The importance of Obedience according to the gospel of Jesus

How Important Is Obedience?

Introduction:

Many religious people deny that obedience is essential to eternal life.

Hiscox' Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, says: "Baptism is not essential to salvation, … but it is essential to obedience, since Christ has commanded it" (via Handbook of Religious Quotations p. 21).

This admits baptism is essential to obedience. But it denies baptism is essential to salvation. The necessary conclusion is that obedience is not essential to salvation.

An article reprinted in Pulpit Helps (7/84) tells this story: "A small boy asked the preacher, 'Sir, What can I do to be saved?' The preacher replied, 'Son, you're too late.' 'What!' exclaimed the boy, 'too late to be saved?' 'No,' said the preacher, 'too late to do anything. You see, son, Jesus already did it all two thousand years ago." (via The Christian Chapel Bulletin, 1/92).

Sam Morris said: "We take the position that a Christian's sins do not damn his soul. The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people has nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul. All the prayers a man can pray, all the Bibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he may attend, all the sermons he may practice, and all the debts he may pay, all the ordinances he may observe, all the laws he may keep, all the benevolent acts he may perform, will not make his soul one bit safer. And all the sins he may commit from idolatry to murder, will not make his soul in any more danger." (via Truth Magazine 3/22/73, p.3)

The purpose of this lesson is to show by the Scriptures that obedience is essential to receive eternal life.

We are not saying that any man will be saved by living a perfectly sinless life. No one ever will (Rom. 3:23).

Nor are we saying that man can atone for his own sins. We teach that the blood of Jesus is the only power that can save a sinner. Once a man has sinned, no amount of obedience could make up for sin without the blood of Jesus. Obedience is not the ultimate source of salvation.

Nor are we saying that man's obedience earns, merits, or deserves eternal life. We realize that no man will be saved by obedience, without grace, faith, blood, etc.

However, we are affirming that the Bible teaches that certain acts of obedience are necessary in order to benefit from the cleansing power of Jesus' blood. There are things man must do to be forgiven of sins. (It is not our intent to discuss these specific acts in detail, but simply to establish the principle that obedience is necessary.)

We also will show that, after one first is forgiven, he must continue living in obedience to God's will in order to remain in God's favor. Yes, he will sin again. When he does, he must again go to God for forgiveness; but to be forgiven he must renew his determination and effort to obey God's will.

If the Bible teaches this, then any doctrine must be false if it teaches obedience is not required for salvation, or that man can please God, be cleansed of sin, and receive eternal life without obedience.

Our approach will be to study Bible doctrines that everyone agrees are essential to salvation, showing that obedience is an essential part of these doctrines.

There are certain Bible requirements that religious people generally agree are necessary to salvation. Even those who deny the necessity of obedience will agree that these other items are necessary to salvation.

We will attempt to show that proper understanding of these doctrines will prove that obedience is required. In fact, we will show that the very doctrines some people believe make obedience non-essential, really prove it is essential.

I. Obedience Is Essential in Order to Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Some people tell sinners, "You don't need to do anything to be saved. Just accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior." But we ask whether it is really possible to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior (and receive His salvation) without obeying Him. What does it really mean to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior? Consider:

A. What Does It Mean to Accept Jesus as Lord?

"Lord" means ruler, master, one who exercises authority. So to "accept Him as Lord" means to obey His rules and submit to his authority.

Luke 6:46 - "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" What right do you have to claim He is your Lord if you don't obey? None! Your master is the one you obey (cf. Rom. 6:16; Matt. 6:24). If you don't obey, He's not your master.

Matthew 7:21-27 - To enter the kingdom of heaven, it is not enough to call Jesus "Lord, Lord." One must DO the will of the Father (v 21).

Hearing and doing what Jesus says is like building on the rock. If you hear and don't do, it is like building on the sand. Note that Jesus discussing how to enter the kingdom of heaven (v 21). To enter, you must do. Your claim to accept Him as Lord is empty till you obey His teachings.

Acts 10:35 - To be acceptable to Him, one must fear Him (respect authority) and work righteousness (obey authority).

Claiming to accept Jesus as Lord without obeying Him is like claiming you are sitting in a pew and standing in a parking lot at the same time. It is a self contradiction.

