The topic of obedience is so clearly presented in the New Testament that it is a wonder so many find it unimportant. Is not God dishonoured when this vital truth is ignored? It is impossible to be included in the ranks of the faithful if obedience is not part of the Christian’s life.
The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to pay the supreme sacrifice for sin, and His willingness to go to the cross was part of His obedience to the Father, “Then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10:9) ... “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30). This is a part of what Paul meant when he wrote, “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” Philippians 2:8).
The teachings of Jesus contain many references to the need of obedience; in fact, He states that His followers must obey Him if they are going to reach Heaven, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Clearly, it is impossible to be a Christian without obedience, “If ye love me, keep my commandments ... 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 ... If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings” (John 14:15, 21, 23-24). No matter how we gloss over these statements, one fact will be bold for all to see, that is, disobedience is a sign that we do not love the Lord, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love” (John 15:10).
This kind of obedience is not spoken off in our pulpits today because it is alien to the understanding of the majority. No wonder there is so much powerlessness. There needs to be a return to wholehearted loving obedience towards God.
The apostles taught the need of obedience too. Here we will take a look at what Peter, Paul, James and John had to say on the subject.
a) Peter. Peter understood that obedience was a vital ingredient in the believer’s life, even if it meant suffering and death. He boldly told those who withstood his preaching, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). This is an active rather than passive obedience. Peter would not accept the idea that a disobedient person could have the Holy Spirit, “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32). Obedience is the very nature of the child of God, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (1 Peter 1:14-15), in fact we cannot claim to be holy without it, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22).
b) Paul. What is faith without obedience? Paul in Romans 1:5 reveals how inseparable they are, “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name.” In his final comments in the same letter he writes, “But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26). Therefore, those who claim to have faith ought to obey God, “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed” (Romans 15:18). Paul teaches that we should fashion our obedience after Christ’s, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8). This is the only way that we can truly bring God glory, “And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
c) James. James would fall foul of the modern Faith Movement. Though Abraham was justified by faith, his faith had to include obedience to God, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” (James 2:21-22). Faith is dead without obedience, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone ... Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only ... For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” James 2:17, 24, 26). Many hear the truth, claim it and proclaim it, but few act upon it, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:22, 25).
d) John. The apostle John uses some of the strongest terms found in the Bible regarding obedience. Those who disobey God while maintaining they are Christians are really hypocrites and liars, “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). Obedience is certain proof that Christ is in us, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:18-22). The obedient follower of Christ will never doubt that God loves him, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:2-3).
If obedience is so prominent in Scripture why is it flippantly dismissed by today’s church? The love of sin must be at the root of such disobedience, and is the cause of our failure in prayer and work. The more we obey God the greater will be our enjoyment of His presence. Obedience must be both the starting and finishing point of our Christian life. Without it faith is defective. True faith means to be fully surrendered to God’s will and purposes.
Page created 17 June 2006