justbyfaith
Well-Known Member
As I see it obeying Him is putting faith in His work on the cross and only in His work. It certainly is not putting faith in the flesh to keep rules and regulations to save it's self.
To Obey Him is to put faith in His work on the cross nothing else. It certainly IS NOT putting faith in man. and that includes putting faith in the work of the flesh.
I notice you quoted from the book of James. A book that was written to the Jews who were under the law of Moses. It certainly was not written to the Gentiles. If you think it was then you make James 1:1 a lie.
I didn't quote from the book of James. But even if I had, James 1:1 does not render the book of James inapplicable to us. Otherwise Philippians 1:1 renders Philippians inapplicable to us; since it says that Philippians is written to the saints at Philippi with the bishops and deacons. Therefore, if the fact that James was written to the twelve tribes scattered abroad means that it is not for us today, then the fact that Philippians was written to the saints at Philippi with the bishops and deacons means that it is not applicable for us today.
I happen to believe that both Philippians and James are applicable, 2 Timothy 3:16.
Now to obey Jesus has practical aspects; it does not refer only to the faith that we place in Jesus for our salvation.
Truly, if we have placed our faith in His finished work, we will also be submitted to Him in the specifics of His commandments to us, such as the specific details of obedience that He laid out for us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20-49).
In James 1:22 it is written that if we are a hearer of the word only, and not a doer, we are deceiving ourselves. This applies whether we accept the applicability of the epistle of James or not. All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for reproof, and for instruction in righteousness.
The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in those who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit (Romans 8:4). As those who are spiritually-minded, we are subject in our minds to the law of God, and cannot be otherwise (Romans 8:7). The love of the Lord is shed abroad in the hearts of those who truly believe (Galatians 3:14, Romans 5:5); and this love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14, 1 John 5:3, 2 John 1:6, Romans 8:4) within us. This love is not in word or in tongue only, but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:17-18).
Therefore, obedience in our lives is a practical thing (see 1 John 3:7, Matthew 5:6, Romans 5:19) that is more than just our simple faith in what Jesus did for us on the Cross.
Truly. it is faith alone in what Christ did for us that is our salvation. However, if we have truly received this, we have been made into new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17); and out of gratitude and love for the One who redeemed us (Luke 7:36-50, 1 John 4:19, Romans 5:5), we obey Him in every matter where He desires/requires obedience.
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