What’s God’s Love Language?

A Sermon on Obedience and True Repentance

Have you ever wondered what God’s love language is? We’ve all heard about the five love languages for people: acts of service, words of affirmation, gifts, quality time, and physical touch. But when it comes to God, His love language is crystal clear, and Jesus spelled it out for us:

“If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

God’s love language is OBEDIENCE. Not lip service, not just warm feelings during worship, but a life that says, “Lord, I trust You enough to follow Your ways—even when it’s hard.”

Love Isn’t Just a Feeling—It’s Action

Let’s be honest. We’ve all had those moments where we say we love God but live like we don’t. It’s like telling your spouse, “I love you,” but never listening, never helping, never showing up. That’s not love; it’s convenience.

True love for God isn’t about saying the right things or sitting in the pew on Sunday. It’s about aligning our lives with His Word—not our interpretations of it, not a denomination’s spin on it, but the pure, sovereign Word of God.

Denominations: A Man-Made Distraction

Did you know there are over 45,000 Christian denominations worldwide? That’s a lot of opinions about how to follow Jesus! But here’s the kicker: God didn’t create denominations—people did.

Jesus prayed for unity among His followers (John 17:21), but denominations often divide us more than they unite us. They can become political constructs, prioritizing tradition or human preferences over the truth of God’s Word.

Let me be clear: salvation isn’t belonging to the “right” denomination. It’s being a follower of Christ, obeying His commandments, and living in true repentance.

The Purpose of Salvation: Becoming Christlike

Salvation isn’t just a ticket to heaven. It’s about transformation. The goal is to prepare you for eternal life with Christ by shaping you into His image. To be Christlike means to walk as Jesus walked. Think about how He lived:

• He loved sacrificially.

  
  

• He obeyed the Father completely.

  
  

• He forgave endlessly.

  
  

• He resisted sin perfectly.

  
  

Being a follower of Christ means striving to reflect His character. It’s not about perfection—none of us can achieve that—but about direction. Are you moving closer to Jesus or drifting further away?

True Repentance: More Than a One-Time Prayer

Let’s talk about repentance, because it’s a word that often gets misunderstood.

Repentance isn’t a one-time prayer where you say, “I’m sorry,” and go back to living the same way. It’s a lifestyle of turning away from sin and toward God. Imagine you’re on a road called Sin Avenue, speeding toward destruction. Repentance is not tapping the brakes or slowing down. It’s hitting the brakes, doing a U-turn, and heading back toward God’s path.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:10: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

True repentance is more than regret; it’s a change of heart that leads to a change in action.

The Danger of Living in Sin

Here’s a sobering truth: calling yourself a Christian doesn’t guarantee salvation. Jesus warned us in Matthew 7:21-23:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Living in deliberate sin while claiming grace is like slapping a “saved” sticker on a sinking ship. Grace isn’t a license to sin; it’s the power to overcome sin.

Revelation 3:5 warns that names can be ERASED out of the Book of Life. If you’re clinging to sin, don’t be deceived. God’s mercy is vast, but His justice is real.

The Joy of Obedience

Obedience isn’t a burden; it’s a blessing. When you obey God, you align yourself with His perfect will. You experience peace, joy, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re living for something eternal.

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” 

Obedience illuminates the way forward, even when life feels dark.

There’s No Such Thing as Coincidence

Now, let’s talk about how God works in your life. Have you ever met someone or experienced something at just the right moment and thought, “What are the odds?” Let me tell you: there are no odds with God. There’s no such thing as coincidence.

God is sovereign, and every person, every circumstance, every challenge is part of His plan to draw you closer to Him.

Proverbs 16:9 reminds us: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

When God sends someone into your life, it’s not random. It’s a divine appointment.

Living as a True Disciple

Jesus didn’t come to recruit fans; He came to make disciples. And discipleship means surrender. It means taking up your cross daily, dying to yourself, and following Him.

Luke 9:23 says: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

A true disciple doesn’t pick and choose which parts of God’s Word to follow. They submit fully to His will, trusting that His commands are for their good.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

Church, God’s love language is obedience. If you love Him, you’ll obey His commandments—not out of fear, but out of love. True repentance isn’t about perfection; it’s about pursuit. Are you running toward Christ or clinging to sin?

Today, let’s make a choice. Will you be a fan of Jesus, or will you be His disciple? Will you treat grace like a safety net or a lifeline?

Let’s pray:

“Father, we thank You for Your love, mercy, and truth. Teach us to love You in the way You desire—through obedience to Your Word. Help us to live in true repentance, turning away from sin and walking in Your light. We surrender our lives to You, not just in words but in action. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Remember obedience is the heartbeat of love, and repentance is the path to freedom. Walk in it.