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Verse

John 14:21

ESV Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
NIV Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."
NASB The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.'
CSB The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him."
NLT Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.'
KJV He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
NKJV He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

What does John 14:21 mean?

Earlier in this passage, Jesus noted that those who love Him would obey His teachings (John 14:15). He followed that statement with reassurance that the Holy Spirit would come to be in believers (John 14:17). Our ability to follow the will of God depends on the influence of His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14–16). Later, Jesus will reinforce this idea of the Spirit guiding and teaching believers (John 15:26; 16:7–11).

Here, a person's obedience to Christ's teaching is presented as evidence that they do, indeed, have faith in Him. Good works cannot produce salvation (Titus 3:5), but salvation will produce an attitude of obedience (Romans 1:5). Passages such as James 2:18 echo this same sentiment. John, himself, makes note of this idea many times in his letters (1 John 2:3–6; 2 John 1:6; 3 John 1:11). At no point does Scripture suggest that we must do good to earn or keep our salvation. Yet, it frequently indicates that salvation influences our lives—where there is no such influence, there is no faith.

This idea of being "manifest" to the world follows from Jesus' earlier comment about the world not seeing or accepting the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). Those who reject God won't see Him—those who reject Christ reject God (John 14:9). Those who truly love God are those who accept Him, in faith, and receive the Holy Spirit (John 14:15–17). In a very literal sense, the world will no longer see Jesus—the crucifixion represents the end of His physical appearance to non-believers (John 14:19). In a spiritual sense, only those who accept Christ will see and understand God (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The "manifestation," so far as it applies to Christians, has a spectrum. For example, those who exhibit greater or more mature love for God will more readily understand Him (John 14:28).
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