Obedience
No one can read the Bible through without becoming strongly aware that JEHOVAH (YAHWEH)
the Almighty God of Israel requires the human race to obey Him. Indeed,
without obedience a person's worship of the Creator is futile. Doubtless it is
Christendom's greatest error that so many Church leaders have somehow convinced
themselves that the Ten Commandments are cancelled and done away with. A
greater misconception can hardly be imagined. The ultimate results of these
errors are filling western prisons with criminals too numerous to cope with.
The fact is that the Scriptures contain literally dozens of passages in which
the Most High appeals to the sinner (the lawbreaker) to turn back from the ways
of disobedience and death to the path of obedience and life. Faithful
obedience is in fact the opposite of sin (an old-fashioned word meaning
disobedience).
Obedience, if examined closely, is in fact an expression of faith. Obedience proves that faith is alive! Obedience is
the only reliable sign that a believer loves God. Bible prophecy indicates
that in the last days the entire world is going to be tested on this matter of
obedience; and that once again, as in the days of old, the choice will be
between the Commandments of God and the Traditions of Men.
(See The Mark of the Beast).
The Stewarton Bible School, therefore, advises all its students to beware of
the smooth-sounding arguments put forward by misguided preachers and false prophets who claim that
it is no longer necessary to obey the Ten Commandments. Nothing could be
further from the truth. The Holy One of Israel requires all His followers to
obey His law, a fact that is borne out by the writings of all the prophets of
God and repeatedly attested by the lives of holy men and women down through the
ages. We would be miserably failing in our duties if we led you to believe
anything else.
The TEN COMMANDMENTS are recorded in Exodus chapter 20: also at.
- Man's duty according to Scripture is to Fear God and keep His commandments.
This is the whole duty of man. Indeed, Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ)
came to earth to make this fundamental fact a living reality in every
believer's life: to save people from their sins, that is - from breaking his Father's law.
(Ecclesiastes 12:13, Matthew 1:21, Romans 8:3-4)
- Yahweh's commandments have been observed by His faithful followers from the
dawn of human history and they will continue unchanged through the endless
cycles of eternity. They are in fact the Constitution of the mighty universe,
the immutable Code of Practice every soul who enters the Kingdom of God will
observe throughout time.
(Genesis 26:5, Exodus 16:28, Psalm 111:7-8, Matthew 5:17-18)
- The Most High has already pronounced irrevocable blessings on all who obey
His laws, and curses on all who persistently disobey them. No mortal arguments, however attractive and weighty
they may at first appear, can alter these facts. The choice offered to the
human race, therefore, is between:
- Obedience: blessing and life on the one hand.
- Disobedience: cursing and death on the other.
(Deuteronomy 7:12-15, Deuteronomy 8:19-20, Leviticus 26:3-6, Deuteronomy 11:26-28,
Revelation 22:14)
- The message of every prophet of God has been the same:
"Turn from your evil ways and keep the commandments."
(2 Kings 17:13-15, Ezekiel 20:11, Ezekiel 18:21&27)
- Consequently the true Church has always been made up of believers who
endeavour who Trust and Obey God. Indeed, obedience is an expression of
living faith and is by far the most reliable SIGN of true discipleship.
(1 Samuel 15:22, Jeremiah 11:4, 1 John 2:3-4, 1 John 5:3, Revelation 12:17,
Revelation 14:12)
- By comparison, blatant disobedience of Yahweh's law and the stubborn refusal
to forsake pagan tradition is the mark of the false church. The worship of its
members, no matter how many miracles they are able to perform, is classified
by the Saviour as vain and futile.
(Matthew 15:8-9, Proverbs 28:9, Isaiah 29:13-14, Matthew 7:21-23)
- Being under grace in no way cancels a believer's obligation to obey the Ten
Commandments. If anything it increases it; for obedience if correctly
understood is faith and love in action. Bear in mind that no one is above the law! Ask any policeman and he will confirm this fact: I repeat: No one is above the law!
(Romans 3:31, Romans 6:15-16, James 2:17, John 14:15)
- When questioned about how one may gain everlasting life, Jesus the author of
salvation replied:
| Matthew 19:17
| "If ye will enter into life KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS."
|
This amazing answer, and it must be right, is seldom if ever used by the
preachers of today. And yet it is the one the Master gave when asked about the
way to life. See Ezekiel 18:21,27-28 where this mandatory parameter for life
is further explained.
- Moreover the Most High uses His law as a seal on the believer's mind and
actions. It is, figuratively speaking, placed in the foreheads and right hands
of all those who obey Him. The forehead stands for one's mind, beliefs and
motives. The right hand represents ones actions, deeds and works.
(Deuteronomy 6:4-8, Proverbs 7:2-3, Isaiah 8:16, Revelation 7:3, Hebrews 8:8-10)
- In view of such overwhelming evidence, students are strongly advised firstly
to have Faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ. They are then advised to add to
their faith - obedience. Their obedience will demonstrate to men and angels
that their faith is indeed alive. That, in essence, is the message of the Bible
and it would be folly to avoid it.
(Proverbs 28:7-9, Revelation 22:14, Ecclesiastes 12:13, James 2:17-20)
For further study read Psalm 119 and the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded
in Matthew chapters 5 to 7. In these majestic passages the values and
obligations of obedience are magnified and presented in their true perspective.
Study them carefully and by Yahweh's grace endeavour to put them into practice.
Do not make the mistake of following the advice of misguided leaders who are
blindly leading millions into error.
Author: David B Loughran
Stewarton Bible School, Stewarton, Scotland
August 1998
URL: http://www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/sbs777/course/lesson12.html