B. What Does It Mean to Accept Jesus as Savior?

It means you come to Him to receive the forgiveness of sins. But if He is the Savior, then you must come on His terms. If He is the Savior, then He is the one who determines whom He will save and what has to happen in your life for Him to save you. What does He say about this?

Hebrews 5:9 - He is author (source) of salvation to all that obey Him. To accept His salvation, you must obey. If you don't believe you must obey, then you haven't accepted the Savior in the way the Bible says you must to be saved eternally.

Romans 6:17,18 - People in sin must obey the teaching delivered, to be made free from sin and become servants of righteousness. When were people made free from sin? When they obeyed the teaching. That's what the Savior says. Do you accept Him as Savior? Then you must accept what He says about the conditions of salvation [cf. v16 and 23].

1 Peter 1:22,23 - You purify your soul and are born again by obeying the truth. People who believe that obedience is unnecessary, speak much about justification as a new birth, being "born again." How is a person "born again"? By obeying the truth, the Word of God. The Bible doctrine of the new birth by Jesus the Savior includes obedience. [Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:27; 2 Cor. 5:17]

James 1:21-25 - The man who hears the word but does not do it has deceived himself. The man whom God blesses is the one who continues in the law of liberty, being a doer that works. This is what is needed for ones soul to be saved (v21).

Acts 22:10 - Jesus the Savior spoke to a lost sinner (Saul). Saul asked, "What shall I do, Lord?" The preacher we quoted in our introduction would have replied "It's too late to do anything."

But Jesus said to go into the city "and it shall be told thee what thou must do" (9:6). Ananias told him to "be baptized and wash away thy sins" - 22:16. The Savior does not agree with those who say there is nothing to do to be saved. He says sinners must do something to be saved.

Jesus is the Lord and Savior. To be saved, you must accept Him as Lord and Savior. But you must accept Him on His terms as revealed in His word. His word says you cannot accept Him without obedience.

If you think you have accepted Him, but you believe obedience is not essential, then as far as eternal salvation is concerned, you have never really accepted him at all. He will say, "Depart from me…"

II. Obedience Is Essential in Order to Love Jesus.

All people recognize the importance of love. 1 Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed."

When discussing obedience, some say, "I don't think it matters how you serve the Lord or what you do in His service. All that matters is if you love Him." But is it possible to love Him if you don't obey Him? Consider:

A. Love IS a Form of Obedience.

Matthew 22:36-39 - The two greatest commands are to love God and love your neighbor. Hence, when you love God and man, you are obeying God's commands.

John 13:34; 15:12 - "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you."

Love is essential to salvation. But love is a command. Therefore, obeying commands is essential to salvation, for here is one command all agree is essential.

The man who says obedience to commands is not necessary, is saying love is not necessary, for love is a command. It is the greatest of all commands.

B. Love Requires Us to Obey OTHER Commands.

John 14:15,21-24 - "If ye love me, ye will keep my commands." One who loves Jesus is one who keeps his commands (v21 & 23). One who doesn't love, doesn't keep His commands (v24). Conclusion: the person who says obedience is not essential, is saying you can please God and be saved without loving Him!

1 John 5:3; 2 John 6 - "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments."

1 John 3:18 - "Let us not love in word, neither with the tongue, but in deed and truth."

Love must show itself in our actions. We must obey God's commands. If we don't obey, we don't really love. So obedience is essential to love. But love is essential to salvation. Therefore, obedience is essential to salvation. Instead of proving obedience is not required, the Bible doctrine of love proves the opposite - obedience is required.

III. Obedience Is Essential in Order to Believe in Jesus.

All who claim to be Christians agree that one must have faith to be saved (Heb. 11:6; Mk. 16:16; John 8:24 etc.). But some claim faith makes obedience unnecessary. "As long as you believe in Jesus, it doesn't matter whether or not you do these other things." But is this true?

A. Faith Is a Form of Obedience.

1 John 3:23 - God commands us to believe in Jesus; we must keep this command to abide in Him. If we recognize the importance of faith, we must recognize the importance of obedience, for faith itself is a divine command we must obey.

John 6:28,29 - People asked what they must do to work the works of God. Jesus said the work (for them to do) is believe.

Faith is essential to salvation. But faith is a command - a work - something required in obedience to God. Therefore obedience is essential to salvation, since faith is a required form of obedience. If one claims that works of obedience are not necessary, he is saying faith is not necessary. If he then says faith is necessary, he contradicts himself.

