Analysis of Obedience

We are taught in scripture that only those who do the will of the Father in heaven will enter the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21).  Obedience to the will of God is therefore a life and death matter for the Christian who would live his or her life in pleasing manner before God.  Jesus went on to teach the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7, starting in verse 24.  He said, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it”.

In our previous lesson, Analysis of a Command, we learned that we are to obey direct and implied commands and approved examples.  we also learned that it is vitally important not to add anything or take anything away from what inspiration recorded for us.  If it were permitted to add or remove things from scripture then we could change anything we wanted in the word and do anything we desired and still expect to live our lives acceptably before God.  Paul taught the Romans that we cannot approach God with our own righteousness.  We must submit to the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3).   The commandments of men make our worship vain (Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7), so we know that the only way we can be assured of living after God’s righteousness is to follow his commandments explicitly, adding nothing to, nor taking anything away from them.

In this study, we are going to examine what obedience is from a Biblical perspective, what it means, how it works for us, how to approach it and why.  Solomon wrote, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).  Since obedience is the duty of man, we need to give attention to this topic and determine what the Lord expects from us in obedience.

What Obedience is:

Hearing the word of God precedes obedience.  Until one hears the word of God, one cannot know what God wants obeyed.  In the OT, Samuel wrote: “Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me” (2 Samuel 22:45).  In the NT, Paul wrote of the commandment of God which was made known to all nations of the earth for the “obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26).  Everything we do, every commandment we obey is by and because of our faith in God.  Faith and obedience are inseparable in scripture.  Those who have faith obey and those who obey have faith.  On the other side, those who do not have faith do not obey and those who do not obey, do not have faith.   “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

In Psalm 18:44, inspiration says, “As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.  Obedience is connected with submission and humility.  In Philippians 2:8, Paul wrote “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”.  Jesus was willing to suffer the humiliation of the cross in order to be obedient to God the Father.  We are commanded to submit to the authority of God. James wrote, “Submit yourselves therefore to God” (James 4:7).  Submission and humility means doing it God’s way, in the way He has prescribed, completely and without pride.  Those who obey, submit in humble penitence to the authority of God.  Those who do not obey have not submitted.  Obedience is submission and submission is necessary for obedience.  Disobedience is rebellion to God as King Saul learned when he refused to obey the commandment of the Lord, (1 Samuel 15:22-23).   Obedience and submission cannot be separated.

Obedience is a yielding, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:16-18).  We are going to yield to something in life.  We are going to be the servants of something, either good or evil, either righteousness or sin.  We are going to serve someone in this life, either God or Satan.   One cannot have obedience without yielding, neither can there be a yielding without obedience.  The two cannot be separated.  We must have one in order to have the other.

Obedience is motivated by love.  Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings…” (John 14:23-24).  Our love is demonstrated through our actions, “I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.” (2 Corinthians 8:8) and then 2 Corinthians 8:24 which reads, “Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf”.  Claiming to love God and each other but not demonstrating that love is not the kind of love God requires. God requires our love to be sincere and to prove that sincerity through actions  “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him” (1 John 3:18-19).

Obedience comes from a pure heart, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).  “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).  “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Romans 6:16).  Obedience and a pure heart cannot be separated.  One cannot have a pure heart without obedience, likewise one cannot be obedient without a pure heart and expect God to be pleased.

Obedience acts without question.  Abraham gave us two examples of obedience without question when he was commanded to get up and leave his country and then when he was told to get out of his country, leave his kinsmen and go into a land that God would show him when he got there (Genesis 12:1).  “So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him” (Genesis 12:4).  After his son Isaac was born, God commanded him to offer him up as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:2).  Hebrews 11:17 records that, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son”.  Abraham did not try and back out of obeying God.  When God commanded, Abraham acted and left us an example of trusting obedience.

Obedience is a trial.  As we saw earlier, Abraham was tested by God to see if he would obey.  “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son” (Hebrews 11:17).  James wrote concerning trials, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-5).  we can expect our obedience to produce trials in our life.  One cannot successfully overcome trials without obedience.

