Obeying God's Word - What does it mean as a believer?

Since we learned from Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are "saved by by grace through faith apart from good works" then what role does obedience to God's word have for a believer? In the very next verse, Ephesians 2:10, Paul adds,

"for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

While we are not saved by good works, now that we are saved we learn that we have a new purpose in life, that we are now "created" as a new person to live out the good things God has prepared beforehand for us to pursue and do.

Another way to look at it is this: now that I am secure in my own salvation (by grace) I am free to devote myself to everything else God calls me to. Imagine if we had to spend all day every day still worrying about earning our own salvation. We don't! So now we are free to help others! Like that oxygen mask on the plane that they tell you to put over your own face before you try to help others. You're saved, so let's get busy pursuing God's plan on earth and helping others.

Is living obediently to God's word now all about following a bunch of rules? Check lists? Trying to maintain God's favor? Not at all. If you are a believer in Christ as your Savior, you already have God's favor! That's grace!

However, being a "follower" of Christ means following His ways, joining Him on His path, becoming like Him--out of love for Him. That's another way of saying obedience.

Living obediently is growing to the point of saying, "Regardless of the consequences I will not compromise my obedience to God, or integrity, or what He has called me to."

It may cost you an opportunity in the short term, but it always is a "win" situation in the end (Matthew 6:33) because God is on the scene working and has a plan! It's putting Him first, "Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you," meaning all the stuff of life we truly need.