by Elizabeth | Jul 19, 2010 | Learning Story
“My dear children, let’s not just talk about love. Let’s practice real love.”
My foray into obedience took me into First John, where the author (probably the apostle John, though it isn’t settled), is working to help early Christians deal with false teachings. The false teaching raised three issues that fostered uncertainty, doubt, and fear in the early Christians. They were told they must not be Christians if they ever sinned at all. But they were also told that they could be Christians without concerning themselves with Jesus’ commandments. At the same time, they were taught that it was foolish to believe Jesus lived in a literal physical body and that his death could atone for their sins.
Many of us today still struggle with the doubts John’s readers were faced with. 1 John beautifully addresses these doubts, telling us the mark of a true Christian is love. John wants to foster growth and fellowship and points us back again and again to Christ as our surety. Thankfully, it is not up to us to keep a perfect record, because Christ did. And yet, because Christ did, we can live in freedom and righteousness, really and truly loving one another. Take heart and move into this day with this assurance.
by Elizabeth | Jul 17, 2010 | Learning Story
To wrap this series on obedience up for now, I return to 1 John 1:9: “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
And now I turn to Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his urgency to have at least one or two people with whom you actually name your sins…
The root of all sin is pride… I want to be my own law, I have a right to my self, my hatred and my desires, my life and my death. The mind and flesh of man are set on fire by pride; for it is precisely in his wickedness that man wants to be as God … In the confession of concrete sins the old man dies a painful, shameful death before the eyes of a brother. Because this humiliation is so hard we continually scheme to evade confessing to a brother. Our eyes are so blinded that they no longer see the promise and the glory in such abasement…Since the confession of sin is made in the presence of a Christian brother, the last stronghold of self-justification is abandoned. The sinner surrenders; he gives up all his evil. He gives his heart to God, and he finds the forgiveness of all his sin in the fellowship of Jesus Christ and his brother… Now he stands in the fellowship of sinners who live by the grace of God in the Cross of Jesus Christ.”
“Sin is something that wants to possess us. When we sin, we pridefully reject God. We do not become neutral, but we give up our God-give freedom in exchange for a lie. Christian community in the church is God’s idea. Man did not devise it. And God promises us in Matthew 18 to be with us in this community life together, whenever even 2 or 3 of us are gathered together.”
I found this quote on the A Deo Lumen website but was not able to find the author’s name.
by Elizabeth | Jul 16, 2010 | Learning Story
In the ongoing series on obedience, I offer two final thoughts for now. It is important to understand the fullness of the gospel, that while we will be living in love for our heavenly Father and loving our friends, enemies, and neighbors, we can NOT do this in our own strength. It’s also important to know what the gospel looks like when we fail to obey.
5. How can we do these impossible things?
By the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Now, however, being changed in heart, motivated by gratitude for acceptance through free grace, and energized by the Holy Spirit, they “serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code” (Rom. 7:6). This means that their attempts at obedience are now joyful and integrated in a way that was never true before. Sin rules them no longer. In this respect, too, they have been liberated from bondage.”
J.I. Packer, Concise Theology
6. What do we do when we don’t obey God?
a. I John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Come back to the King, who is also your Father, who has adopted you and will NEVER CONDEMN you because Christ was condemned for that sin. Bow before him, tell Him the truth about what you’ve done, and hear his words of forgiveness and love:
Remember this story from Luke 15:
“When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.
BUT THE FATHER WASN’T LISTENING. He was calling to his servants…”We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here – given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have this wonderful time!”
Always return to the one who is waiting for you, running after you, because
[1]Packer, J. I. (1995, c1993). Concise theology : A guide to historic Christian beliefs. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.
by Elizabeth | Jul 14, 2010 | Learning Story
Okay, that was sort of a teaser. I am continuing my posts on obedience, posting tonight since early in the morning my youngest and I head for the airport to fly away to Maine. I do have a really good story about deciding my rules superseded a stewardess’s rule on an airplane and what happened as a result. If I have time, I’ll write it out during the plane trip and share it with you on Friday. Meanwhile, pray we have smooth flying tomorrow and a sweet visit with my Aunt and Uncle.
4. What does obedience to God look like?
Mark 12:28-31; I john 2:3-6; Philippians 2:6-11. (See previous posts for these verses written out.)
Among other things:
- Loving God and loving others. What does this look like?
- Loving your enemy. What does this look like?
- Forgiving someone who has hurt you. What does this look like?
Obedience isn’t easy. But we have hope because we’re not expected to do it in our own human strength or willpower. See the next point.
5. How can we do these impossible things?
By the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Now, however, being changed in heart, motivated by gratitude for acceptance through free grace, and energized by the Holy Spirit, they “serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code” (Rom. 7:6). This means that their attempts at obedience are now joyful and integrated in a way that was never true before. Sin rules them no longer. In this respect, too, they have been liberated from bondage.”[1]
J.I. Packer, Concise Theology…
[1]Packer, J. I. (1995, c1993). Concise theology : A guide to historic Christian beliefs. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.
by Elizabeth | Jul 14, 2010 | Learning Story
3. What is the real reason we obey God?
a. HE IS OUR KING…WE ARE HIS SUBJECTS…
We’ve lost touch with this. Kingdoms were NOT democracies. No one voted on the King. The King conquered and ruled and you had to bow down before him.
