This is a question that more than ninety nine percent of confessing Christians will answer and say that obedience to God is not how or why God will save them. Since they don't believe that obedience saves them, then do they believe that they are saved to obey God? From the looks of it they don't believe either way, because they certainly are not obeying God even though they claim to be saved. Obedience to God means that we must obey his word, and if we are not obeying his word, then we would be committing sin against him, which is rebellion against him. The truth of the matter is that Gods word clearly reveals that he demands our obedience to him. Lets first of all prove from Gods word that he does demand our obedience and then find out if obedience has anything to do with him saving us. Paul tells us these words as stated in Romans 6:16 that says, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Can you argue against what Paul is saying here? Does not Paul clearly tell us that we are servants to what we obey whether it be of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness? So it's crystal clear that God demands obedience to him. And again the apostle Paul tells us these words stated in I Timothy 5:20 that says, "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." Paul says to rebuke them that sin, because sin is disobedience and rebellion against God. So again we learn that Gods word clearly reveals that we are to obey him; so now lets find out from Gods word if obedience has anything to do with him saving us or not.
The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us these words stated inHebrews 5:8-9 that says, "Though he were a Son, yet learned heobedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, hebecame the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."Any doubt in your mind that Christ is the author of eternal salvation?Now if you will notice very carefully the writer of this book ofHebrews tells us that Christ is author of eternal salvation unto "allthem that obey him" right? This verse of scripture does not say thatChrist is author of salvation to them that merely believes on him doesit?
No it does not because it clearly reveals that Christ is the author ofsalvation only unto all that will obey him, but if you don't want tobelieve this, then you can deny it and go on your deceived way.. Letthe apostle Paul tell us again what he says concerning whether or notobedience is involved in order for God to save us or not. Paul tells usthese words stated in I Timothy 4:16 that says, "Take heed untothyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing thisthou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." Do you hear theapostle Paul saying that we can saves ourselves only if we do what hetells us to do here? Did not Paul say that we must continue in thedoctrine, which is reference to the teachings of Christ, and our doingthis will not only save ourselves, but will also save those that willhear us? Do you see and hear certain instructions in this verse ofscripture that demands our obedience in order to be saved? Does he nottell us that if we do this that it will save us and them also that willhear and do the same thing? Can you not see that obedience isdefinitely involved on our part in order for God to save us, or are youlike the millions today that will turn away your ear from hearing whatGods word says about this? Did not Paul tell us these words as statedin 2 Timothy 4:1-4 that clearly says, "I charge thee therefore beforeGod, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the deadat his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant inseason, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsufferingand doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sounddoctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselvesteachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears fromthe truth, and shall be turned unto fables." Are you one of the manythat turns your ear away from the truth of Gods word like Paul isrevealing here? Do you know what the consequences are if for any reasonthat a person will turn away his ear from hearing the truth of Godsword? Let me show you what these consequences are for a person to beguilty of turning away his ear from hearing and doing what Gods wordsays to do. In Proverbs 28:9 we find Gods word saying, "He that turnethaway his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall beabomination." Do you want your prayers to be an abomination to God? Ifyou turn away your ear from what Gods word says and continue to pray tohim, then your prayers is nothing less than an abomination to him. Youcould perhaps be asking God in prayer to do something for you when atthe same time you are living in sin and rebellion against him. Millionsof people are guilty of this as they continue to live in sin anddisobedience to God even though they may have an active time of prayerwith God daily or weekly.
