Werner Hamukoto

His Commandments Are Not Burdensome

The commandments of God are not burdensome when we have been truly born again and are walking rightly, following Christ in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Instead of a burden, there is actually joy and contentment in such a soul. Even when difficulties do come, such a soul is sorrowful, yet rejoicing. And, dear saints, that is how we shock this burdensome world and point all who are watching us to the Saviour.

It is very common to hear statements amongst Christians such as, “This life is not easy,” or “It is not easy being a Christian.” Now, we all agree that there is a cost to being a Christian. However, the cost is usually not what is in view. A type of burden is usually assumed. So we now ask: Is being a Christian burdensome? Are God’s commandments burdensome? 1 John 5:1-5 is helpful here to aid us in answering the question as well as to give guidance to liberate Christians from this assumed burden. John Piper’s reflection on the passage is helpful, and I will borrow his thoughts on the matter.
Read 1 John 5:1-5 before moving on.
Rebirth Reorientates Us Towards God’s Commandments
This passage tells us that the commandments of God are not burdensome. Why not? Because “everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” Here is our roadmap for the journey, telling us how to get to the point in our lives where the commandments of God are not a burden, but a joy.
1 John 5:4 says that two things overcome the world:

Being born of God
Our faith. 

And 1 John 5:1 sets out the relationship between faith and new birth (being born again). “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God.” So our new birth gives rise to faith in the promises of God. This faith overcomes the world. And that overcoming takes away the burdensomeness of God’s commandments.
How Does This Work? 
What is the connection between the burdensomeness of God’s commandments and the world? It seems to be two-fold.
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The Centrality of the Christian Faith

Abraham was saved by faith. So the question is: Do you believe in God and trust his promises, as the patriarch did? Here is what Paul says about Abraham’s faith: Abraham (1) believed God’s promise; (2) believed on the basis of the Word of God only; (3) believed in spite of adverse circumstances; (4) was fully assured that God would do whatever he had promised; and (5) acted on that confidence.

Romans 4:23-24
The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Paul began Romans with an analysis of man’s lost condition. The human race is under the wrath of God for its failure to receive the revelation of God that he has made in nature, and its refusal to thank God for creation and to seek him more fully in order to worship him. Instead of following the truth, people have suppressed the truth, and in its place, they have created imaginary gods like themselves and even like animals. Having turned from God, who is the source of all good, they are on a downhill path, which they will follow until they come at last to the point where they are willing to call good evil and evil good.
No one naturally agrees with this assessment, of course. It is part of what rejecting truth is all about. So Paul next spends time dealing with the arguments of those who exempt themselves from those conclusions, including the ethically moral person and the religious person. The end of his argument is that all stand condemned before God.
Finally, Paul unfolds the gospel, showing that God acted to save sinners through the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The Christian’s Ultimate Longing

The ultimate longing of the Christian is his/her glorification. When finally, we will be removed from this body of weakness and sin, and clothed in total perfection. When no member in us is tempted to draw us to despair and sin but is only drawn to righteousness (Romans 6:13). When worship is the only default setting in us and the joy of the LORD is our only joy. 

The world in its best efforts tries to persuade every man to hope and fulfillment. It offers electrical security gadgets to grant protection; it offers medical aid to grant health care; etc. Sadly, it is only a matter of time when one actually realizes that all that the world gives and promises has its own expiry date and is in need of an upgrade. Therefore I ask the question, ‘What in the world are you groaning for?’ Often we are caught longing and seriously in pursuit of wrong things. We make it our ambition to obtain all that our heart desires, but after we have acquired it, we are still found wanting and groaning.
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