The Good News In Obedience

SYZYGUS IN CHRIST CHURCH

TEXT : DEUTERONOMY 10:13
THEME : GOD-CENTERED OBEDIENCE
TITLE : THE GOOD NEWS IN OBEDIENCE
TRANSITION : WHAT MAKES OBEDIENCE GOOD NEWS TO
CHRISTIANS?


I. INTRODUCTION

A. Review of the past sermon about obedience

1) The Rebel Acts in Obedience
- misplacement of fear, desire, honor, and praise
2) The questions to be asked whether the obedience is rooted in faith
- what is the intention, basis, and character when Christians obey God

B. The Misconceptions about Obedience

1) Obedience is a way to salvation
Catholicism and other non-catholic denominations hold this view about obedience
They make it a ticket or a passes to inherit eternal life
It is some kind of examination to be passed in order to go to heaven
Dangers:
Salvation is man’s initiative and, justification is by human works (process)
Salvation can be earned, and grace is no longer grace

2) Obedience is maintenance of salvation
Pentecostalism and other charismatic movements hold this view about obedience
They need to sustain the salvation they possess through obedience
Dangers:
Salvation can be lost. Man is responsible for keeping his salvation secure
Grace loose its power and faith fades like a mist

3) Obedience is optional in salvation
Most Evangelicals and extreme Calvinists hold this view about obedience
They believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ even to the point of denying the faith and live carnally throughout Christian life.
But they missed the point about grace and faith, not a power to save but a power to change, not a power to sustain salvation but a power to hate sin and love God, not a power to secure salvation but not the assurance of salvation.
Dangers:
It brings great confusion to the Christians
It brings great stigma to unbelievers
Grace became cheap grace, grace that has no power to change lives, has no power to turn from sin and turn to God

In conclusion, these three misconceptions are very hazardous to Christian faith. Those who hold these views do not understand God’s intention about obedience which is to glorify God. To please God. They do not know grace and faith as a whole. And I cannot find anything good about their obedience to God’s law. There is no good news in it.

In the first misconception, they want to attain salvation whose method has no power
In the second misconception, they want to sustain salvation whose method has no power also
In the third misconception, I think the most miserable, because they already gave up because they think it is not important. What is important is that their salvation is secured.

II. Body

God gave us the law, His decrees, His commandments, His precepts not to be ignored, not to be neglected to obey, not to give the lowest appreciation, value and priority but to be obeyed for His glory. There is one more, for our own good. This is the good news for our own good.

A. The Three Benefits That Makes Obedience, Good News

1) Privilege
- to please God (Hebrew 11:6)
- to display the glory of God (Matthew 5:16)
- to acknowledge God as Lord (Romans 6:16)
- to love God (John 14:23)
- to enjoy the beauty of God (Psalms 1:2)
- to share in His suffering (Romans 8:17)

2) Assurance
- Identification (John 14:23, 10:27, 1John 5:1)
- Solid Foundation (2 Timothy 2:19)
- Affirmation (1John 3:24)

3) Promise
- He gave everything we need in order to obey Him (Ezekiel 36:24-27)
- His law is not too hard to follow (Deuteronomy 30:11, Matthew 7:28-30, 1John 5:3)
- His blessings (Deuteronomy 11:1, 8, 22)


III. CONCLUSION

Obedience is not from our strength. It is part of God’s grace produce by God given faith for His glory. It is not a way to salvation, nor maintenance of our salvation it is God’s power through faith given to us, therefore it is not optional but an inevitable will of God in our lives. It is for our own good because God loves us. Obedience is our privilege, our assurance and a promise.

God bless you!






















For God’s Glory
09/27/09