We are NOT to strive to avoid what is prohibited, but to perform what is commanded. Real obedience desires truth in the most inward parts of a person’s soul and spirit.
What obligations are Christians’ under to be obedient to God?
Do you perform to the commandments of God? If you do, is it made alive by love? We all begin as children who are obedient to their parents, in school, to their teachers, in industry or business, to their employer. We are also to be obedient to the laws of our government, and principally to the Word of God.
The supreme test of one’s faith in God is obedience. The obedience Jesus had to His Father is the supreme example for us.
The church is one body; having one head; all with one purpose, and all in agreement with God’s Holy Word. So what obligations are Christians’ under to be obedient to God?
1. First it is to be from the relationship we have with God as part of His creation.
Psalms 95:6, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” Broken and humbled before the God of glory.
2. From the law He has revealed to us in His word,
a. Psalms 119:1-3, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.”
Verse 3 “They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways.”
b. 2 Peter 1:5-7, “To this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”
3. From the blessings of God’s providence we are continually receiving,
a. Acts 14:17, “Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
b. Psalms 145, read all. I will quote a few verses. His wonderful works, His awesome acts, His greatness, His great goodness, His righteousness, compassion, slowness to anger, mercy, glory, power, etc.
4. From the love and goodness of God in the grand work of redemption.
1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
5. Our obedience has to be active, not in word only. We are NOT to strive to avoid what is prohibited, but to perform what is commanded.
Colossians 3:8-10, “But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of you mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man (and woman) with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him.”
6. Christ has obeyed the law for us as a convenient of works, yet He has not repealed it as a rule of life.
a. Romans 7:20, Paul wrote, “Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”
b. Romans 3:31, “Do we than make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”
7. Our obedience must be sincere.
a. Psalms 51:6, “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”
b. 1 Timothy 1:5, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and o faith unfeigned.”
8. Affectionate, springing from love and not from fear or violence.
a. 1 John 5:19, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
b. 1 John 2:5, “Whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.”
c. 2 Corinthians 5:14, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.”
9. We must be diligent, not inactive.
a. Galatians 1:16, “To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen:”
b. Psalms 18:44, “As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers (foreigners) shall submit themselves unto me.”
c. Romans 12:11, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit: serving the Lord.”
10. We must be conspicuous and open,
a. Philippians 2:15, “That ye may be blameless and harmless (innocent,) the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”
b. Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
11. We must be obedient to duty, it must always be performed. It must be perpetual, in every place, occasion, and at all times.
What advantages does a Christian have when they are obedience?
1. Obedience adorns the Gospel. Titus 2:10, Shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrines of God our Saviour in all things.”
2. It clearly proves grace.
2 Corinthians 5:17, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all thing are become new.”
3. A great deal of joy will be seen in the pastors, ministers and the people.
a. 3 John 3, “I rejoiced greatly, when the brethern came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.”
b. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, “For what is the hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy.”
It silences those who contradict the Scriptures. It encourages the saints, while reproving those who are lukewarm.
Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine befoe men, that they may see you good works, and glorify yourFather which is in heaven.”
Obedience gives peace to the knowledge of it.
Psalms 25:12-13, What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that He shall choose. His soul whall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.”
Acts 24:16, “Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience voit of offence to ward God, and toward men.”
Obedience is the forerunner and evidence of God’s eternal glory.
a. Romans 6:22, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
b. Revelation 22:14, “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com