What Does God Expect of Us?

What expectations does God have related to our obedience and what is the purpose for obedience?

LOVE GOD….

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” — Mark 12:30

OBEY GOD…..

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15

ABIDE IN GOD’S LOVE….

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” — John 15:10

GROW IN KNOWLEDGE, JUDGEMENT, & THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS…..

“This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ…” — Philippians 1:9-11

REMAIN FREE TO CHOOSE….

“Abide ye in the liberty wherewith ye are made free; entangle not yourselves in sin, but let your hands be clean, until the Lord comes.” — Doctrine & Covenants 88:86

SERVE GOD, KNOW GOD.....

“For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?” — Mosiah 5:13

LIVE FOREVER WITH GOD…..

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” — John 17:3



The scriptural passages that establish God’s expectation that the believers will be followers and keepers of his law are FAR TOO numerous to list here. But just to demonstrate how often God is clear about his expectations, here are scriptures from just one New Testament Epistle that communicate clear expectations from the Lord:

“Walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” — Ephesians 4:17-19

“Put off… the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” — Ephesians 4:22-24

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children” — Ephesians 5:1

“Now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” — Ephesians 5:8-11

“Walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise… Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” — Ephesians 5:15-17