OBEDIENCE TO JESUS AND SALVATION

to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood:” 1 Pt 1:2

OBEDIENCE AND BIBLICAL FAITH GO HAND IN HAND
Obedience to Christ and Faith in Christ are not mutually exclusive as denominational “faith only” folks like to present them to be. Faith and works perfectly unite for salvation, 1 Thess 1:3; Heb 5:9. 

THERE IS A GOOD WORK AND A BAD WORK
The failure of our denominational friends is the failure to recognize that works can be two kinds. There are the works of merit where one trust that his works get him to heaven (Rom 3:20). But there are also the works of faith, or as Paul calls it the ‘obedience of faith’ (Rom 1:5; 16:26; 1 Thess 1:3; Gal. 5:6), where the person obeys while trusting in God to save. But without works, there is no saving faith.

So when you work, not if, make sure that your faith isn’t in your own goodness as if salvation could be earned or deserved, but make sure that you 100% confidence is in God’s saving grace in Christ.

THERE IS ONLY ONE SAVING FAITH: THE OBEDIENT FAITH, Rom 1:5
The failure by our denominational friends to acknowledge that obedient faith is integral to salvation has forced them to create a second faith that brings salvation that is without obedience. Then they turn to preaching obedient faith after the supposed salvation. But this cannot be true because there is only one faith. It is obedient to Christ because He is Lord. He Himself said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments“, and “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not do what I say?“, and “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven“, Lk 6:46; Jn 14:15; 15:14; Mt 7:21. Jesus’ own words show that obedience to Christ is integral to a right relationship.

EVEN THE COMMAND TO LOVE IS A REQUIRED ACT
It might be instructive to our denominational friends to remember that the first and second great commandments are about love. We are commanded to love. So even loving God is obedience to His command.

So instead of creating and dreaming of a saving faith that has no works, why not see the two faiths described in the Bible? The first is obedient faith and the second is dead faith. And remember, as I began this lesson, when you obey Jesus Christ for salvation, that your salvation is by your faith in Him and not by putting your faith in your works/obedience.

No one has ever been nor ever will be saved who is not obedient to Christ. The thief on the cross obeyed from heart (Rom 6:16-18) and he obeyed with his mouth. Saving faith is obedient faith. If you would be saved today, then obey Jesus and you will be saved.



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  1. OBEDIENCE NOT REQUIRED? —–HUH? BY STEVE FINNELL

    The Calvinist answer to the question, “WHAT MUST I DO DO BE SAVED,” is, absolutely nothing, God does it all. Calvinists' assert obedience has nothing to do with the salvation of mankind. What do the Scriptures say?

    OBEDIENCE

    Hebrews 5:8-9 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.

    Jesus became the source of salvation for those who obey Him.

    Calvinists' proclaim that God elects a few to be saved; therefore man's obedience is not required.

    TO OBEY JESUS YOU MUST!

    A. BELIEVE: John 6:28-29 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God , that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

    Obedience is required, the work of believing that God sent His only Son so that men might be saved.

    B. BE BAPTIZED: Mark 16:16 ….and has been baptized shall be saved….

    Jesus said immersion in water was a prerequisite to salvation. Obedience is required.

    C. CONFESSION: Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

    Salvation follows the obedience of confession. Yes, men have to do something in order to be saved.

    D. REPENTANCE: Act 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    Repentance is essential to have sins forgiven.(Repentance means to make the commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God) Obedience is imperative. God does not force anyone to repent. God does not select a few men for salvation and then compel them to have a change of heart.

    It takes a highly trained professional and a willing student for anyone to believe that FAITH, REPENTANCE, CONFESSION, AND WATER BAPTISM are not acts of obedience that are required for salvation.

    You cannot reject faith, repentance, confession or water baptism as being essential for salvation and honestly claim you learned that from prayerfully searching the Scriptures. YOU NEED EXTRA-BIBLICAL TEACHERS AND OR EXTRA-BIBLICAL SOURCES TO REACH THOSE CONCLUSIONS.

    OBEDIENCE IS REQUIRED!

    Acts 5:32 And we are witness of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

    The Holy Spirit was given to those who obeyed.
    They obeyed by believing.
    They obeyed by confessing.
    They obeyed by repenting.
    They obeyed by being baptized in water.
    AFTER THAT OBEDIENCE THEY RECEIVED THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

    OBEDIENCE IS REQUIRED!

    2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

    OBEDIENCE IS REQUIRED!
    SALVATION WITHOUT OBEDIENCE IS AN UNCLAIMED GIFT!
    YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com

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