“COMMANDMENTS”
Jn 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Jn 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me
1 Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments
1 Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
2 Jn 6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
Rev 12:17 who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Rev 14:12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Mt 19:16-19 “And behold, one came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus said; “keep my commandments” and “He said “keep the commandments” which far exceeds the 10 commandments and lets not forget: Mt 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you”. This certainly would include baptism and the Lord’s supper!

“HOLINESS”
“…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be HOLY and without blemish before Him in love,” (Eph1:4)

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as He who called you is HOLY, you also become HOLY in all conduct, because it is written, Be HOLY, because I am HOLY. And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, behave yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your vain way of life received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1Pet1:13-19)

“And he said to me, Do not seal the Words of the Prophecy of this Book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is HOLY, let him be HOLY still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to what his work shall be.” (Rev22:10-12)

What the world is, is what WE ONCE WERE: “..being dead in trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world..” (Eph2:1-2) But God did -NOT- ‘accept us as we are’; but He changed us, putting us “in Christ” and giving us a “new” nature by the birth that is “from above”. (2Co5:17, Eph2:3-5, Jn3:3, etc)

WORKS:
Jesus accomplished the works of His Father during His earthly sojourn (John 4:34; 5:17; 5:36; 10:32-37; 14:10-13; 17:4).
The Father gives us work to accomplish during our earthly sojourn (Acts 13:2; 1 Corinthians 16:10; Ephesians 2:10).
God has appointed us over the works of His hands (Genesis 1:27-28; Hebrews 2:7).
We are called to please God by bearing fruit in every good work (Colossians 1:10; Hebrews 13:21).
Our work will be tested and rewarded by God (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).
We must work for the food which endures to eternal life (John 6:27-29).

May you abound in Grace and May you grow in Grace and Grace be with you. Sounds like God’s Grace is something that can be cultivated and increased. Perhaps that Grace is deeper illumination and manifestion in man the image of The Lord JESUS Christ. Something to think about.

Agape, David