LIVING OUR LIVES IN COMPLIANCE WITH GOD'S WILL.

OBEDIENCE.

Text: Deut.6:15-25; Rom.4:3-12; Jas.2:23-26.

Obedience is an act or instance of submitting to an authority. It is compliance with the demands or requests of someone over us. The general words for obedience in both Hebrew and Greek refer to hearing a superior authority. One Greek word that is translated "obedience" includes the idea of submission to authority in the sense of arranging or ordering oneself under someone in a place of command. Another Greek word suggests obedience that is a result more of persuasion than of submission.

Obedience to God and human authorities is an obligation stressed in both the Old Testament and New Testament. Abraham was additionally blessed on one occasion because he obeyed God in offering Isaac on the altar (Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:5). God's continued blessing upon Israel by virtue of the Sinai covenant was contingent upon their obeying his voice and keeping his covenant (Exodus 19:5). On the verge of entering Canaan, Moses placed before Israel a blessing and a curse-the former if they listened to and obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and the latter if they did not (Deuteronomy 11:22-28).

Deuteronomy warns that the penalty for stubborn and rebellious children is, first of all, chastisement, and then death by stoning if they persistently refuse to listen (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).

One evidence that a person is a child of God is continued obedience to the commandments of God (1 John 2:3-5). Jesus said that those who love him would keep his commandments (John 14:15).

And Peter, speaking of Christians, calls them "obedient children" (1 Peter 1:14).

Christians are to render obedience to a variety of people: believers to the Lord (John 14:21-24).

Wives to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24).

Children to their parents (Ephesians 6:1).

Citizens to their governmental officials (Romans 13:1-7) and.

Servants to their masters (Ephesians 6:5).

However, in spite of the strong stress on obedience in the Bible, such obedience is never made the grounds for justification before God. Paul declares that salvation is a gift of God that will produce good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). So, too, James speaks of works of obedience as flowing from faith (James 2:14-26).

Jesus himself, on the night of his betrayal, emphasized by repetition that love for him is measured by obedience to his commandments (John 14:15). He underscored this by asserting that his own love for the Father was evidenced by his obeying the Father's commands (John 14:31).

The Bible mentions many people whose obedience to God comes from their faith and love for him (Hebrews 11). For example:

Abel believed God and offered a more excellent sacrifice (Hebrews 11:4).

Noah put his faith in God's word and prepared an ark (Hebrews 11:7).

By faith Abraham left Ur at God's direction, not knowing his destination (Hebrews 11:8).

Moses put his faith in God and refused the privileges of being called Pharaoh's son, choosing rather to identify with Israel, God's people (Hebrews 11:24-25).

The greatest example of obedience based on trust in God is Jesus Christ himself. He emptied himself, taking the form of a bond servant; he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8).