New Perspectives on Obedience

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Obedience
Taking a Second Look
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Matthew 721-23

• Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will
  enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does
  the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On
  that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we
  not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in
  your name, and do many mighty works in your
  name? 23 And then will I declare to them, I
  never knew you depart from me, you workers of
  lawlessness.

Obedience versus good works
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Matthew 1250
1 Peter 115-16
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy
yourselves also in all your behavior 16 because
it is written, YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.

• For whoever does the will of My Father who is in
  heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.

Obedience a sign of relationship
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1 Thessalonians 41

• Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you
  in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us
  instruction as to how you ought to walk and
  please God (just as you actually do walk), that
  you excel still more.

Obedience is an excelling behavior
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Hebrews 5.8-9

• 8 although He was a Son, He learned obedience
  from the things which He suffered.
• 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all
  those who obey Him the source of eternal
  salvation,

Obedience modeled and necessary
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Preaching Obedience is a Necessity

1. If youre going to teach the Bible, youre going
   to teach obedience
2. The current denominational climate is faith
   only without any emphasis on obedience

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While we are correct in stressing obedience, What
about the way it has been taught?
When we say obey God what are we really
saying? Are we speaking of completing His list of
commands, exactly? Do we teach have to obey
versus want to obey?
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Matthew 2818
John 1415

• If you love me you will keep my commandments.
• But we also obey because we love Him!

• And Jesus came and said to them, All authority
  in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
• Do we obey because Jesus has all authority?
  YES!

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We do not do works of obedience to be saved.

• Titus 35 - Jesus saved us when we were washed in
  the blood.
• We do works of obedience because of a
  relationship created at baptism.
• And to bring glory to God.

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Consider

• For even the Son of Man came not to be served but
  to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for
  many. Mark 1045
• Jesus came to serve, to give , and to pay
• Although he was a son, he learned obedience
  through what he suffered.  Hebrews 58
• Jesus came, he obeyed, and the Father was with Him

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When we obey the Father is with us also, all the
way

• So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through
  faiththat you, being rooted and grounded in
  love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all
  the saints what is the breadth and length and
  height and depth, 19 and to know the love of
  Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be
  filled with all the fullness of God.
  Ephesians 317-19
• He strengthens us with understanding
• Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly
  than all that we ask or think, according to the
  power at work within us, Ephesians 320
• He empowers us to over-achieve

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Deity Doesnt Need Us

• nor is he served by human hands, as though he
  needed anything, since he himself gives to all
  mankind life and breath and everything. Acts
  1725 

Obedience, power, and strength come from
relationship, not the other way around !!
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Is our service to God a checklist?

• Attendance at both services and mid week Bible
  study
• Regular contribution
• Partaking of the Lords Supper
• Attendance at Bible classes, gospel meetings,
  etc.
• Adherence to correct beliefs, doctrinal
  compliance on accepted standards

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Malachi 18-10
Practicing religion is not perfect, or complete.

• 8 when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it
  not evil? And when you present the lame and sick,
  is it not evil? Why not offer it to your
  governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would
  he receive you kindly? says the LORD of hosts.
• 9 But now will you not entreat Gods favor, that
  He may be gracious to us? With such an offering
  on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?
  says the LORD of hosts.
• 10 Oh that there were one among you who would
  shut the gates, that you might not uselessly
  kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with
  you, says the LORD of hosts, nor will I accept
  an offering from you.

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Ephesians 422-24 put off your old self, which
belongs to your former manner of life and is
corrupt through deceitful desires,23 and to be
renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to
put on the new self, created after the likeness
of God in true righteousness and holiness.

• Obedience to God is not limited to our hands.
• God wants out heart, love, communion, desire
• He wants our commitment and devotion to become
  like Him

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Obedience is a whole person response to God.

• Do you obey because you have to?
• Are you checking items on a checklist?
• Or just doing things to earn your way?
• Learn to live to love