Pt. 2:9. 2. He hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, brought us into the gospel-state, and
made us members of the church of Christ, which is a state of light and purity.
You were once darkness, but now are you light in the Lord, Eph. 5:8. Who hath
called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, 1 Pt. 2:9. Those were made
willing subjects of Christ who were the slaves of Satan. The conversion of a sinner
is the translation of a soul into the kingdom of Christ out of the kingdom of the
devil. The power of sin is shaken off, and the power of Christ submitted to. The
law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes them free from the law of sin and
death; and it is the kingdom of his dear Son, or the Son of his peculiar love, his beloved Son (Mt. 3:17), and eminently the beloved, Eph. 1:6. 3. He hath not only
done this, but hath made us meet to partake of the inheritance of the saints in
light, v. 12. He hath prepared us for the eternal happiness of heaven, as the Israelites divided the promised land by lot; and has given us the earnest and assurance
of it.
It means that we are then no longer under the power of darkness. Sin and
temptations no longer can force us to obey to their yearning. We are completely
free to live without them. We now live under all the benefits found in the kingdom
of love. This is after all, what following Jesus will bring to us freely. We now have a
new identity, we have become a whole new creation, one that is made from the
word of God, we are born again:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which
liveth and abideth for ever. ( 1 Peter 1:23)

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God is a gentleman and has given us the freedom of choice. We are not forced
to follow Jesus. However, be warned that those who freely choose not to follow Jesus place themselves under the wrath and are already condemned by God:
"This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness
rather than the light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)
Lost sinners stand condemned already. People arent lost because they dont believe in Jesus. They simply remain lost unless they put their trust in Him. Its your
decision and your destiny. You can choose how you want to live your life. There is
much to gain but also much to lose.
I have listed down some questions that can help you to assess your status. Do
not be afraid to do it, be true to yourself. I have done this, there is much to gain,
there is LIFE to gain, ETERNAL life.
What can you say then about your love for Christ?
What is your life showing to others?
What does the commandments of Christ brings in your life?
Do you really think you can continue to live your life as you wish with continuous sins and still say that you Love Jesus?
Do you really know the meaning of Loving Jesus?
In that day you will know thatI am inmyFather, andyou in me, andI in you.Whoever
has my commandments andkeeps them, he it is who loves me. Andhe who loves mewill be loved
by my Father, and I will love him andmanifestmyself to him.Judas (not Iscariot) said to him,
Lord, how is itthat you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?Jesus answered
him,If anyone loves me, he will keepmyword, and my Father will love him, andwe will come
to him andmake our home with him.Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. Andthe
word that you hear is not mine but theFatherswho sent me.
(John 14:20-24 ESV)

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UPDATES

Changed!
The characters presented at the start of this book are real characters, only the
names have been changed.
They have read the first edition of Do I really love Jesus which appeared in a
Christian magazine. I think that they have recognized themselves in the text! I
know this because one of them came to talk to me about it.
However, I want to share that the texts or the book had the effect I wanted (and
for which I prayed so much) it to have. They have been challenged by what they
read, and since then went on the same path of seeking Jesus that I was on.
The Last time I met some of them, I have seen the change! So, yes, Jesus does
bring change in our life once we come to know him and love him really. Yes, people must see that change in us. We are to reflect his Light everywhere we go.
Don't be discouraged then, there is much to gain by giving up your life to
Christ.
As for me, this has encouraged me to continue to work in truth, for the truth
and by the spirit of truth only.

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