Obedience requires sacrifice.  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).   One cannot offer one’s body a living sacrifice without obedience to God’s will.  “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:3).   Obedience and sacrifice are inseparable in scripture.  One cannot have one without the other.

Obedience is Faith.  “But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26).  Hebrews 11 is sometimes called the great hall of faith.  It lists numerous Biblical characters who by faith, were obedient to the will of God, who did what God commanded and were blessed for it.  Faith and Obedience are inseparable in scripture.  One cannot have faith without obedience and one cannot have obedience without faith.  “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18).

The Necessity of Obedience:

Obedience is necessary if we love God,  Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Obedience is necessary of we say we know God.  John wrote, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4).

Obedience is necessary if we love one another, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments” (1 John 5:2).

Obedience is necessary for purification, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22).

Obedience is necessary for Salvation, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).  “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9).

The Results of Obedience:

Obedience results in the reception of God’s grace, “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name” (Romans 1:5).

The obedient have the right to the tree of life, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).

Obedience results in our prayers answered, “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22).

Obedience results in glory, honor and peace, “But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile (Romans 2:10).

Obedience results in righteousness,  “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous” (1 John 3:7).

Obedience results in the commitment of our souls to God, “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19).

Obedience results in Salvation, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-29).  “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9).

The Results of Disobedience:

Disobedience will result in God’s wrath, “For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience” (Colossians 3:6).

Disobedience results in God’s indignation, “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil…” (Romans 2:8-9).

The disobedient will receive severe judgment, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17).  Peter went on to say in verse 19 to “commit the keeping of their [our] souls to him in well doing”.  Well doing meaning “in obedience”.

Disobedience results in the chastening of God, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Hebrews 12:6).  The Psalmist wrote, “For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth” (Proverbs 3:12).

Christians are to have no company with the disobedient, “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).  This does not mean we are not to interact with the lost or the disobedient.  We must interact in order to carry the gospel to the lost.  we must interact in order to let our light shine before the world.  But we must remember that our light is to shine and we are to live our lives as examples of obedient faithfulness to the lost.

Disobedience will result in eternal destruction, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

Saved by Grace through Faith:

Obedience will not earn or merit us a home in heaven, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  We must never set back on the laurels of our obedience and think that God owes us anything.  Jesus Christ had to die for us.  There is no way we can repay the incredible sacrifice that was done on our behalf.  It was a gift by the favor or grace of God.  we can never allow ourselves to be boastful or prideful because of our obedience to God’s will.

In the parable of the unprofitable servant, Jesus taught that even if we were to obey everything God commanded, we should still count ourselves as servants who are unprofitable.  “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10).

God does not owe man anything simply because man obeys Him.  Salvation cannot be deserved, nor bought, nor earned by anything man does.  Man is lost and without hope unless he submits to God in obedience to His will.  Obedience to God was the duty of man since the beginning and it is God’s just right to demand it.  Disobedience resulted in the downfall of man.  All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  But by God’s grace/favor, He provided a way for man to be redeemed.  All man has to do is obey that plan of redemption given by the grace of God.

Jesus Christ had to die so that we could live.  There is nothing we can do either individually or collectively to deserve that gift or merit the salvation it makes possible.  The only thing man can earn or deserve is death because the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  We cannot work our way out of that penalty without the grace of God.  In the end, Jesus still had to die for us.  Jesus paid our sin debt so that we could have a hope of life.  We can’t pay the cost of that gift with our obedience.  We are saved by grace through faith.  We learned earlier that faith and obedience were inseparable in scripture.  We are therefore saved by grace through an obedient living faith which is demonstrated in our love to God and to one another and in our submissive obedience to the will of God in all things.

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Analysis of a Command

We are taught in scripture that only those who do the will of the Father in heaven will enter the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21).  Obedience to the will of God is therefore a life and death matter for the Christian who would live his or her life in pleasing manner before God.  Jesus said in John 5:28-29, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”  We must be obedient to God if we want to live in Heaven with Him forever.

