Man's Response to God's Call

C. Man's response to God's call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Curtis Gordon

1. Results of Obedience (1Sa 15:22)

2. Consequences of Disobedience (Rom 5:19)

I want us to notice that our topic is not referring to God's call to preach, or to be a missionary, but rather a call to repent, or to become a Christian.

I grew up often hearing the portion of scripture quoted, "obedience is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams." This was often quoted when prompting for obedience to God either in the service or in the seeking of an experience with God. If you think about it obedience is so closely related to our relationship with God that they are hardly inseparable. It you take this verse literally and I see no reason why you cannot, God would rather have obedience than our worship. That is not to say that God does want or require our worship but that worship without obedience is repulsive to God.

A couple of things about obedience

Obedience is a practice, decision, or discipline of our free will acting upon the command of God. (Obedience is a choice and is never involuntary) Obedience is non-negotiable with God. If God says it is to be done, we cannot or will not continue progressing without being obedient. Obedience cannot earn us salvation or make God indebted to us, that would make salvation an experience of works, something the Bible strongly forbids. Obedience does however initiate and reveal faith in the one doing obedience.

Hebrews 11:8 (KJV) 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Galatians 3:6 (KJV)

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Notice the direct correlation between faith and obedience - There is an aspect of mixing what we do with faith.

What is obedience?

The group of words used by the New Testament writers to indicate obedience and to obey are translated into English words such as,

To hear Listen Obey

I think this reflects the significance of God's word one author said, "Hearing corresponds to revelation as its form of appropriation." In English that means, that obedience has to do with us listening and hearing what God says or has said, when the meaning is revealed we act on it.

The same author from the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament goes on to say, "The content of hearing corresponds to that of what is heard. It is the reception of Grace and the call to repentance in response to salvation and its ethical demand. Thus faith and obedience are the marks of real hearing."

Rom. 1:5; 16:26 - "The obedience of faith"

This is very similar to the Hebrew words used in the Old Testament. It was amazing to me how many times hearing and obeying are connected in the Old Testament.

Almost 60 times the phrase obey is used in connection with the word voice in the Old Testament, at least two times obey is used with "Word" and then there is the occasional "obey because of my wonders" or "will obey when they hear of me"

Is it any wonder sometimes I find myself telling my children, "Did you hear me?" or "Do what I say."

This obedience we are talking about refers to the call of God in our salvation.

1 Samuel 15:22 (KJV)

22 And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.

As most of us here are probably Christians I am going to switch these two sub points and talk about the negative first and then get to the positive.

Consequences of Disobedience - Fall into three interwoven categories, really not able to be separated.

Spiritual Suffering - Disobedience brings defeat and death spiritually Physical Suffering - In Saul's case it was a downward slope beginning with leniency and ended with "The Spirit hath departed from me and answers me no more." God said what Saul did was more than just not hearing, or doing what was commanded but there was another element at play here, the element of motive and intent, which in Saul's case God said what he did was "REBELLION" Cultural Suffering - Roman's 1 gives a gradual degeneration from disobedience to so debauched that they have lost all reason, God gives them up to uncleanness. - This is the reason Paul says in Romans 1:18 God's wrath is poured out. Peter calls them the "children of disobedience."

The Results of Obedience

Obedience is The #1 condition that nearly all of God's promises are contingent upon Jesus used Obedience to define His family

Matthew 12:50 (KJV) 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. (He is referring primarily but not exclusively) here to the Sermon on the Mount.

Most people even the religious leaders of Jesus' time wanted to do the will of God, Jesus is trying to make a relational model of obedience when he says, "my Father which is in heaven, and uses the terms brother, sister, mother." This is definitely a greater righteousness than what the scribes and Pharisees were teaching. Think of this, Jesus' family no doubt had much of his attention and affection, and here we find that whosoever does the will of God, is looked at as equal to a brother, sister, or even his mother, who was "blest and highly favored" "blest of God among women." While confession of faith is necessary and required to become a Christian if we do not obey it is all for naught.

Matthew 7:21 (KJV) 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. I love the imperative of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Unlocks spiritual knowledge John 7:17 (KJV) 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

90% of the will of God is already revealed in His Word. If you want to know that which is not revealed you’ve got to do John 7:17 You’ve got to will to do His will before you know what is not revealed. But an obvious objection might be raised: "How can I obey what I don't understand?" The objection may be answered in two ways. First, note that Jesus spoke of the desire to obey. As in a secret military operation, it is possible to establish one's commitment to carry out a course of action before any features of the mission are divulged. And second, most people (whatever their spiritual condition) know something of God's will and preferences for their lives. A desire to do God's will demonstrates itself by acting in obedience to whatever is already known of God's will. The principle Jesus taught there in the Temple applies to all phases of spiritual life—obedience is the gateway to spiritual insight. Applied to the specific question facing the crowds in Jerusalem, "God will lead you to perceive the truth about Jesus if you apply yourself to obeying what you already know of God's will" (compare comments regarding 6:44-45).

Wesleyan Bible Commentary - Wesleyan Bible Commentary – John.

Secures the Blessing of Divine Fellowship

Shows our Love to God

John 14:23 (KJV) 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. the Spirit dwells only in an atmosphere of obedient love to Jesus. Wesleyan Bible Commentary - Wesleyan Bible Commentary – John.

Brings eternal life

1 John 2:17 (KJV) 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. John 17:3 (KJV) 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

IF TIME WHAT JESUS TEACHES ABOUT OBEDIENCE

Romans 5:19 (KJV) 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Matthew 7:24 (KJV)

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Hebrews 5:8-9 (KJV)

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Philippians 2:8 (KJV)

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.