Week 1 - Day 4
THE RELATIONSHIP
Called to Jesus
CALLED TO OBEY JESUS
In The Story, we have clearly seen that obedience Rescues us. The Good News is that it’s not our obedience, but Jesus’ obedience that saves us. Adam’s and our own rebellious disobedience is The Problem. Jesus’ perfect obedience, however, is The Solution.
Romans 5:19 (NIV)
For just as through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man [Jesus] the many will be made righteous.
Having said that our obedience doesn’t save us, does that mean that our obedience isn’t important? No! Obedience is vitally important for a follower of Jesus.
What does each of these passages have to say about the importance of obedience?
Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
What does this passage say about obedience?
Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)
Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.
What does this passage say about obedience?
John 14:15 (NET)
If you love me, you will obey my commandments.
What does this passage say about obedience?
James 2:14-26 (NIV)
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
How is obedience the outer expression of both our inner love for Jesus and our inner faith (trust) in Jesus?
Here’s a good quote from Dallas Willard who is a Christian philosopher.
The idea that you can trust Christ and not intend to obey him is an illusion generated by the prevalence of an unbelieving “Christian culture.” In fact you can no more trust Jesus and not intend to obey him than you could trust your doctor and your auto mechanic and not intend to follow their advice. If you don’t intend to follow their advice, you simply don’t trust them. Period. (Of course in this case you might have good reason.) (Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ, p. 88)
What is your reaction to this quote?
DO AS I DO!
We often hear people say, “Do as I say but not as I do.” But not Jesus. He says, “Do as I do.” So what did Jesus do? How did He live His life?
John 15:10 (NLT)
When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
John 13:14-15 (NIV)
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
Why is Jesus’ example of obedience important?
Why is our obedience to Jesus important?
As the Son of God, Jesus IS The Obedient One. And in His call to come follow Him, He calls us to follow Him in obedience and so become obedient ones as well. That’s why a call to discipleship is a call to obedience. We model our thoughts, words and deeds after Jesus. We live our lives as if Jesus were in our shoes.
Hebrews 10:7 quoting Psalm 40:6-8 gives us what could be Jesus’ life motto:
Hebrews 10:7 (NIV)
Then I said, “Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, my God.”
What if you walked into any and every situation and prayerfully said, “Here I am, Lord. I am here to do your will”? How might that impact your life and the lives of others?
In light of what you have discovered through the Bible readings and your personal reflections, how will you respond? Finish this sentence: I will …
That’s Week 1 of The Relationship. Have a great time with your group in your Weekly Huddle and don’t forget to bring the record of your reflections.