Lesson 17: OBEDIENCE
Did you realize that God does not like us confessing sin all the time? He would far rather that we were obedient and did not have to confess it! Jesus said “If you love Me, do as I say” (John 14:15). He also said “Blessed are those who hear God's Word and obey” (Luke 11:28).
As you read the Bible and pray, and as you hear people preach or teach from God's Word, there are many things God will tell you; it is very important to be obedient to these things. In the Bible God has promised to bless those who are obedient, but will punish those who are disobedient. Perhaps sometimes you have wondered why everything seems to have gone wrong. It may be because there is sin in your life that you have not turned from, or which you have not confessed to God. If so, do it right away so that God's blessing may continue in your life.
God is not someone awful who likes to punish us; He punishes us because He loves us, wants us to repent, and wants what is best for us. The best thing we can possibly do is to obey God, because God knows what is best for others as well as for ourselves. All God's commands in the Bible are for our good. This is why it says in Psalms: “I delight to do Your will, O Lord” (Psalm 40:8).
Remember that God knows what is best, far better than we do. We may not always understand why God tells us to do something, or not to do something, but since He knows best, we should do as He says. It is just like little children who may not understand why they cannot play with a sharp knife, but it is best if they don't!
If we do disobey God and sin, then we should ask God’s forgiveness, and ask Him to help us not to do that thing again. Remember Jesus said, “Watch and pray, so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing to be obedient but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
Some specific points of obedience are as follows:
GIVING
God expects us to give regularly and cheerfully of our time, money, possessions and abilities for His work. God once accused the children of Israel of robbing Him because they did not give a tenth of their income to His work (Malachi 3:8-10). Christians have a responsibility to give, to support the church, missions, full-time Christian workers and the needy. Moreover, God said “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing” (Luke 6:38). If you expect God to give to you, then you need to give to others!
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (humility) and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Pray that God’s Spirit will produce these fruit in your life, and with His help you will see them grow and develop. “By their fruit you will know them (those who are Christ's and those who not)”, Jesus said (Matthew 7:15-20).
THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST
We receive Christ not only as Saviour from the penalty we deserve for our sin, but also as Lord. “If you confess with your lips that JESUS IS LORD ... you will be saved” (Romans 10:9-10). Jesus must be constantly in full control of every aspect of our lives. If He is not Lord of all, then He is not really Lord at all! Jesus said “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will be saved, but only those who do God's will” (Matthew 7:21-23).
THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS
To be a true disciple of Jesus Christ will cost you all you have. Jesus warned His disciples: “If anyone wants to follow Me, let him deny his own desires and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34-38). He told them that they may have to leave their homes, friends, jobs; it would cost them their possessions and their lives – but it is well worth it! “Count the cost”, Jesus said (Luke 14:25-33). Make up your mind, and then do not turn back! (Luke 9:62).
TEMPTATION
Temptation is when we want to do something which we know is wrong. It may be a bad habit we have; it may be because of our selfishness, lack of self-control; or the temptation may even come from the devil.
The Bible says that every temptation we face is common, but God will not allow us to be tempted more strongly than we can endure. With every temptation we are more than able to overcome through the strength that God will give us if we ask Him (1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:13).
Therefore Jesus said “Watch and pray, so that you do not give in to temptation. Your spirit does not want to sin, but in yourselves you are weak” (Matthew 26:41).
If we sin (although we should try not to!) God is always willing forgive us if we will sincerely repent, confess it and turn from it (1 John 1:7-9; 2:1). There is a great difference between living in sin, and sinning. The Christian does not live in sin; that is, he hates and resists sin, and does not live in a continual state of committing the same sin over and over again. He might sin, but after confessing it, with God's help he determines to turn from it and fights the temptation to do it again. For example, a habitual liar (whose life has never been transformed by coming to Christ) will not be saved (Revelation 21:8), but if we tell a lie and then, on realizing what we have done, say we are sorry and with God's help endeavour not to repeat this sin, then we will be forgiven. Either we choose to live for Christ and fight sin (and so are saved), or else we choose to live for sin and self (and so are lost eternally). God looks at our heart and our attitude towards Him – are they right with God?
BAPTISM
“Repent (turn from sin), and be baptised in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins”, Peter said (Acts 2:38). Baptism is a public witness to both Christians and non-Christians of the fact that you have chosen to live for Christ and to turn from sin. The water symbolizes the washing away of your sin. Romans 6:1-11 shows that:
– going down into the water signifies death to old way of life
– being under the water represents the burial of sin and our old way of life
– rising up again out of the water symbolizes rising to a new life in Christ.
Death to the old life, burial of our sins under the water (Micah 7:19), and resurrection to a new life, are all symbolized by water baptism. Jesus said “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). While baptism is not essential for salvation (we are not saved by outward works or deeds), it is essential for obedience.
COMMUNION
The Lord’s Supper (Communion) is a symbol of Christ’s death and the shedding of His blood for our sins, just as baptism is symbolic of washing away our sins and rising to a new life in Christ. Only true Christians should take part in the Lord's Supper, and then only after they are certain that they have repented, confessed and turned from all sin (see 1 Corinthians 11:23-32). When you have been washed clean from all sin through the death and shed blood of Jesus Christ, Communion will take on a new meaning for you.
GOOD WORKS (good deeds)
Although we are not saved by what we do, as far as good works or good deeds are concerned, nevertheless they should follow as a result of our becoming a Christian. Ephesians 2:8-10 puts it clearly like this: “By God's grace you are saved and this grace is received through faith. This is not your own doing – it is a gift from God. This is not even earned by your good works, so no-one can boast. We were created by God, and have been re-created through faith in Jesus Christ, so that our lives will produce good works (good fruit) which God always intended us to do”. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “The old things (sin, selfishness, apathy towards God, etc.) have passed away; everything has become new.” So we are saved by grace (God's loving gift of Jesus Christ), which is received through faith, and as a result our lives will produce good works.
SANCTIFICATION
The word “sanctified” means “set apart for God’s use”. If you have truly repented, confessed and turned from all sin; if you have truly made Jesus Christ the Lord of every area of your life; if you have completely surrendered yourself to His will; if you have given your life entirely for His service, then you are sanctified. “This is God's will for you, that you should be sanctified” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Since Jesus Christ will soon return to this earth to take Christians to be with Him in Heaven, surely obedience and sanctification should be a vital part of our Christian lives (Revelation 22:20; Matthew 24:42-51).
QUESTIONS
- If we really love God, what will we do? (See John 14:15).
- Look up the following verses and see what the Bible has to say about these words: repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10; Matthew 3:2, 8); confession, forgiveness, and cleansing (1 John 1:7-9).
- Several areas of obedience are mentioned in this study. Are you trying to be obedient in all of these areas?
- What does the Bible have to say to Christians about faith and works? (See James 2:14-26).
- What do baptism and communion symbolize?
- What is the relationship between: grace, faith, and good works? (Ephesians 2:8-10).