Christ is our King who conquered death and sin and we bow down before him in deep gratitude that he saved us. Our hearts overflow with joy at the freedom he won for us. And oddly, in that freedom, we happily become his servants.
Obedience is how we bow before our King, to worship Him. Disobedience is really just obedience to our own will or someone else’s. It is saying, I REALLY WANT TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO. IT IS MAKING OUR OWN RULES.
b. It reveals our love for him. It shows that we KNOW him.
I John 2:3-6: 3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s lovec is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
Listen to what C.H. Spurgeon says about “walking in Christ” because he abides in us.
The first thing about a Christian is initiation, initiation into Christ: the next thing is imitation, the imitation of Christ. We cannot be Christians unless we are in Christ; and we are not truly in Christ unless in him we live and move and have our being, and the life of Christ is lived over again by us according to our measure.
“Be ye imitators of God, as dear children.” It is the nature of children to imitate their parents. Be ye imitators; of Christ as good soldiers, who cannot have a better model for their soldierly life than their Captain and Lord. Ought we not to be very grateful to Christ that he deigns to be our example? If he were not perfectly able to meet all our other wants, if he were an expiation and nothing else, we should glory in him as our atoning sacrifice, for we always put that to the front, and magnify the virtue of his precious blood beyond everything: but at the same time we need an example, and it is delightful to find it where we find our pardon and justification.
They that are saved from the death of sin need to be guided in the life of holiness, and it is infinitely condescending on the part of Christ that he becomes an example to such poor creatures as we are. It is said to have been the distinguishing mark of Caesar as a soldier that he never said to his followers “Go!” but he always said “Come!” Of Alexander, also, it was noted that in weary marches he was sure to be on foot with his warriors, and in fierce attack’s he always was in the van. The most persuasive sermon is the example which leads the way. This certainly is one trait in the Good Shepherd’s character, “when he putteth forth his own sheep he goeth before them.” If Jesus bids us do anything, he first does it himself. He would have us wash one another’s feet; and this is the argument—“Ye call me Master and Lord, and ye say well; for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
Shall we not do as he does whom we profess to follow? He has left his footprints that we may set our feet in them.Will we not joyfully fix our feet upon this royal road?
by Elizabeth | Jul 13, 2010 | Learning Story
Continuing from Saturday, here are some more of my notes from a Sunday school lesson for the high school seniors on what many consider a dirty word in this ‘anything goes’ society: obedience. The seniors were pretty quick to recognize that obedience is necessary because without it there would be chaos — anti-shalom. Today, meditate on Philippians 2:12- 18 (and if you missed 2:6-11, review those verses.) Our obedience begins with the one who made it possible, Jesus our Lord. Then consider with me some of the questions of obedience.
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
Basic questions:
- What does the word ‘obey’ mean?
- What are some bad reasons to obey God?
- What is the real reason we obey God?
- What does obedience to God look like? (Phil. 2:6-11, Mark 12:28-31; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 5:3)
- How can we obey God?
- What should we do when we fail to obey God?
1. What does the word “obey” mean?
English: From Latin: ob “to” + audire “listen, hear”
Greek: word used in the New Testament:
“Hupo – kouo…” “Under-listen…”
Hebrew: “Shama” — The same word for HEAR…Hearing was active – to hear was to engage with, to act upon…
As Christians, we are part of a religion that HEARS what God says and ACTS upon it.
2. What are some bad reasons to obey God?
a. Ever believed this one? TO EARN HIS FAVOR…
Obeying God does not earn His favor. His grace has already earned us His favor.
God loves His people and pursues us in our worst state. Even when His people turned away from Him, he always went after them – read the book of Hosea.
“Religion is ‘if you obey, then you will be accepted’. But the Gospel is, ‘if you are absolutely accepted, and sure you’re accepted, only then will you ever begin to obey’.” Tim Keller
b. Ever tried this one? TO GET HIM TO DO WHAT WE WANT…
Sometimes we ‘obey’ God because we are trying to manipulate him. If I am really nice to God, if I do everything He says, maybe He will get me into that college, get me that job, get me that boyfriend…FILL IN THE BLANK…
“Today’s preacher must argue against the self-serving pragmatism of postmodernity. The gospel does say that through it you find your life, but that first you must lose your life. I must say to people, “Christ will ‘work’ for you only if you are true to him whether he works for you or not. You must not come to him because he is fulfilling (though he is) but because he is true. If you seek to meet him in order to get your needs met, you will not meet him or get your needs met. To become a Christian is not to get help for your agenda but to take on a whole new agenda — the will of God. You must obey him because you owe him your life, because he is your Creator and Redeemer. – Tim Keller, from a contributing chapter of The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching
