Obedience is Better

Review

God gave Adam authority.

Adam gave his authority to Satan and allowed death to reign. Jesus came and took authority of the whole universe back through obedience.

Jesus gave authority to the church.

When we have made up our own God, we take the authority away from God and give it to powerless idols.

1. You cannot have authority without submission

Sub - mission = under - someone else's mission

2. God's mission is to reconcile all things back to himself

Colossians 1:19–22 NIV

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 NIV

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

3. God has given us The Great Commission

Commission - entrusting a person or group with supervisory power or authority; authoritative charge or direction; authority granted for a particular action or function.

Matthew 28:18-20 18  Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. 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.”

4. Obedience doesn't come naturally - It must be taught! Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. Obedience is learned

5. Even Jesus had to learn obedience.

Heb 5:7-9  During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8  Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9  and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Hebrews 5:7–9 NIV

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

Jesus became the symbol of obedience

Romans 5:19 NIV

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

6. Why was Jesus heard?

Because of his reverent submission

Philippians 2:8 NIV

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

7. Salvation comes through obedience

Hebrews 5:9 NIV

and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

Philippians 2:12 NIV

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

James 4:7 NIV

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8. Why do we disobey?

Sometimes we can learn about obedience through disobedience.

1 Sam 15

Read

Saul disobeyed because he cared more about what man thought than what God thought.

Saul's disobedience brought about demonic oppression