So it is important that we understand what the will of God in heaven is so that we can obey Him.  Before Jesus ascended back to heaven after His resurrection He gave the disciples this command in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

This command was given to the disciples.  We know it applied to us because of something Jesus said in this command: “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded”.  we are to observe all things whatsoever Jesus commanded and the command to Go ye therefore and teach all nations and baptize them is one of them.

There are a number of different kinds of commands found within this verse which we today call the great commission.  There is a general command, specific commands and implied commands found within this single sentence.

General Commands

The general command is to “Go ye”.  We are told to “Go”.  We are not told how to “Go”, we are just told to “Go”.  The method for going is left to the discretion of the Christian.  We may choose to walk like many first century Christians did, or we may choose to drive our car, or fly on an airline, or use the internet to accomplish this.  These various methods of transportation are authorized under the general command to “Go”.  We are specifically told how to “Go”, so we are at liberty to choose our own mode of transportation.

If Jesus had of said “Walk ye therefore and teach all nations”, then we would not be at liberty to use any mode of transportation other than our feet.  Which brings us to a specific command.

Specific Commands

There are commands in scripture which are specific.  In the great commission the specific command was to baptize “them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”  We must do this exactly as it has been specified. When something is specified all other options are ruled out.  For instance, when you go to a restaurant and order a steak cooked well done with a baked potato and iced tea, you specified what you wanted from a list of possible choices.  If the waiter brings you anything other than that, then your order was not fulfilled as you wished. 

An example of a specific command in scripture is “sing”  We see this command in Romans 15:9, 1 Corinthians 14:15, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 2:12 and James 5:13.  In relation to music in the church, nowhere in the NT does it ever say anything other than sing or singing. 

Implied Commands

Many people say, “God did not forbid playing with a musical instrument so it must be ok”.

Suppose the waiter in our earlier illustration brought you exactly what you asked for and threw in a hot roll on the side?  Is that ok?  Most everybody likes hot rolls, and the waiter just figured you would too so he elected to bring you one even though you did not ask for it.  That’s a fair enough question.  So let’s suppose at the conclusion of your order, you told the waiter that you did not want anything else added to the original order?  I think we could conclude that if the waiter then brought you the hot roll, he disobeyed your directive to not add anything to the original order.  You did have to tell the waiter not to bring the hot roll, because you told him not to add anything to the order.  That is an implied command. 

It was true that you did not tell the waiter not to bring you a hot roll with your order.  But you told him not to change your order in any way, the command not to bring you the hot roll was understood by implication.  Has God commanded us not to change things that He specified? 

1 Corinthians 4:6
Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not (to go) beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other. (ASV)

2 John 9
Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. (NASU)

Revelation 22:18-19
I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. (ASV)

So, in light of God saying not to go beyond what is written, not to trespass and go too far, and not to add or take anything away from the His word, and we decide to add musical instruments to our praise then we have disobeyed God’s order not to change what He has specified.  we are to obey all of God’s will, not just the things which please us.  The New Testament never tells us to use a manmade musical instrument.  Never does it specifically tell us not to use them but the command not to use manmade musical instruments is implied with the command not to go beyond what is written. 

In addition to this, we also have the words of Jesus in Matthew 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”  We are told not to go beyond what is written.  So whatever we may add to what God has specified, we must understand that it came from men and not God.   In other words, if it is not authorized by God’s word, then it had to have come from man and Jesus said such things make our worship vain.  If our worship is vain, it is empty and of no value either for us, or to God.  We are wasting our time worshipping God if we add the teachings, wishes, desires and commandments of man to it. 

We are commanded to sing.  We are commanded not to go beyond what is written.  NT scripture never tells us to use manmade instruments of music.  If the command to use them did not come from the word of God, then it had to come from man.  Paul wrote that whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23.  Following the commandments of men is not of the faith of Christ and makes our worship of no value. 

Another form of an implied command is found in Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”  We want to look at the words “and such like”.  The inspired writer listed a lot of sins of the flesh, but did he list every possible sin of the flesh that could ever be committed?  No he did not.  Paul did not list pornography.  So how do we know pornography is wrong?  From the words “and such like”.  Things which are associated with or can be “such like” the sins Paul listed are forbidden by implication.  When Paul used the words “and such like” he included all things which were “such like” the things he did specify. 