B. Saving Faith Requires Us to Obey Other Commands.

Galatians 5:6 - What avails in Christ is faith working through love.

James 2:14-26 - Faith without works is dead like the body without a spirit. But works are necessary to complete faith (make it perfect). Without obedience, faith is dead and incomplete. The faith that justifies is the faith that leads to works.

Hebrews 10:39; 11:8,30, etc. - Here are examples of the kind of faith we must have to save our souls. All examples show that men received the blessings of God only after their faith led them to obey His commands. Faith that does not obey is faith that cannot save. [v7,33,4,17,24f]

The Bible doctrine of justification by faith, like the doctrine of love, instead of proving obedience is not essential, proves the opposite - faith will not save until it moves us to obey. Obedience is included in justification by faith.

IV. Obedience Is Essential in Order to Receive Eternal Life at the Judgment.

A. We Will Be Judged on the Basis
of Our Deeds, Works, and Obedience.

Anyone who is concerned about Bible teaching will put strong emphasis on the Judgment day. Yet proper understanding of this subject shows the importance of obedience.

Romans 2:6-10 - God renders to each man according to his works (v6). Those who continue patiently in well-doing receive eternal life (v7). Those who obey not truth but obey unrighteousness and work evil (v9), receive tribulation and anguish, etc. (v8). But glory, etc., to all who work good (v10). The things we do determine our eternal reward.

2 Corinthians 5:10 - Before the judgment-seat of Christ, "each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad." Does it make sense for men to teach that what we do doesn't matter, when the Bible says that is the basis on which our eternal destiny is determined?

Revelation 20:12,13; 22:12 - Every man will be judged according to his works.

Matthew 25:31-46 - At the judgment, men are separated and given eternal life or eternal punishment. What was the basis for deciding the reward? Whether or not they did acts of service to others.

Challenge: Can you think of any passage discussing the judgment which says that we will be judged on the basis of our faith or love, or that says we will give an account for these? For every one you find (if any) there will be 2 or 3 others that say it will be on the basis of works, deeds, actions, or things done.

Why is this? Not because faith and love do not matter, but because "works" includes faith and love, and because "obedience" proves whether or not we have love and faith [John 14:15; Jas. 2:18].

[Acts 17:30f; John 5:28f; I Pet. 4:17f; Matt. 16:27; 24:46-51; Jas. 2:12; Matt. 25:21ff; I Pet. 1:17; Rev. 2:23,26; 3:15].

B. Eternal Life Is for Those Who Obey God.

All who are concerned about the Bible, speak much about eternal life. Again this shows that obedience is necessary.

John 5:28,29 - All people are raised to life or condemnation depending on whether they did good or did evil.

1 John 2:17 - "He that doeth the will of god abideth forever."

2 Thessalonians 1:8,9 - Those who obey not the gospel receive vengeance in flaming fire. They are punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.

Romans 2:7 - Eternal life is for those who are patient in well-doing.

Surely we can see that our eternal destiny depends on whether or not we obey the things God instructs. We must love and believe, we must accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, but all these things require obedience, they do not exclude it.

Conclusion

1 John 2:3-6 - To know Him and abide in Him, we must keep his commands, keep his word. If we are not doing so, but still claim to know Him, we are liars, and we don't abide in Him. [Note what happens to liars - Rev. 21:8; John 15:5,6.]

1 John 3:6-8,10(NASB) - If we want to be righteous, we must practice righteousness. If we practice sin, we are of the Devil. If we don't practice righteousness, we are not of God.

Obedience is essential. We must be "doers of the word". [Cf. 3:24]

What obedience is required? We must believe, repent (Acts 2:38), confess (Rom. 10:9,10), be baptized (Acts 22:16; 2:38; Mk. 16:16; I Pet. 3:21; Gal. 3:27), and live a faithful life (I Cor. 15:58).

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Topics for further Bible study

(Click for more information. Use your "back" key to return here.)

Why We Need Forgiveness
The Purpose of Baptism
Salvation by "Faith Only" vs. Obedient Faith
What about the Thief on the Cross?
Should Babies Be Baptized?
Is Baptism Sprinkling, Pouring, or Immersion?
Should Alien Sinners Pray for Forgiveness

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