S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The Bible has much to say about obedience. In fact, obedience is an essential part of the Christian faith. Jesus Himself was "obedient unto death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8). For Christians, the act of taking up our cross and following Christ (Matthew 16:24) means obedience. The Bible says that we show our love for Jesus by obeying Him in all things: "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). A Christian who is not obeying Christ's commands can rightly be asked, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46).

 Obedience is defined as "dutiful or submissive compliance to the commands of one in authority." Using this definition, we see the elements of biblical obedience. "Dutiful" means it is our obligation to obey God, just as Jesus fulfilled His duty to the Father by dying on the cross for our sin. "Submissive" indicates that we yield our wills to God's. "Commands" speaks of the Scriptures in which God has clearly delineated His instructions. The "one in authority" is God Himself, whose authority is total and unequivocal. For the Christian, obedience means complying with everything God has commanded. It is our duty to do so.

 Having said that, it is important to remember that our obedience to God is not solely a matter of duty. We obey Him because we love Him (John 14:23). Also, we understand that the spirit of obedience is as important as the act of obedience. We serve the Lord in humility, singleness of heart, and love.

 Also, we must beware of using a veneer of obedience to mask a sinful heart. Living the Christian life is not all about rules. The Pharisees in Jesus' time relentlessly pursued acts of obedience to the Law, but they became self-righteous, believing they deserved heaven because of what they had done. They considered themselves worthy before God, who owed them a reward; however, the Bible tells us that, without Christ, even our best, most righteous works are as "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). The Pharisees' external obedience still lacked something, and Jesus exposed their heart attitude. Their hypocrisy in obeying the "letter of the law" while violating its spirit characterized their lives, and Jesus rebuked them sharply: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so you also appear righteous to men outwardly, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Matthew 23:27-28). The Pharisees were obedient in some respects, but they "neglected the weightier matters of the law" (Matthew 23:23, ESV).

 Today, we are not called to obey the Law of Moses. That has been fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 5:17). We are to obey the "law of Christ," which is a law of love (Galatians 6:2; John 13:34). Jesus stated the greatest commands of all: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:36-40).

 If we love God, we will obey Him. We won't be perfect in our obedience, but our desire is to submit to the Lord and display good works. When we love God and obey Him, we naturally have love for one another. Obedience to God's commands will make us light and salt in a dark and tasteless world (Matthew 5:13-16).

See http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-obedience.html

July 01 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Aurel Gheorghe

Obedience is the cornerstone of our faith that leads to eternal life; while disobedience lead to death (Romans 6:16). Most anyone would agree with this statement; however, the difficult part comes when we talk about what should we be to. 

Jesus is making things very clear in John 14:15 and Luke 6:46; He is telling us to obey his commandments. Is Jesus taking about the OT Ten Commandments or about the “new” two great laws of love as a summary of all the law? Jesus was quoting directly from the Old Testament when He gave those new commandments (Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18). 

When the lawyer asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment in the law, he got the answer: Matthew 22:37-40. Those who argued that the two love laws replaced the Ten Commandments, failed noticed that the "love laws" actually summed up “all the law and the prophets.” Christ was saying that love is the fulfilling of the law just as Paul repeated it later in Romans 13:10. 

If one loves Christ with heart, soul, and mind, he will obey the first four commandments that have to do with our duty to God. He will not take God’s name in vain, worship other gods, and will remember the Sabbath. If one loves his neighbor as himself, he will obey the last six commandments that relate to our duty to our fellow men. He will not be able to steal from his neighbor, lie, kill, etc. Jesus was saying that out of love (not legalism) we will show obedience to God's Ten Commandments. In 1 John 5:3, the same point is made even more clear: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."

We also know the Bible say that we are not under the law. But does that imply that we are free from the obligation to obey the Ten Commandments? Paul in Romans 6:14, 15 certainly doesn't think so. 

In 1 John 2:4. we find a very strong sobering statement. Jesus is taking in Matthew 7:21-23 of the same thing, that we are deluding ourselves if we are not obeying His law. 

No one can be obedient and keep even one of the Ten Commandments in human power alone, but all of them may be kept through the enabling strength of Jesus. He imputes His righteousness for cleansing and imparts His righteousness for victorious living. Christ came in a body of flesh like our own and depended wholly upon His Father in living His life to demonstrate the kind of victory which is possible for every soul who will likewise draw upon the Father’s grace.

January 31 2015 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Bryan Naidoo founder and senior pastor of The Upper-Room Church

The bible from the beginning to the end is about only one word "obedience"..without that word there is no bible. The purpose of man was and is for "obedience"....the existence of Satan was and is for the purpose of obedience.....of course it is his task....to take man away from obedience. The purpose of the Christ and the Holy Spirit is for only only one word "obedience"

Jesus died for obedience.....faith has to do with obedience, being just has to do with obedience....to please God has to do with obedience.

A Christians life style has to be a life of obedience. Faithful people are obedient people likewise obedient people are faithful people.

A good question to be raised....when Jesus comes again will he find 
"obedience"......would he be able to say" come thou my obedient servant"....

it is written the "just shall live by faith"....faith is obedience...the scripture commands how the just must live. Obedience is a lifestyle of the just.

It is true, man may slip in his walk of obedience, but that man will immediately arise with a heart of repentance, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of a life of obedience.

Stay blessed,
Pastor Bryan

June 02 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report