I think the *if-then* is sometimes misinterpreted.
In particular where is says, *If you love me, you will obey my commandments*.
That can be taken two ways.
One that leads to adding works to belief, thinking that that makes it faith that saves. So we try to go about working, working, working, thinking that we are obeying Him thus proving that we love Him. Obeying Him then becomes a burden. OK, Lord. I love you therefore I have to obey you. *sigh*
The other way of looking at it is as a cause and effect thing.
If you love God, the natural outworking of that will be obedience. IOW, if you love Him, you WILL obey His commandments without trying. Not to worry. It’ll happen.
I hope that makes sense.
I had a thought of how to explain that better but it slipped my mind and I just cannot remember what I was going to say. When it comes back, I’ll try again.
LOL I think God took over and gave the words. That explanation was exactly right.
No, that was a perfect explanation. The first approach you mentioned with the person “sighing” smacks of someone looking to justify themselves and are not transformed to a new creature.
The second example you gave was that of a transformed new creature who WANTS to obey Him, Serve Him, and Share Him. It is the “open the eyes of my hear Lord” approach.