Right in the Sight of God

Obedience is Demanded of God’s People

Le 25:18; 1 Sa 15:22

Leviticus 25:18 ESV

“Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely.

1 Samuel 15:22 ESV

And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

See also Dt 26:16; Dt 32:46; Ro 6:16–18; 1 Pe 1:14–16

Examples of Obedience in the OT

Joshua 11:15 ESV

Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

See also Ge 6:22; Ge 12:1–4; Ge 22:2–3; Ex 40:16; Jon 3:3

The Example of Jesus Christ

Mt 26:39; Jn 14:31

Matthew 26:39 ESV

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

John 14:31 ESV

but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

See also Jn 17:4; Ro 5:19; Php 2:8; Heb 5:8

Jesus Christ is Obeyed

By the wind and the waves

Matthew 8:26–27 ESV

And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

By evil spirits

Mark 1:27 ESV

And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

Obedience is a Matter of Love

Jn 14:15; 1 Jn 5:3

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

1 John 5:3 ESV

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

See also Ps 119:167; 1 Jn 2:5; 1 Jn 3:10; 2 Jn 6

Obedience is a Matter of Faith

Heb 11:8; Mt 7:21 Obedience to the will of God demonstrates the reality of a person’s faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 11:8 ESV

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Matthew 7:21 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

See also Ro 1:5; Jas 2:14–26

God Rewards Those Who Obey Him

Ex 19:5; Jn 15:10

Exodus 19:5 ESV

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

John 15:10 ESV

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

See also Dt 5:29; 1 Ki 3:14; 2 Ki 18:5–7; Mt 7:21; Mt 7:24–25; Mt 12:50; Jn 12:26; Jn 14:21; Jn 14:23; Jn 21:4–6; 1 Jn 2:17

Obedience to the Word of God

Mt 7:24–27; Jas 1:22

Matthew 7:24–27 ESV

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

See also Ps 119:9–11; Jon 3:3; Lk 11:28; Jn 17:6; Jas 2:14–20

Examples of People who Obeyed God

Noah

Ge 6:9

Abraham:

Ge 12:1–4; Ge 17:23

The Psalmist:

Ps 119:30; Ps 119:100–106

The Apostles:

Ac 4:19–20; Ac 5:29

Php 3:7–14 Paul