The Obedience of Faith

What did the Lord command Abraham to do?

The Lord said to Abraham, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1.  

How did Abraham respond to this command?

So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy five years old when he set out from Haran.” Verse 4.

Of what was Abraham’s fruit of obedience?

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obey and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”

Hebrews 11:8.  

Abraham’s Supreme Test

What command did the Lord give later to Abraham?

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” Genesis 22:2. 

Upon what ground were the previous promises then renewed to Abraham?

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven the second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of your enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me.” Verse 16-18.  

What enabled Abraham to endure the test?

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son. 

Of what were the works of Abraham an evidence?

“Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?” James 2:21.

By his works what was shown to be perfect?

“You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made more complete by what he did.” Verse 22. 

Genuine Faith

What kind faith avails with God?

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6.

Note – The faith that justifies is the faith that works. Those who say, and do not, are not men of faith. The obedience that is pleasing to God is the fruit of that faith that takes God at His word and submits to the working of His power, being fully assured that what He has promised He is able also to perform. This is the faith that is reckoned for righteousness. (See Romans 4:21,22.)

For what purpose is the grace of Christ received?  

“Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.” Romans 1:5. 

What effect did the preaching of the apostles have upon their hearers?

“So the word of the Lord spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7.

How highly does God regard obedience in the lives of men?

But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22.  

The Example Of Jesus

What example of obedience to the will of the Father has Christ set for us?

“And being found in the appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on the cross!” Philippians 2:8. 

At what cost did even He learn the lesson of obedience?

“Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” Hebrews 5:8.  

To whom did Christ become the author of salvation?

“And once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” Verse 9.

How complete should this obedience be?

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5. 

What charge did Jesus bring against the Pharisees?

And he said unto them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!” Mark 7:9.

Note – Human tradition is simply the voice of man preserved in the church. To follow the tradition of men instead of obeying the commandments of God is to repeat the sin of Saul.

Fate And Destiny

What will be the fate of those who do not obey the gospel of Christ?

“And give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

2 Thessalonians 1:7,8.  

What condition is attained in obeying the truth?

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” 1 Peter 1:22.

What promise is made to the obedient?