The Actions of Our Life

What is the Great Commission?

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them weekly in Sunday School, Sunday Sermon, and on Wednesday night. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

How Was this Lived?

Acts 2:42 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

How Should We Live This Out? And Why Is Obedience So Important?

What Kind of Thoughts and Feelings Comes to Mind When You Hear the Word “Obedience?”

Parents/Kid Relationship or Husband/Wife (Authority and Dependence)

Kids

Legalism/Asceticism (Severe Discipline/No pleasures)

Rule Keeping/Strict Traditions without Thought or Grounding

I often think of it in terms of when I was in trouble by my parents, and not in terms of relationship, authority, dependence, and life.

Our Main Passage (Make some observations)

1 John 5:1–5 ESV

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 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. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Born of God (New Life) - God’s Child (New Relationship)

1 John 5:1–5 ESV

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 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. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Born of God (New Life) - God’s Child (New Relationship)

Love of God (A New Heart Towards God)

Obedient to His Commands (Actions Aligned with His Words and Will)

Overcome the World by Faith in the Incarnate Jesus

(New Way of Living)

What Kind of Thoughts and Feelings Comes to Mind When You Hear the Word “Obedience?”

What Kind of Thoughts and Feelings Comes to Mind When You Hear the Word “Obedience?”

Parent/Kid Relationship (Authority and Dependence)

Legalism/Asceticism (Severe Discipline/No pleasures)

Rule Keeping/Strict Traditions without Thought or Grounding

I often think of it in terms of when I was in trouble by my parents, and not in terms of relationship, authority, dependence, and life.

What Are His Commands?

1 John 3:22 ESV

and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

1 John 3:23 ESV

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

John 12:49–50 ESV

For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

John 17:3 ESV

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

We are Entering into Relationship with the Father and Son who love one another and are perfectly unified in purpose. Jesus did nothing that the Father wasn’t doing.

John 15:8–10 ESV

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 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.

My Definition of Obedience: Actions Done Continually in Accordance with Our New Relationship

Illustration: Marriage is a Relationship That Pictures This Kind of Life Change

How We Live Is Directly Connected to Our Salvation and Sanctification (Our Relationship with God)

How We Live Is Directly Connected to Our Salvation and Sanctification (Our Relationship with God)

John 14:15 ESV

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

How Should We Live This Out? And Why Is Obedience So Important?

John 15:8–10 ESV

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 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.

John 15:8–10 ESV

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 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.

What Kind of Thoughts and Feelings Comes to Mind When You Hear the Word “Obedience?”

Parent/Kid Relationship (Authority and Dependence)

Legalism/Asceticism (Severe Discipline/No pleasures)

Rule Keeping/Strict Traditions without Thought or Grounding

I often think of it in terms of when I was in trouble by my parents, and not in terms of relationship, authority, dependence, and life.

My Definition of Obedience: Actions Done Continually in Accordance to a Life Change or New Relationship

Illustration: Marriage is a Relationship That Pictures This Kind of Life Change

In Our Passage, What Are the Benefits of this Life Changing Relationship?

1 John 5:1

1 John 5:1–5 ESV

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 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. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Born of God (New Life) - God’s Child (New Relationship)

Love of God (A New Heart Towards God)

Obedient to His Commands (Actions Aligned with His Words and Will)

Overcome the World by Faith in the Incarnate Jesus

(New Way of Living)

I Thought We Were Saved By Faith; Why Does Matter What I Do?

1 John 1:5–6 ESV

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Hebrews 12:14 ESV

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

1 John 2:1–6 ESV

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 John 2:7–11 ESV

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 2:1–11 ESV

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 2:3–6 ESV

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

How Does Our Obedience and God’s Power Work Together?

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

How Are You Going to Live in Accordance to Your New Life? What will you do by faith?

Be Obedient

Obedience Strategy (One more Sunday School class won’t do it)

Strategy (One more Sunday School class won’t do it)

Knowing what God Desires (Catch the vision, Remember it, and Do it)

Relationship with God (Prayer, Love, Delight, Time, Word) - without God, you can do nothing.

Planning (move other things out of your life) and looking for opportunities

Doing it. Living it.

Doing

John 14:15–18 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.