Obey

	So far we have examined God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible and salvation.  Today, let's look at a word which will take us a critical step farther.  You see, it is not enough to know about the important topics we are discussing.  It's not enough to listen and then say, "That's right!"  We must take some kind of action.
	"And why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" Jesus wonders in Luke 6:46-49.  "Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.  But the one who has heard, and has not acted {accordingly,} is like a man who built a house upon the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."
	If we want to please God, we must obey.  What do we find when we examine the biblical concept of obedience?
	"Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone {as} slaves for obedience," Paul points out in Romans 6:16-18, "you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?  But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."
	In light of this passage, the first question we should ask is, "What are we to obey?"  Verse 17 indicates that we must obey a certain form of doctrine.  And what is involved in that doctrine?
	"Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ," we find in Romans 16:25-27, "according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, {leading} to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen."
	"And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter," Paul warns in 2 Thessalonians 3:14, "take special note of that man and do not associate with him, so that he may be put to shame."
	We must obey a certain doctrine regarding the Scriptures.  Any other doctrine is not acceptable.
	In Acts chapters four and five, the apostles are required to stand before the Jewish council, or Sanhedrin, and defend their preaching of the gospel.
	"We must obey God rather than men," Peter and the apostles respond to the council in Acts 5:29.
	We must obey a certain form of doctrine.  That doctrine requires that we obey the Scriptures.  And it demands that we obey God.
	"According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit," we read in 1 Peter 1:2, "that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: may grace and peace be yours in fullest measure."
	"And having been made perfect," Hebrews 5:9 says of Jesus, "He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation."
	We must obey a certain form of doctrine.  That doctrine requires that we obey the Scriptures and God.  And it demands that we obey Jesus.
	"And the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith," Luke notes in Acts 6:7.
	We must obey a certain form of doctrine.  That doctrine requires that we obey the Scriptures, God and Jesus.  And it demands that we obey the faith.
	"Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren," 1 Peter 1:22 urges, "fervently love one another from the heart."
	We must obey a certain form of doctrine.  That doctrine requires that we obey the Scriptures, God, Jesus and the faith.  And it demands that we obey the truth.  In addition, we find that the Bible insists that we obey those in authority.  This may not be a popular concept in our current society, but our society does not dictate the truth.  Whether we agree or not, and whether we like it or not, God expects us to be obedient to those in authority. 
	"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right," Paul expresses in Ephesians 6:1.
	God expects children to obey parents.
	"Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ," Paul instructs in verse five of the same chapter.
	Gods expects employees to obey employers.
	"Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities," Paul teaches in Titus 3:1-3, "to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.  For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another."
	God expects citizens to obey civil authorities.
	"Obey your leaders," Hebrews 13:17 commands, "and submit {to them}; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you."
	God expects Christians to obey spiritual leaders.
	What must we obey?  We must obey a certain form of doctrine.  That doctrine involves obedience to the Scriptures, God, Jesus, the faith, the truth and those in authority.  This latter group includes parents, employers, civil authorities and spiritual leaders.

	What must we obey?  We must obey a certain form of doctrine.  That doctrine involves obedience to the Scriptures, God, Jesus, the faith, the truth and those in authority.  This latter group includes parents, employers, civil authorities and spiritual leaders.  Our next question, then, is, "How are we to obey?"  Returning to our text in Romans 6:17, we find that we must obey from the heart.
	"Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about {the} obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name's sake," Paul observes in Romans 1:5.
	Obedience from the heart is obedience of faith.
	"For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me," Paul states in Romans 15:18, "resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed."
	Obedience from the heart is obedience in word and deed.
	"As obedient children," 1 Peter 1:14 advises, "do not be conformed to the former lusts {which were yours} in your ignorance."
	Obedience from the heart is as trusting and unconditional as that of little children.
	"For to this end also I wrote that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things," Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:9.
	Obedience from the heart is an obedience of faith, by word and deed, like that of little children.  It is obedience in all things.
	We have seen what we are to obey and how we are to obey.  The next question might be, "Do we need to obey?"  No, we don't need to obey.  We don't need to obey, that is, unless we are concerned about encouraging others.
	"For the report of your obedience has reached to all," Paul notes in Romans 16:19, "therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil."
	"And his affection abounds all the more toward you," Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:15 in reference to Titus, "as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling."
	We don't need to obey if we don't want to encourage others.  And we don't need to obey if we don't want to receive the Holy Spirit, which, as we know from Acts 2:38, is synonymous with being saved. 
	"And we are witnesses of these things," Peter asserts in Acts 5:32, "and {so is} the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."
	We don't need to obey if we don't care about encouraging others or receiving the Holy Spirit and being saved.  And we don't need to obey if we don't care about avoiding eternal punishment.
	"{We are} destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God," Paul expresses in 2 Corinthians 10:5-6, "and {we are} taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete."
	"For {it is} time for judgment to begin with the household of God," 1 Peter 4:17 warns, "and if {it begins} with us first, what {will be} the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"
	What must we obey?  We must obey a certain form of doctrine.  That doctrine involves obedience to the Scriptures, God, Jesus, the faith, the truth and those in authority.  This latter group includes parents, employers, civil authorities and spiritual leaders.
	How must we obey?  We must obey from the heart. This is an obedience of faith, by word and deed, like that of little children.  It is obedience in all things.
	Do we need to obey?  We must obey if we want to encourage others, receive the Holy Spirit and be saved, and avoid eternal punishment.
	"But to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness," Romans 2:8 cautions, "wrath and indignation."
	"For after all it is {only} just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you," Paul notes in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9, "and {to give} relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power."
	"You were running well," Paul observes in Galatians 5:7, "who hindered you from obeying the truth?"
	What about you?  Are you willing to obey the truth so that you can be set free?

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."