HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 235
page A233
What does obedience to God actually look like?
• E Z R A 1 :5 , 2 :1 | Then God stirred the hearts of . . . the leaders of the tribes of Judah and
Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. . . . They returned to Jerusalem.
When God stirs your heart to do something, follow through on what he is asking you to do.
• G A L AT I A NS 2 :1 6 | “We know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ,
not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made
right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no
one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” (See note on page 1059.)
Is obedience to God really necessary, since I am saved by faith?
• DE U T E R O NO MY 6 :1 8 , 2 4 -2 5 | “Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so all will go
well with you. . . . And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to
fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day.
For we will be counted as righteous when we obey.”
• DE U T E R O NO MY 7 :9 | “He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand
generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.”
• J E R E MI A H 7 :2 3 | “Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!”
Obedience is the visible expression of your love. Your sin breaks not only a law but also
God’s heart.
• PH I L I PP I A NS 2 :1 2 | Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with
you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of
your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
Once you have experienced God’s love and work in your life, you will want to show your
reverence for him by obeying him.
• H E B R E W S 1 1 :8 | It was by faith that Abraham obeyed.
Obedience is an act of continuous faith. It shows that you trust God enough to follow his
commands for your life.
• T I T U S 1 :1 6 | Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live.
If you are consistently disobedient to God, your claim to know him is meaningless.
• A C T S 5 :3 2 | “We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by
God to those who obey him.”
God’s presence in your life becomes a powerful force for good when you obey him.
• L E VI T I C U S 1 8 :5 | “If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through
them. I am the Lord.”
• J O H N 1 4 :2 1 | “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who
love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and
reveal myself to each of them.”
Obedience to God brings you into fellowship with him, synchronizing you with his will.
• R O MA NS 6 :1 7 | Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly
obey this teaching we have given you.
Putting your trust in God for salvation through Christ is equivalent to obeying his message
of good news.
HelpFinder
God’s commandments are not burdensome obligations but pathways to joyful, meaningful, satisfying lives. And obeying them is the only way to stay in fellowship with God. God’s
call for your obedience is based on his own commitment to your well-being. Since God is
the creator of life, he knows how life is supposed to work. Obedience demonstrates your
willingness to follow through on what he says is best, your trust that God’s way will work
for you, and your desire to have a close relationship with him.
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• J O H N 1 4 :1 5 | [Jesus said,] “If you love me, obey my commandments.”
• 1 J O H N 3 :2 4 | Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and
he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.