Few believers know anything about the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as a result do not place any great importance on being faithful to God in daily life. In this study we will seek to understand why Christ’s obedience was vital, and what it means for us today.
Adam, the first man, through disobedience became unrighteous and passed this condition onto all his descendants, “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19). This disobedience brought both physical and spiritual death to all, “For as in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22). Because we are “in” Adam by natural birth we immediately came under the power of sin and death. Adam's situation after his transgression is the situation of all the unredeemed. We think like Adam, we live like Adam, and we speak like Adam - because we have inherited in our genes, and in our hearts, the seeds of Adam's rebellion and sin. We have the heart of Adam - a heart corrupted and ruined by sin. Therefore we must be brought to see that in ourselves, that is in the flesh “dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18). Adam's carnal nature rules the heart, and man is "dead in trespasses and sins” because of it (Ephesians 2:1), and there is nothing we can humanly do to change this situation.
The Second Adam, Jesus Christ, came to offer humanity a new start if they would trust in His sacrificial death. The sinner who accepts Him is united with Him and pronounced righteous by God. The redeemed are “in” Christ through His act of obedience, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22) ... “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45) ... “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from Heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:47).
Christ’s obedience made a way possible for the descendents of Adam to become righteous in God’s eyes, “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). True righteousness can only be found in Jesus Christ. The foundation of our justification is in the atoning blood of the righteous Saviour, and thus we can partake of His righteousness, “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end” (Hebrews 3:14).
What if the Lord had not been obedient in all He was sent to do? Would His blood still avail for our sins? We would still be lost in our sins if He had not obeyed His Father’s will in every way. “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).
God simply asked Adam to obey Him regarding one thing, but through disobedience all of us became the children of disobedience, under Satan’s control and deserving of God’s wrath, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2) ... “The wrath of God upon the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:6) ... “For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience” (Colossians 3:6). That curse remained until Christ removed it by His blood on Calvary. Since disobedience is the root of all sin, it had to be cut out.
This root was removed by undoing what Adam had done. Jesus replaced the first Adam’s disobedience with His obedience. Just as Adam’s disobedience brought universal unrighteousness, so Christ’s obedience brought universal righteousness for all who will repent and be saved. “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:18-19) ... “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).
Christ’s death on the cross and the new life that results from it ought to animate us into a life of faithful obedience towards God. This is certain proof that we are no longer “children of disobedience”, “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1-2) ... “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:1-6) ... “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience” (Colossians 3:5-6).
If Adam’s disobedience once ruled our lives, now Christ’s obedience ought to reign in us, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). By accepting Christ’s righteousness by faith we are set on a pathway of total submission to God, one that will flourish and prosper every step of the way. Why did He save us if not to live as obedient children?
Page created 23 June 2006