Is Obedience Necessary?

Is It Enough To Just Believe?

We have already talked about God. Is there a God and if so, is there only 1 supreme God?

Has God made Himself known?

Creation

His Word

Our Inner being

Does He have a plan?

Jesus’ Claims to Be God

7 “I AM” Statements

Proof - His Testimony - Dove - Miracles - The testimony of others - Raising from the dead

Is It Enough to Just Believe?

English Standard Version Chapter 16

31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

We live in a society where there are many people who say that they believe in Jesus. Many will say that at some point in their lives, they have made a confession. Usually at camp, children’s event such as V.B.S. or conference.

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

I believe that there are many key elements in these verses.

“Merely mouthing “Jesus is Lord” and proclaiming that Jesus rose from the dead cannot secure salvation. Presumably the devil (see Jms 2:19) and many people (Mt 7:21–23) could meet these requirements and not be true followers of Christ.”

Many will say to me on that day. Lord, Lord. Matthew 7:21

English Standard Version Chapter 7

I Never Knew You

21 “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. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

There is a a confession, some sincerity and a semblance of morality but when it comes to what was the most important aspect, they fall short.

Parable of the sower - the seed didn’t take root - it fell on rocky ground. It was recieved with joy at first and they may have “endured for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.” Or that their seed was among the thorns where the word was heard, “but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

We must believe. What does believe mean? - Is it a simple acknowledgement of a higher power or even of Jesus?

"For with the heart one believes.”

“A heartfelt confession of Jesus’ lordship[!] [This confession of Lordship is what] designates a lifelong commitment that issues from the center of a person’s being, the heart. What matters is not saying Jesus is Lord but making Him Lord at the core of one’s existence. This is what Paul really meant by calling on the name of the Lord to be saved (10:13).”

Cabal, T., Brand, C. O., Clendenen, E. R., Copan, P., Moreland, J. P., & Powell, D. (2007). The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (p. 1695). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Independence

Garden of Eden - Satan wanted them to be independent of God

Prodigal Son - We have all known the teenager under their parents authority who says they could make it on their own. What happens, they set out to leave the authority so that they can enjoy life on their own terms. My mom gave me the green light and let me go.

“Some people encounter Jesus and say, “Sweet! Jesus, do You want to join the party of my life with this sin, that addiction, this destructive relationship, and we’ll all just coexist together?” (Forgotten God, Chan)

Dependence

We cannot make it on our own

English Standard Version Chapter 1

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

It was in the 80’s to 90’s that I remember a strong push towards what I will call, “The Gospel of Morality.” It was as close to the Pharisees putting loads on others that they cannot even bare as I believe we have been as a society. During this time people became affixed to the law and their salvation was based upon their ability to uphold the law and to follow strict guidelines imposed by the church (don’t dance, drink smoke or chew or date those that do).

The Bible does say

English Standard Version Chapter 2

6 He will render to each one according to his works:

Romans 2:12–13 ESV

12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

It is impossible to please God with a moral life. It is impossible to live a true moral life. No matter your clan, your efforts, your religious affiliation or even your own self-perception of morality can save you.

Romans 3:9–12 ESV

9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

“Some people encounter Jesus and say, “Sweet! Jesus, do You want to join the party of my life with this sin, that addiction, this destructive relationship, and we’ll all just coexist together?” But repentance means saying, “Sweet Jesus, You are the best thing that has ever happened to me! I want to turn from all the sin and selfishness that rules me. I want to let it go and walk with You. Only You. You are my life now. Help me to walk away from the enslaving, worthless things in life”’ (Forgotten God, Chan).

Matthew 11:27–30 ESV

27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

How then do we make it?

We have talked about it - Steve did a whole series on it - God gave us another helper - God revealed to us and gifted us with another manifestation of Himself - The Spirit who resides in each and every believer.

This is what we will talk about next week.

True Christians can’t ever lose the Spirit, but His filling is something we should constantly pursue.

What God wants to do is continually reveal Himself to us. He wants something, He wants our heart, our true and unwavering trust in Him. He wants us to be dependent upon Him. When we depend on Him, He cancels out our death sentence that was earned by our sinful nature, and He begins to restore what was lost in sin - relationship. This restoration that Steve talked about is sanctification. This business of sanctification is a lifelong process we are engaged in. Second Corinthians 3:18 says, (ESV)

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

(See also 2 Thess. 2:13 and Rom. 15:16.)

Galatians 5:25 ESV

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

I don’t know if you all are aware of this, but one of the hottest items, nest to toilet paper during this COVID nightmare that has disappeared from the shelves and has skyrocketed in price in the used market is gym equipment.

I have talked with people in other states - my buddy in PA and my sister in OK and they have confirmed what I have seen. When you walk by the isle in WM that has the dumbbells, that rack is empty. I haven’t been to a sporting goods store since this, but I imagine their supply of exercise equipment is on high demand as well.

In Forgotten God, Francis Chain gives this illustration as well, and you may have heard it recently.

“Imagine I buy a treadmill to lose some weight. Three months later I take it back to the store and complain to the clerk that it didn’t work—I didn’t lose a pound. He asks me, “What was the problem? Did it not work properly?” I respond, “I respond, “I don’t know if it works. I never ran on it. I just know I didn’t lose any weight, so I am done with it!”

We have to get on the treadmill and run—merely looking at the workout machine doesn’t do a whole lot. (See also Rom. 12:11 and 1 Thess. 5:19.)

Romans 12:11 ESV

11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit 6-Forget About His Will for Your Life

“I have prayed for the Holy Spirit to free me from my lust, and I am still addicted to pornography.” Or, “I have prayed for years to be able to forgive my dad, but I am still racked with anger and bitterness thirty years down the road.” “I have prayed for years to be free of my gluttony, but despite prayer, spiritually based support groups, and dieting, I am still a compulsive, unhealthy eater.” Fill in whatever sin plagues you and suddenly the treadmill illustration doesn’t seem so silly. In fact, it seems like those prayers for freedom from that ongoing sin didn’t really “work” in much the same way the treadmill didn’t help me lose any weight.

It is waking up in the morning with a heartfelt prayer asking God to be with us, to help us and a dedication that we will do everything we can to walk with Him today - then only minutes - hours later - falling flat on our faces

What does dependence look like for us in every day life?

Galatians 5:16 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Colossians 3:1–10 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Let me encourage you to repent

Remember that story of me walking away from my parents? They let me go, but when I turned around they were right there. If you are a believer, who has walked away, God wants you to repent. Remember that repentance is a change of direction. It is a turning back. He is there waiting.