[Biblemat] A) THE SOUL OF OBEDIENCE

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Tuesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

THE SOUL OF OBEDIENCE

     Remember the old story about the man who was going on
a journey, and asked his son to lay out the farm according to
his instructions?  Corn was to be planted in this field, beans
in that, the garden here, a shed built there.  The boy put the
corn where his father wanted it, and the beans where the fath-
er said.  But he changed places for the shed and the garden.
When his father returned and objected to his son's disobedie-
nce, the boy argued he had done half of what his father order-
ed; but the father said, "No, you did nothing in obedience.  It
is obvious that you only put the corn and beans where you
did, because you thought they should go there."

     We might well ask ourselves the question, "Why do we live
as we do?"  Is it out of respect for God and His Laws, or are
we simply following a pattern of mores that we approve, and
which represents no higher authority than our own traditions.
The motive for obedience is an aspect of law that has been
somewhat ignored.

     In Paul's arguments on law versus faith (Romans and Gal-
atians) he certainly does not rule out law.  He says faith estab-
lishes law (Rom. 3:31); and he says the law is "holy, just and
good" (Rom. 7:12).  Its weakness was by virtue of its subjects
men (Rom. 8:3); but even then, it served to bring them unto
Chrsit -- aware of their need for mercy and forgiveness (Gal.
3:24).

     One can not accept the existence of God and ignore the
expression of His Will; and acknowledging the relation to sub-
mit to His hand (Rom. 1:20,21; 9:20,21).  There is close correl-
ation between keeping the commands of God and abiding in
God, and He in us (Jno. 14:23; 1 Jno. 2:3-6).

     Christ is the "author of eternal salvation unto all them that
obey Him" (Heb. 5:9); and saving faith is an obedient faith
(Jas. 2:24) "which worketh by love" (Gal. 5:6).  The principle
here is not that of law meritoriously obeyed (which would de-
mand perfection) but because obedience from the heart demo-
nstrates our attitude toward Him who made and gave the law.
How else could the breaking of one law make a man "guilty of
all"?  James explains, "He that said, Do not commit adultery
said also, Do not kill" (Jas. 2:10-12; 4:10,11).  To select from
all God said those parts we approve and are willing to obey,
assumes a position above that of God.  It is to imagine oursel-
ves judges of the law, hence of God, instead of realizing we
are subject to and are judged by the law, hence by God.  With-
out the proper attitude toward God, no obedience (?) is accep-
table to Him.

     Some have suggested these Bible approved motives for 
obedienc: fear of punishment, appreciation of our position as
clay to Potter, and varying degrees of love for God.  Paul says "the love of 
Christ (our recognition of His love for us) constrains us" (2 Cor. 5:14).  
However you list them, they start with faith "that God is, and that He is a 
rewarder of them
that diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6).  Perhaps we are failing
to elicit more obedience to God because we do not work hard
enough at preparing the soil, or stirring proper motives. ------
Robert Turner, Via. Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No. 14, April 8, 
2007.   </HTML>
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