ANSWERS TO YOUR BIBLE QUESTIONS
Obedience
After you have repented, been converted, baptized, and received the Holy Spirit into your life, what is your next obligation? It is to live in obedience to the Word of God. It would not benefit you one bit, even though you repented and were baptized, if you did not have the desire to live in obedience to God’s word. It is important then to know what the Bible has to say about obedience. In future lessons, we will study what constitutes obedience. This is very important also.
1. What would Israel be like if they faithfully obeyed God? Exodus 19:5
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:Exodus 19:5
Even though this was spoken to Israel many years ago, it is as much for us now, as it was for them then. To be God’s people, His peculiar people, we must obey His every word. We cannot afford to say, “It does not make any difference” or “The rest of the world does not do it, so why should I” or “God does not expect us to be that different.” This is what the people of the world are saying but a dedicated child of God thinks no such thoughts. His desire is to please the Master.
2. What did Israel promise to do? Exodus 24:7
And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.Exodus 24:7
Notice the words “All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.” When you accept the Lord as your Savior, His life as your way of life, you make this same promise, whether you realize it or not. Anything less would not be a total dedication to Christ.
With this attitude of mind, then we must study the Scriptures with an open mind, willing to let the Spirit reveal to us how we can serve God in a perfect way. If we see where we have been wrong in the past, we must be willing to change, even though our friends and neighbors will look down on us.
3. What words of truth did Jesus say of obedience? Luke 6:46-49
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Luke 6:46-49
People say they love God and they call Him LORD (the Lord of their life), yet they are not willing to obey His Word. Rather than listen to the Word (Christ), they listen to their friends. They don’t think it is necessary to be so out of step with the rest of the world. But what is more important, “being out of step with the rest of the world and receiving eternal life” or “being in step with the world and losing our eternal life”? It is just that simple and we have to decide which it will be.
4. How many masters can we serve? Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.Matthew 6:24
There can be but one master of our life. That master can only be Christ. We should listen to no one else. Many times it will not be what the majority would do but what choice we make.
5. What bold statement did Peter make? Acts 5:29
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.Acts 5:29
Even though it endangered his life, Peter still made the statement: “…We ought to obey God rather than men.” Peter did a great thing here, but today it seems that the devil uses a subtler approach. He tells the people, “Now what will your friends think”, “what will your relatives think of you, leaving something you have been taught all your life, what will they think of you?” They soon forget Peter’s admonition.
6. If we obey God, what are we able to possess? Proverbs 1:33
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.Proverbs 1:33
If we live up to what this verse means, we will always have peace with God, and with man.
7. What statement did Samuel make to Saul? 1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.1 Samuel 15:22
Read before and after the above reference to get the setting of the thought. Some people think they can infringe on God’s word if they give a sacrificial offering to the church. They feel that God will overlook what they’ve done. They try to appease Him, or they console themselves by saying, “Well, I have to make a living for my family.” So they use their family as an excuse for not obeying the Word.
But my friend, God will not be appeased that way. It makes no difference how large your sacrificial offering is. It will not please God. You may be able to console yourself that you are doing it for your family but that still is not going to please God. Obedience must come first, then our sacrificial offering is accepted, and then God takes note of what we do for our family. There is one thing we must fully understand, God not only expects obedience from us, He demands it. Although He will not force us, we must do it out of love and appreciation for what He has done for us.
8. What did Jeremiah tell Israel? Jeremiah 26:12-13
Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.
Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.
Jeremiah 26:12-13
Thank God, for a God of love. Just think, if we mend our ways and obey Him, He will not bring on us the evil that He said He would. “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23). So the decision is ours. What will it be?
9. What must we be? James 1:22-25
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 1:22-25
Just listening to the Word, just being hearers of the Word, will not do us a bit of good. We have to be doers of the Word. So if by now, you have only been a hearer of the Word, I hope this lesson will prompt you, beginning today, to start obeying the Word and then to pray for guidance that you might be led in the path of truth.
10. In what terms did Paul speak to the people at Rome? Romans 6:17-18
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 6:17-18
Notice the little word were. It is in the past tense. They were, or had been, the servants of sin but no longer. Now they are obeying the Word and have become the servants of righteousness.
Many people think of sin, as doing something terrible, as killing someone or stealing or committing adultery. In our next lesson, we will notice a sin that God speaks about, which most people do not realize is a sin. Yet God says it is as bad (in His sight) as those I have mentioned. If we want to become “servants of righteousness”, as Paul mentions, we need to know about that sin, so we can turn from it.
11. Why did God answer the prayers of John? 1 John 3:22
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
If we are not willing to obey God (His Word), how can we expect Him to answer our prayers? Obedience is what John is talking about. He obeyed God’s commandments and did those things that were pleasing in God’s sight. After fulfilling his duty, John had confidence that God would hear Him. I hope we will remember what John is telling us here.
12. What happens to those who do not obey? 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
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 1:7-9
After reading this, is the decision hard to make? It’s not if you desire eternal life and the blessings of God’s kingdom. He’s willing and desirous to give it to you but you must prove yourself worthy of that reward.
Eternal life is a gift from God, yes. But will a thief or an adulterer get into the kingdom? So there is something we must do to be worthy of that gift.
13. What promise did Christ make here? Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.Revelation 2:10
SUMMARY
Without obedience, we can never please God. God brought us into this world: He feeds, He keeps, He shelters, He clothes. He has the right to expect loyalty from us. Also, please remember this, not only should we be willing to be obedient because of these things we have mentioned but God wants us to be a happy people and His way of life will bring us happiness. Just try it.
Material from the book Answers to Your Bible Questions by Wesley Walker.
More info: http://BibleAnswers.press
