Many of us live under this false assumption that we have to prove we love God. According to Dr. Jeff Bogue, this couldn’t be more wrong.

“Jesus says that the work of faith is to believe in the one who sent Him. When we think about good works, we like to say that we work from love, not for love.”

Earlier in his life, Jeff says he was taught that once he accepted Christ, it was time to get his act together. In other words, God wanted proof that Jeff really loved him.

“You start going to church, reading your Bible, praying, and doing good deeds. It was this idea that if you did not obey God that you were not truly saved and the way that you measured if you were saved was by the culmination of your good deeds.”

This left Jeff striving to prove that he loved God as he claimed. Jeff says that this lifestyle flies in the face of what Jesus did on earth.

“He completed the work when He died on the cross for us, it’s not a righteousness that we earn for ourselves or a way that we sanctify ourselves. Christ did that work for us.”

Any righteousness we think we can muster up ourselves isn’t really righteousness at all.

“Living in our identity as sanctified children of God motivates us to live according to God’s Word. I work from gratitude, I work from love, I work for the glory of God, not with a fear that I might not make it at the end of time, but with a confidence that I will because of who I am in Christ.”

Much of the confusion about God’s love stems from a misinterpretation of John 15:14 wherein God says that those who love him will obey him.

“I was taught that obedience is God’s love language. If you want to prove to God that you love Him, you’ll obey Him.”

One day, Jeff’s friend changed his faulty perspective on obedience forever when he asked several penetrating questions.

“What if you work to love Christ and obedience is the byproduct of loving Christ? What if obedience is not the evidence, but the natural outcome of loving Christ?


Dr. Jeff Bogue is a pastor whose passion is to help Jesus make sense to young adults. He has been married to Heidi for twenty-three years and they have six children.

Key Scripture: John 3:30

Featured Songs: Eye of the Storm – Ryan Stevenson; Forgiven – Crowder; Love Broke Through – Toby Mac

Five assumptions about God