We must never disobey one command so that we can obey another one.  we see this is common in the world today among many people who claim Jesus Christ as their savior.  We cannot disobey the command to not go beyond what is written in order to obey the command to make a melody in our hearts to the Lord with manmade musical instruments. 

The implied command in the great commission is “teach all nations”.  By implication, all nations means teach all the people on the earth without regard to race, sex or culture.  In the first century this meant teach the gentiles as well as the Jews and the Jewish Christians had a real hard time with that one.  Things have not changed today.  Many people today still have trouble with that one.  There is no room in the heart of a Christian for prejudice and that is an implied command in the great commission. 

Another implied command in the great commission is that while it was directed to Jesus’ disciples, we are expected to do what they did as well.  We are commanded to go ye therefore and teach all nations… in the same way they were. 

Commands from examples

We are also given commands from the approved examples of the inspired writers.  we are told to follow the example of God in Ephesians 5:1 “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children”.   We are told to follow the approved examples of the apostles in Philippians 3:17, “Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.”  We are told to follow the examples of the apostles and Jesus in 1 Thessalonians 1:6, “And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit”. And we are told to follow the approved examples of the church in Thessalonians 2:14, “For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus”.

We are to follow the approved examples.  Examples that are not approved is the one of Peter’s prejudiced behavior against the gentiles in Galatians 2:11-13, “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.”

Ananias and Sapphira lied to God in Acts 5:4 and paid for it with their lives.  We cannot use their poor example as authority to lie to God today.  So we must be careful to follow the approved examples and not examples which were obviously not approved.

Non Relevant Commands:

There are commands which do not apply to us.  Speaking from a gender specific perspective, men cannot obey the commandment for wives to be in subjection to their husbands.  Likewise, wives cannot obey the command for husbands to love their wives.  Commandments which pertain specifically to men cannot be obeyed by women and vice versa.

There are commands and examples which do not pertain to Christians today.  In Mark 16:16, we are given a very familiar command that is very relevant to us today, “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…”  But then in verse 17 Jesus goes on to say, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

Nobody today is casting out devils or really speaking in languages they do not know that other people can understand.  Nobody is picking up poisonous vipers that bite them and drinking poison and not being hurt.  Nobody today can walk in and lay their hands on someone crippled from birth and heal them perfectly.  There are a lot of people who think they can and pretend to do these things but we know that the age of miracles has passed from a study of 1 Corinthians 13.

We are told in the great commission to teach those who were baptized to “observe all things whatsoever I [Jesus] have commanded you”.  We are to observe everything Jesus commanded and rightly discern whether or not it applies to us and obey it, no matter what.  It is commanded and it is our responsibility to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).   God’s word thoroughly furnishes us unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17) so we know that everything we need to obey is there for us.  All things pertaining to life and godliness have been given to us (2 Peter 1:3).

We can be assured that God’s word is complete and that it contains everything we need to know to live and pleasing life before God and to inherit eternal life in heaven.  Everything we need to obey is there.  Everything we need to believe is there.  Everything we need to do is there.  All we have to do is read it, learn it and rightly apply it to our lives.  We must do all things, leaving nothing out and adding nothing to what He has commanded.  By doing that, we are assured that we are walking the right path to heaven.  That we are walking the path that must be right and that cannot be wrong and that those who we teach and bring along with us, are on the right path too.  We can’t come back and try again.  When we are gone, the chance for doing it right is over and our destinies are sealed.  Let’s make sure we walk the sure path that cannot fail.  Let’s make sure we are leading our loved ones down that sure path and not the path some man thinks is right.  We can be absolutely assured of our righteousness and absolutely confident of our walk with God.  John, the inspired writer told us how.

