OBEY – The Four Letter Word We Reject! From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has a lot to say about obedience. In the story of the Ten Commandments, we see how important the concept of obedience is to God. Deuteronomy 11:26–28 sums it up like this: Obey and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed. In the New Testament, we learn through the example of Jesus Christ that believers are called to a life of obedience. What is the Biblical Definition of Obedience? The general concept of obedience both in the Old and New Testament relates to hearing or hearkening to a higher authority. One of the Greek terms for obedience conveys the idea of positioning oneself under someone by submitting to their authority and command. Another Greek word for obey in the New Testament means to trust. Bible Dictionary definitions can be summed up as follows: Biblical obedience means, simply, to hear, trust, submit and surrender to God and obey his Word. Why be Obedient? First, Jesus Calls Us to Obedience In Jesus Christ we find the perfect model of obedience. As his disciples, we follow Christs example as well as his commands. Our motivation for obedience is love: John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (ESV) Second, Obedience is an Act of Worship While the Bible places strong emphasis on obedience, its important to remember that believers are not justified (made righteous) by our obedience. Salvation is a free gift of God, and we can do nothing to merit it. True Christian obedience flows from a heart of gratitude for the grace we have received from the Lord: Romans 12:1 Third, God Rewards Obedience Over and over again we read in the Bible that God blesses and rewards obedience: Genesis 22:18, Exodus 19:5, Luke 11:28, James 1:22–25 Fourth, Through Obedience We Experience the Blessings of Holy Living Only Jesus Christ is perfect, therefore, only he could walk in sinless obedience. But as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from within, we grow in holiness. Psalm 119:1–8, Isaiah 48:17–19, 2 Corinthians 7:1 I had a chance to experience God’s Blessing of Obedience these past 2 months: I believe the Lord instructed me to restrict my diet to no sugar. This for me, means treating my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit according to scripture. After being prompted 3 times . . . I obeyed. After 9 weeks, I have lost 20 pounds and have so much more energy and I feel great. My doctor is dancing about the lab results. Praise God for His loving Kindness. & the benefits of obedience. Pastor Dave Marrujo
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 18:57:11 +0000
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