For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, ROM 8:29.

Scripture warns, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ," COL 2:8. This warns us to beware of human reasoning or philosophies, which are not totally founded upon God's Word. One of the most positive evidences of salvation is that conformity to the image of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said in Joh 14:23, "If a man love Me, he will keep My words." In other words, if a man loves Jesus he will walk in obedience, "and my Father will love him." Then what does He say? "And we will make our abode with him." The "High and Lofty One" dwells, "in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit," ISA 57:15.

He dwells in the heart of those who "keep my words", in the heart of those who fear the Lord that, "delighteth greatly in His commandments," PS 112:1. They are those who have that work of grace in the soul. They have that new desire to do His will.

Jesus said, "If a man loves me," see the identifying mark. "He will keep my commandments." This is the identifying mark of those who truly love the Lord. "And my Father will love him, and we will make our abode with him." Is there anything more blessed?

This is so beautiful. "Herein, is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples," Joh 15:8. It is in the bearing of that fruit that the Father is glorified. What is that fruit? The fruit is that of which we just spoke in Joh 14, the fruit of obedience. It is that fruit of walking according to the revealed will of God.

Let's see how Jesus shows us what it means to be conformed to His blessed image. Oh beloved, it is so precious if we may have but one glimpse of how the Father is so glorified by our being conformed to that perfect righteousness, "that conformity of life to the divine law," that perfect obedience of His Son. This righteousness of Christ has been imparted unto all who have that Spirit of Christ and who have that spiritual desire.

We cannot keep His commandments in perfection, nor will we inherit salvation by our own works, but our obedience is the fruit of salvation. It says, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." The Lord tells us in 1 Jo 2:3-6, "And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him . . . He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He also walked."

Jesus said, "Even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love," so we also keep his commandments. This is the fruit of that love. This is the fruit which Christ and the Father are looking for.