1 John 2:5
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

1 John 3:24
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

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Cowardly

After the death of Moses, the children of Israel stood upon the eastern banks of a swollen, rushing Jordan River. The Lord spoke to Joshua and commanded him to address to the people and instruct them in cross the Jordan and take possession of the Promised Land. Key to the success of this occupation would be strength, resolve, obedience, and faithfulness (1.6-7). The Lord here tells Joshua what Moses had told him in Deuteronomy 31.7 and the command is also reiterated here that is found in Deuteronomy 5.32, “Be careful, then, to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left:”

We speak often of the importance and applications of obedience and faithfulness to God. But how much emphasis do we place on strength and courage? Not enough I am afraid!

The society we live in has successfully painted us into the corner of passivity and cowardice.

If we speak out against social and moral issues and call them sins because that is what the Bible, the very Word of God teaches, we are labeled extremists, unloving, and hateful.

When we speak the truth that Jesus Christ is the only “way,” “truth,” and “life,” and that no one can come to the Father except through Him (John 14.6) we are christened as bigots.

When we teach and preach the truth about salvation and who will be saved and who will be lost we are condemned as narrow-minded and judgmental. We are scolded and told we should be more inclusive (John 7.24). They miss they irony of their own judgmental nature.

When we teach the truth about the church, worship, salvation, divorce and remarriage, giving, and a myriad of other Bible subjects we are ridiculed and called radicals and legalists.

So how have we responded? I believe generally Christians have countered in one of two ways. One, some have indeed become extremists and developed an ugly attitude that has led to further isolation and created an environment in which very few are being saved and converted. They claim to be doing what the Bible says in “earnestly contending for the faith” (Jude 3) and being bold (Ephesians 6.20). But they have forgotten to speak the truth “in love” (Ephesians 4.15) and with all “longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4.2). Many are more concerned with winning an argument or “nailing someone to the door.”

Two, and more prevalent, are those who have allowed themselves to be sat down, shut up, and shut out. They have not developed the strength or the resolve to take a stand for truth and righteousness. They are afraid they will be labeled as hatful and judgmental and cower at the idea of being ridiculed. They fear the rejection and loss of family and friends that care more about themselves and this world than Christ and eternity.

Here is the problem. Revelation 21.8 begins the list of those sinners who will “have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” with the “ cowardly! ” For many Christians “it is time” to take a stand (Galatians 5.1). “It is time” to “be strong” (1 Corinthians 16.13; Ephesians 6.10; 2 Timothy 2.1). “It is time” to wake up and be obedient (Romans 13.11). And “it is time” to be faithful (Revelation 2.10).

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A Memorial Not Easily Forgotten

I was in a city a couple of years ago, just a little ways away from our home, getting the vehicle worked on. And, while I was there, desperately wanting to drive away because we rarely like to just sit and wait on things, there was a great commotion in the showroom area. When I quieted myself and my thoughts, I could hear the frustrations of many people about what was going on outside. As I lifted my eyes to see what was happening, I noticed people lining the streets with signs in their hands. As I inquired a bit further, it seems that a very young man had went to war only to come back a few weeks later, deceased. It certainly was sad to hear this news, but that is not what saddened me. As I watched police car after police car with lights a flashing and American flags attached to just about everything I saw, there were also ones who were protesting just because this man was being honored for helping to keep his country a free country.

In like manner, I couldn’t help but to think of our Lord. As he was being led to the hill of Golgatha (Jn. 19:17), there were many who were there to see Jesus, some perhaps who he healed, some who had left all to follow him (Ma2. 27:56; Jn. 19:38–‐39), some to help Him when he stumbled and some there to see if He was the Son of God. While they were there seeing our Lord standing in our place for sin, fighting for us to be free (1 Jn. 3:16), there was also many who were picketing and bad mouthing our Savior (Lk. 23:21, 36; Ma2. 27:29–‐31; ). Oh, the things He endured and the roar of the crowd must have been difficult to hear. Yet, he died to set us free.

