The teachings of the New Testament emphasize that believers in Christ should live a life marked by obedience, following the model provided by Christ himself. Additionally, the significance of obeying God is underscored in the narrative of the Ten Commandments. Deuteronomy 11:26–28 articulates this concept, stating, “Obey God and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed.”
Nevertheless, we continue to engage in defiance and get into problems as a consequence of our disobedience. As followers of Jesus Christ, how do we comprehend what the Bible means by obedience to avoid these instances? And how significant is it to keep God’s word at the forefront of our daily lives?
Contents
What Is Obedience, And What Is Its Meaning In The Bible?
In the Old and New Testaments, the core principle of obeying God refers to hearing or listening to a greater authority. The Greek word for obedience in the Bible refers to the concept of positioning oneself beneath someone by submitting to their command and authority. Furthermore, another Greek term for obey means “to trust” in the New Testament.
Based on Holman’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, a concise definition of biblical obedience is “to hear God’s Word and act accordingly.” Thereby, obeying God in the Bible refers to trusting, submitting, hearing God’s words, and surrendering to God.
How Do We Obey God?
We comply with God if our decisions and deeds follow his teachings in the Bible. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, which you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success,” Joshua 1:8 proclaims.
Besides, as obedient children of God, we can get God’s assistance through the Holy Spirit[1] by praying. Prayer also makes us more sensitive to God’s word, allowing us to recognize his words and understand what we need to do. God rewards obedience, and true obedience means listening to his wisdom and God’s commands.
2 Forms Of Christian Obedience
Matthew 22:36–39 reads, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In essence, God expects our obedience.
1. Love The Lord
Obedience to God can be as simple as thanking and honoring him every day. We must concentrate on obeying Jesus’ greatest commandment and loving our God with our heart, soul, and mind, consistently thanking him. We must understand that even the most challenging portions of our lives are part of God’s plan.
2. Love Your Neighbor
To love others, including friends and family members, we must forgive their mistakes and shortcomings. As Matthew 6:14 says, “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Showing mercy and compassion is a great thing because it allows us to show others what love for God means.
6 Reasons Why Obedience Is Important To God
1. God Will Bless Us
Why is obedience to God important? God blesses and rewards obedience repeatedly in the Bible: Genesis 22:18 says, “And through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed, all because you have obeyed me.” Also, Jesus Christ responded in Luke 11:2, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”
2. We Can Show Our Love To God
God demonstrates his love for us. It is time for us to turn it around by obeying God. If we love God, we will obey him and his words. “By this, we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments,” says 1 John 5:2–3.
In line with this, 2 John 6 states, “Love means doing what God has commanded us. He has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.” We honor him in our way by showing God our obedience.
3. We Can Show Our Faith In God
We must demonstrate our faith and trust in God. We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commandments. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, their love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did (1 John 2:3–6).
4. Christ Commands Us To Be Obedient
Jesus Christ is the great representation of obedience. As Christ’s disciples, we follow both his example and his words. Love is our inspiration for obedience, as John 14:15 states, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
5. It Is A Form Of Worship
As Jesus’ followers, we should follow him with all of our hearts, thanking God for his grace. Also, the Bible says (Romans 12:1), “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
6. Sin And Death Are Consequences Of Disobedience
In the Bible, Adam’s disobedience enabled both death and sin to enter the world. Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 15:22 entails, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” “Moreover, for as by the one man’s [Adam’s] disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s [Christ’s] obedience the many will be made righteous,” according to Romans 5:19. In today’s time, we are more vulnerable to dying and sinning.
4 Incredible Reasons Why Obedience Will Draw You Closer To God
Embracing a spiritual journey is often marked by a profound desire to connect with the divine. For instance, we study the Word of God to seek guidance in navigating life’s complexities and other blessings. Among the many virtues that play a pivotal role in deepening this connection, obedience stands as a cornerstone of faith. While the concept of obedience might evoke varying reactions, its significance within the realm of spirituality is undeniable.
1. We Can Hear His Voice
We can gain knowledge about his voice by studying his words and his wisdom. “Look, I now teach you these decrees and regulations just as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy; obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations,” Deuteronomy 4:5–6 claims.
2. We Can Be With God
God loves it when his people practice obedience. This will enable us to walk with him. Consider Enoch, Noah, and Adam in the Old Testament, who all enjoyed close relationships with God and obedience to him played an essential role in each of their relationships (Genesis 5:22, Genesis 6:6, and Genesis 2:7).
3. We Can Have Confidence And Faith In God
When we obey God, it entails stepping back and letting God work in our lives through his Holy Spirit and his Word. We concentrate on God by keeping him and his teachings at the center of our deeds and decisions in fulfillment of our promises to him. To obey God’s commandments is to be truthful and faithful to him.
4. We Can Be Rewarded
The Bible verses say that blessings will come if we live in obedience to God. As Joshua 1:8 suggests, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night to ensure that you obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and be successful in everything you do.”
Conclusion
We should not fear God and the perfect law that the apostles answered and proclaimed in the Bible. Instead, we can be inspired by the Scriptures in our commitment to obedience to God with our wholehearted love.
We worship a great, magnificent, and unique God. Let us obey him directly and genuinely, so we can move closer to him and reap the rewards of our obedience. That being said, can you harvest these benefits of obedience to God, or are you still lacking in some areas? God proves his love to us every day of our lives. Our obedience to God is one way to show our gratitude.