Is there any wonder why the prophet Hosea tells us these words asstated in Hosea 4:6-7 that says, "My people are destroyed for lack ofknowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also rejectthee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgottenthe law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they wereincreased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change theirglory into shame." Listen if you will to all the millions of confessingChristians in the world today claiming to be born again and stillliving in sin and rebellion against God. They were taught thatobedience to God has nothing to do with being saved and so thereforeGod has turned their glory into shame and contempt. They were taughtthat they were saved without doing anything other than believing onChrist, but listen to their defeat and despair in the testimony theyhave. Do they sound like being an overcomer that Christ will returnfor? Do they sound like being not just a conqueror, but more than aconqueror through Christ that strengthens us? No, simply because theywere not willing to believe Gods word and to let man be a liar untilproven out by the word of God. Yes God definitely demands our obedienceto him in order to be saved, but if you desire to believe otherwisethen so be it. We absolutely cannot save ourselves by our ourselves,because we need Gods help to do this. Let me say right here that Goddoes not need our help in order for him to save us, but we definitelyneed his help in order that we can be saved. And this help that we needis for God to give us an understanding of his word so that we can applyit to our lives daily. Did not Paul reveal in I Timothy 4:16 that wemust continue in the doctrine of Christ and "our doing this" will notonly save us, but also all them that will hear us? God has given usexactly what we need to be saved and it's up to us individually to obeythe instructions of it. Peter tells us this very thing in what he saysas stated in II Peter 1:3-4 that says, "According as his divine powerhath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: thatby these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped thecorruption that is in the world through lust." We become partakers ofthe divine nature of Christ if we believe and obey the truths revealedin the gospel of Christ, which are his many teachings found throughoutthe new testament scriptures. Gods eternal salvation is revealed as aplan called the "plan of redemption" that will redeem fallen man backto the state of perfection that Adam was in before his fall into sinand rebellion against God. This is a truth that has been blasphemed tohigh heaven by the religious clergy today and well as in times past. Tobe saved clearly reveals to be saved from sin, but the religious worldtoday is still steeped in their sin and rebellion against God thinkingthey are saved and will inherit eternal life when they die. All thisdeception is based on what they are believing concerning how God savesfrom sin. They believe they are saved and no obedience is involvedwhatsoever, but listen to the defeated testimony they possess. Stilldead in their trespasses and sins thinking they are saved. Any wonderwhy Jesus said that many false prophets world rise and deceive many?These false prophets has risen and left the scene, but left theirdamnable doctrines behind to deceive the masses by the millions.
So you still don't believe that obedience has nothing to do with Godsaving us? Maybe your reasons for this is what Paul says in Ephesians2:8-10 that says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and thatnot of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any manshould boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus untogood works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk inthem." You no doubt think that Paul proves here that we have nothing todo with receiving salvation or to be saved, but what Paul reveals hereis not understood but by a very few today. Let us make no mistake aboutit, we absolutely cannot save ourselves by our own doings trying tosave ourselves our own way. It's Gods way or no way. The greatestmajority of people don't understand that we are saved as Paul said"THROUGH FAITH" which is not of ourselves, but is rather the gift ofGod. What most fails to understand is that salvation is taught andrevealed in the scriptures of Gods holy word and that it must berevealed to us by revelation of the Spirit. Yes we are definitely savedby grace, but take note that we are not saved by grace alone thinkingthat God saves us in an instant of time like millions has been deceivedinto believing. It's entirely by Gods grace alone that we can be saved"through faith" which means we can only be saved through and by thefaith that comes by hearing and obeying Gods word. Keep in mind thatit's not just a hearer of Gods word that will be saved, but rather it'sthose that will not only hear his word, but will also do or obey whathis word says. Doing what God tells us to do is what will in time saveour souls. Does not James 1:21-22 tell us this saying, "Wherefore layapart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive withmeekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But beye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
Is not the apostle James clearly telling us that Gods word is "able" tosave our soul? Gods word is able to save our souls only "if we do whatit says" and not just to hear what it says alone, right? And does notJames tell us that if we be a hearer of the word without being a doerof the word that we will deceive ourselves? Can you not see then thatwe all must "hear and do" what Gods says in order to be saved? Have notI been saying this all along in this article from the beginning of it?To be saved "through faith" as Paul told us in Ephesians 2:8 means weare being saved as we walk in, and to believe and obey what Gods wordsays; not just having faith in the person of Christ. We are not savedby a mere faith alone in the person Christ, but rather we are saved bythe very faith of Christ, which means we are saved by the faith thatcomes by hearing Gods word, but we must do and obey what his word saysin a daily process. So let me say again that we cannot save ourselvesby ourselves, because we need someone or something to help us toaccomplish this task. To accomplish this task can only be done as webelieve and obey Gods eternal plan of salvation that is revealed in thegospel of Christ. This is why Paul said these words in Romans 1:16 thatsays, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is thepower of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jewfirst, and also to the Greek." So you see its our believing and obeyingthe teachings of Christ, which is his gospel, that saves us, and just amere belief on his person like millions today has been deceived intobelieving..."He that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spiritis saying to the churches."