When we think about honor, Jesus said that prophets were not honored in their own country (Jn. 4:44), which also included Himself. In fact, He also said that there were some who claimed to honor Him, but by their hearts, they were found liars (Ma2. 15:8). Peter said that we are to honor Christ (1 Pet. 1:7), wives (1 Pet. 3:7) and all men (1 Pet. 2:17). Paul said that elders (1 Tim. 5:17), widows (1 Tim. 5:3) and mothers and fathers (Eph. 6:2) are to all be honored. And then he said in Rom. 13:7, that we extend honour to whom honour is due. This word honor is the Greek word “timen” and it means that there is a value by which the price is fixed meaning, someone paid the price for a person or thing and therefore, they are valuable. To the soldier who went down those cities streets, there was honor due him because he paid the price for us.

To King Jesus the Christ, who went down those streets in Jerusalem, there was honor due Him because he paid the price for us. Thus, it is certainly tragic when people rise up against those who deserve honor. With Jesus, the mob ignorantly cried out for God to hold them responsible for the death of Christ. And, it saddens me that so many people do not know what they are really saying when they dishonor another as I saw on that day in the streets. Oh, how unjust people can be. How savage the human spirit has become. It is this type of ignorant spirit that will not come to God, they will not see the suffering Savior because they turn their backs on His memorial. It is sad when people turn their backs on others instead of recognizing and remembering why they did what they did. And, this includes not only the Christ who made us free, but is extended to all the men and women who have given us a country where we can worship God freely. This will certainly be a memorial not easily forgotten.

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Love Them Even More

Men often fail to follow God’s will.  They live a life based on the wants, desires, and dictates of manmade standards of popularity, morality, and godliness.  Scriptures can be read and quoted to them regarding their sin, but they seem not to care or pay attention.  Many congregations suffer from a handful of Christians who seem to defiantly continue in sin regardless of any admonition from brothers and sisters or the pulpit.  Rather than engage discipline upon the Christians the Church chooses to put the responsibility for the sin upon itself rather than the sinner. They reason that if they love them even more (code for do nothing about the sin, but increase their outward affection for the individual) the sinner will eventually stop their corrupt behaviors.

I Corinthians 5:1-2 – “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.”

 The question often arising from the reader when examining the above passage:  “Why is the Church puffed up (arrogant) about sin?”  Consider the attitude: “love them even more”.  The nature of the sin represented such vileness that even those of the world understood its shamefulness.  Yet, the Church evidently felt that by putting up with the sin (loving the sinner) that they showed what good Christians they were.  “Look at us!  We are inclusive and open to all.  We won’t condemn you.  Even the world may condemn you, but as for sinners, we love them even more.  We won’t judge you.”  This sounds so nice to those ignorant of God’s will.  Many churches today ignore the sins of adulterous marriage.  They boast of their inclusion of homosexuality and female leadership.  Going to their services may seem at times like going to a ball game or pool party for all the skin that presents itself from immodest attire.

1 Corinthians 5:6-7 – “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.”

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 – “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians that they should not be arrogant over their worldly idea of “love them even more”.  Using the example of leaven in dough which eventually affects the entire lump, he calls for them to get the leaven out.  In other words, get the sin out of the Church because it will cause all to sin.  Paul did not accept the whole concept of “love them even more” by doing nothing.  Rather to love them even more he calls upon the Church to disfellowship the sinner.  What if the Churches after admonishing and teaching Christians to be modest, pure, and walk according to godliness (Ephesians 1:1-21) disciplined them for their lack of repentance?  Some might cry out that this would be a lack of love.  Yet, Proverbs 13:24 states, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes”.  Additionally, Hebrews 12:6 declares, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth”.  If a congregation wants to show a sinner they love them even more, then they will discipline them so they might turn from their sin.

Worldly concerns such as a diminished attendance, angry relatives, or hurt feelings should not enter the equation when following the commands of God.  God’s family comes before the family of the world (Luke 14:26).  Churches need to get themselves in order.  Purify the body by removing the sin.  In regard to the sinner, love them even more by loving and obeying the Word of God (John 14:15).  If Churches do not cast the sin out now, by their own actions they will be condemned (Matthew 7:22-27, Titus 1:15-16).  Love means doing the right thing and sometimes that can be a painful process.  Yet, it is by discipline that Christians will endure to be with their Heavenly Father.  Do not neglect! 1 Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong”.  Discipline the sinful and thereby love them even more.

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