Obedient Faith

Saving faith is carefully defined in Scripture and needs to be understood because there is a dead, nonsaving faith that provides false security (James 2:14-26). True saving faith contains repentance and obedience as its elements. Repentance is an initial element of saving faith, and it involves three elements: a turning to God, a turning from evil, and intent to serve God. No change of mind can be called true repentance without all three. Repentance is not merely being ashamed or sorry over sin, although genuine repentance always involves an element of remorse. It is a redirection of the human will, a purposeful decision to forsake all unrighteousness and pursue goodness instead. The faith that saves involves more than mere intellectual assent and emotional conviction. It also includes the resolution of the will to obey God's commands and laws. Obedience is the hallmark of the true believer.

Reflecting on the text: Why is obedience a mark of true faith?

The above statement comes from my study guide of Colossians 1:1-8. The statement comes from the thought of the Greek word pistis for "faith," which means to be persuaded that something is true and to trust in it. But far more than mere intellectual assent, it also involves obedience. As we read in James 2:14-26 we understand that to just believe without works is a dead faith. So since we know that a dead faith is really in an end of its self no faith, this should cause us to examine our faith, our salvation as talked about in Philippians 2:12.

I think before we can dig into the word “Obedience” we need to define the word believes. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. This has to be one of the most misunderstood verses in the whole Bible. People say I believe and point to this verse. I think when we jump to James 2:19 we see that the demons themselves believe in one God and they shudder. Let me ask you; are demons going to heaven? The answer is no, never! So if demons believe and are not going to heaven would that be the same case for us as humans that just believe? We find the answer in John 3:36, which says: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. We find in John 3:36 that the way we believe in God is communicated by the way we live our lives before a fallen world. I love how Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines the word obedience:

“Faith is of the heart, invisible to men; obedience is of the conduct and may be observed. When a man obeys God he gives the only possible evidence that in his heart he believes God. Of course it is persuasion of the truth that results in faith (we believe because we are persuaded that the thing is true, a thing does not become true because it is believed), but peitho, in N.T. suggests as actual and outward result of the inward persuasion and consequent faith.” –Vine’s Expository Dictionary Pg.796

I always love how Scripture is the best way to define what a word means. I believe for obedience we see it clearly in Luke 9:23-24 and Jesus said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Jesus Himself said in John 13:15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 1 John 2:6 says whoever says he abides in Him (Jesus Christ) ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

My friend Jimmy recently preached a message titled: Jesus died to save the world. In the message he gave 5 observations of the growing Christian. They were: believe – look – change – live – tell. First we believe in our hearts of what Jesus has done (dying on the cross) for the sinner to bring him into a right relationship with God (John 3:16-18). Second we look to the cross of Christ, and understand that is how God saves the world, is through the death of Christ and not of anything that we have done. God’s gift of salvation is a free gift, nothing we can earn, but just receive (Ephesians 2:8-9). Third, we start to see the change that God is doing within. If God saves you, He will also give you a new heart, a heart that longs for God’s holiness, righteousness and not our old nature (2 Cor. 5:17). Titus 3:5 says He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Are you seeing the Holy Spirit’s work within you? Forth we live it out in our lives, in the way we handle our duties as husband/wife, father/mother, child, work, communities, church..etc. As well as forgiving, loving and serving each other, weather Christian or non-Christian (Col. 3:1-17). Fifth, we will tell others of the good news that is only found in Jesus Christ alone. We will find ways to make disciples that make disciples (Matt. 28:16-20). In Jesus’ day when He healed people He would tell them to not tell anyone and they would go tell everyone, but when He was ascended into heaven He told us to go tell everyone the good news and we tell no one.

My friend Susan said it best about the word obedience. In the middle of the word obedience is the word "die". I have found that in order to be obdienant to Christ we MUST "die" to ourself and our wills!

Keep pressing, keep praying and keep being obedient to God and His Word! Let’s be a church that reps the king of Kings well, not just believe, but live it in our daily lives.