What Is Obedience?

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:

1. What does the word ‘obey’ mean?
2. What are some bad reasons to obey God?
3. What is the real reason we obey God?
4. What does obedience to God look like?  (Phil. 2:6-11, Mark 12:28-31; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 5:3)
5. How can we obey God?
6. 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