Obedience to Christ
What does it mean to be obedient? If asked, all of us can give an example in our lives where we must be obedient. For most of us, we could list several places in our lives where we must obey an authority placed over us. There are also places in our lives where we have been placed in a position of authority over others. For example, if we are parents, we have authority over our children, and we expect the obedience of our children. If we are employees of any job, we are either expected to obey directions and supervision from superiors, or we may have authority and supervision over others. It is possible both are true, we submit to an authority over us, and we also have authority over others. Even in informal situations, we find ourselves continually making a choice whether or not to be obedient to others, deciding if we will adhere to any set of rules or expectations presented to us. If you have ever flown on an airplane, you have likely sat down and buckled your seatbelt when the captain has expressed concern over upcoming turbulence. In our lives, we are continually faced with the question of whether or not we will obey.
The Bible gives us very clear guidelines for obedience, and it speaks to every area of authority in our lives. However, the true test of obedience in the life of a Christian comes from our willingness to be obedient to the Lord. Before we can decide to follow God’s guidelines for obedience in our lives, we must first settle our hearts on obedience to Him.
In John 14:15, Jesus says, “‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments.’” Jesus continues talking to His disciples, and in John 14:21 says, “‘Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.’” Jesus continues in John 15:10. He says, “‘If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. Again, in John15:14, His words are similar, “‘You are my friends if you do what I command you.’”
In these verses, Jesus connects obedience to love. Obedience is our response to our love for Him. Keeping His commandments is the evidence of our love for Him. It is what sets us apart and makes us look different than the rest of the world. Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17, and He prayed also for us, “‘for those who will believe in [Him] through their word’” (John 17:20). In this prayer, He says to the Father, “‘They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth’” (John 17:16-17). We are sanctified, set apart, by the truth of God’s word. Obeying His word is what reveals that we are not of this world, but instead, belong to Him and love Him. Our love for Jesus leads us to respond with obedience to His commandments.
Jesus is our perfect example. He has taught us how to obey, as He too obeyed the will of His Father. Notice the second part of John 15:10. Jesus says, “‘If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.’”
The will of God was that His Son, Jesus Christ, would be the once for all sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 9:26). John 3:16 tells us God’s perfect plan for man’s salvation, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
The will of God meant death on the cross for Jesus, yet He surrendered to God the Father. Philippians 2:8 tells us, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
In this, Jesus modeled obedience for us. Obedience comes with a promise. If we continue reading in Philippians 2, we read, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). Jesus is highly exalted. He is seated at the right hand of the Father and will one day return as the glorified risen Savior!
We too have a promise that comes from obedience. 1 Peter 1:13-16 says, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
Those who belong to Jesus have the hope of His return and the promise of eternal life with Him. Romans 6:22-23 speaks to our obedience to Him and confirms the promise we have of eternal life, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Thank you, Jesus, for showing us what it means to obey and for becoming obedient to death on the cross for us. May we also walk in obedience to your commandments, growing in our relationship with you and showing you how much we love you. Thank you for the promise of eternal life. Amen.
-Jennifer
