"Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.' " John 14:23.
" 'If a man love Me,' Christ said, 'he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.' John I4:23. The spell of a stronger, a perfect mind will be over us; for we have a living connection with the source of all-enduring strength. In our divine life we shall be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. We shall no longer live the common life of selfishness, but Christ will live in us. His character will be reproduced in our nature." —Christ's Object Lessons, p. 61.
You show your love to Christ by obedience! Your obedience-of-faith relationship brings His presence! You give expression to this faith through love!
Two distinct classes of people are in the world. One is loyal to the Lord and lives in obedience to His commandments; the other talks and acts like the world, ignoring the Word of God to follow the teachings of men. The hallmark of discipleship is obedience.
In this lesson you will discover—
OBEDIENCE OF FAITH
1. For what purpose did the apostle Paul call disciples to Christ? Romans 1:5, 6.
Romans 1:5-6 (NIV) Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6) And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
2. What effect did the preaching of the apostles have upon the hearers? Acts 6:7.
Acts 6:7 (NIV) So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
3. How highly does the Lord regard obedience? 1 Samuel 15:22.
1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV) But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
4. How can we identify genuine faith? Galatians 5:6.
Galatians 5:6 (NIV) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Note: "It is a daily working agency that is to be brought into exercise, a faith that works by love, and purifies the soul. . . . Is the revealed will of God placed as your highest authority? If Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, then the truth of God will so act upon your natural temperament, that its transforming agency will be revealed in a changed character." —Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 263.
5. What lasting example of obedience to God's will did Christ give on the cross? Philippians 2:8.
Philippians 2:8 (NIV) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
6. Did Christ's obedience have anything to do with your salvation? Hebrews 5:8, 9.
Hebrews 5:8-9 (NIV) Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9) and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
7. How much of the Christian's life should be brought under the will of God? 2 Corinthians 10:5.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
How would you apply this in life practice?
8. What charge did Jesus bring against the Pharisees? Mark 7:9.
Mark 7:9 (NIV) And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!
Note: Human tradition that is not based on biblical teachings is simply the voice of man preserved in the church. To follow such traditions instead of obeying the commandments of God is to repeat the sin of the Pharisees.
9. What will be the destiny of those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus? 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 (NIV) and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8) He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
10. How does a Christian's obedience to the truth influence his or her friends? 1 Peter 1:22. Give in your words what you understand from this text:
1 Peter 1:22 (NIV) Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
11. What promise is made to the obedient? Isaiah 1:19.
Isaiah 1:19 (NIV) If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land;
12. How does a disciple remain in the love of Christ? John 15:9, 10.
John 15:9-10 (NIV) "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10) If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
DISCIPLESHIP COMMITMENT
"What is the Bible test of character? '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.' No one need perish in spiritual blindness. A plain 'Thus saith the Lord' has been given for the guidance of all. "—Medical Ministry, p. 46.
Are the words "faith," "obedience," and "love" having a growing influence in your life? Why do you feel these words are associated in the Christian experience?
Unless otherwise designated, scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION�. Copyright � 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.