IS THE BELIEVER UNDER OBLIGATION TO KEEP CHRIST’S COMMANDS? And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1 John 2:3-4). If ye love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15). Yes, commandment keeping is essential! The believer living under grace whose focus is on Mount Calvary must keep God’s commands. Obedience to the Word of God is essential in each and every dispensation. The key question is this: What commands are we to obey? What commandments has Christ given to believers living in this present dispensation of grace? Here are some examples: And now, little children, ABIDE IN HIM; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at his coming (1 John 2:28). And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT (Ephesians 5:18). This I say then, WALK IN THE SPIRIT, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Likewise RECKON YE ALSO YOURSELVES TO BE DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:11). Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD, AS THOSE THAT ARE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God (Rom. 6:13). As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, SO WALK YE IN HIM (Col. 2:6). I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye WALK WORTHY of the vocation [the believer’s high, heavenly, holy CALLING] wherewith ye are called (Eph. 4:1). And that ye PUT ON THE NEW MAN, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24). For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT (Eph. 5:8). If ye then be risen with Christ, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God (Col. 3:1). PUT ON therefore, AS THE ELECT OF GOD, HOLY AND BELOVED, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering (Col. 3:12). Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE that is set before us, LOOKING UNTO JESUS the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:1-2). As believers living under grace we need to have our minds baptized and immersed in the EPISTLES, becoming more and more familiar with the great GRACE-ORIENTED COMMANDS that are found therein. Yes we are certainly to obey God’s commands, but the commands which God has given to us are based upon the believer’s glorious position in a crucified and risen Christ. These commands do not flow out of Mount Sinai, they flow out of Mount Calvary.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 03:47:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015