THE ENDURING WORD – COMMANDS TO BE OBEYED!
There are a
vast amount of Greek words that are translated in the New Testament as
obedience; which also advance the universal descriptions of law, ordinance,
statute, word, judgment, precept, oracle, or charge.
All of
these convey the fact that God as Sovereign Ruler must be obeyed!
Peter
conveys this complete understanding to the hope filled children of God he
writes his first letter to, note:
1 Peter 1:13-15
- READ
In
addition, we have to consider the Lord Himself, which became for you and me,
a demonstration of the very obedience necessary as children of God, note:
Philippians 2:5-8
- READ
Hebrews 5:8-9
“though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by
the things which He suffered.
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And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all
who obey Him”
God’s word
makes it abundantly clear that God is not satisfied with mere external
compliance, but expects a willing and joyful obedience, coming from the
heart!!!
Most folks
consider obedience to commands as drudgery, or laborious tasks wrought with
toil! How is the child of God to look into the enduring word, and find the
joy of obedience? Let’s look at how to answer this!
The
Nature of God’s Commands!
Are they a
burden or a blessing?
Answer:
1 John 5:3
A detour
sign is a burden until you learn the bridge is out!
Hebrews 12:11
Keeping the
commandments of God is to have the love of God perfected in us -
1 John 2:5.
His complete care, His loving protection, His continued benevolence, etc…
The
Authority of God’s Commands!
God has
made His authority known to all of us through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Matthew 28:18-20
The
commands of God then come to us by the given authority of Jesus Christ, who
has commissioned His chosen Apostles to reveal
“all truth”
(John
16:13) including the commands of God!
What
must I do?
Acts 2:38;
8:36-38;
16:15,
31-33;
18:8.
What
must I continue to do?
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8;
2
Thessalonians 3:4,
6,
10,
12;
1
Corinthians 7:10;
9:14;
14:37.
Commands and Liberties!
Assemble!
Command:
First day of the week (Acts
2:42;
20:7;
1
Corinthians 16:2); do not forsake (Hebrews
10:24-25); worship by giving ourselves as sacrifices (submissive,
spiritual, and truthful worship
–
Acts 2:42,
Romans 12:1-2;
Colossians 3:16).
Liberty:
Where (home, rental, building, etc…), how many times (consider -
1
Corinthians 11:33), and additional assemblies (2
Timothy 2:15 –
Acts
2:42,
46,
5:42,
20:20).
Teach!
Command:
Matthew 28:20;
“Commit these things
to faithful men who will be able to teach others also”
2
Timothy 2:2;
Hebrews 5:12
Liberty:
How often; where; different age groups; notes; power points; etc…
Summary –
Commands of
God’s word are beneficial for the children of God –
Titus 2:14
“who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from
every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people,
zealous for good works.”
They bring
us to salvation –
Romans 1:16; they maintain our relationship in righteousness with
the Father –
1
John 2:29
“If you know that He
is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of
Him.”
Obedience
to the commands of God, without a single word, states to the world that we
are His children –
Philippians 2:15-16
“that you may become
blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a
crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the
world,
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holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ
that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”