Subject: Obedience
Scripture Reading: If ye love me, keep my commandments. —John 14:15
Definition: Obedience is the quality or state of being obedient. It involves compliance with an order, request, law, or submission to another’s authority. (Oxford Languages).
Summary: There is a vital connection between love for God and obedience to His Word. Obeying God’s Word and following the leading of the Spirit are essential to living a godly life. Obedience brings blessings and ultimately eternal life, whereas disobedience results in loss and eternal separation from God.
I. Call to Obedience
A. Deuteronomy 11:1 Keep God’s statutes always.
B. John 14:15 Keep my commandments.
II. Motivation for Obedience
A. John 14:23 If a man love me.
B. John 14:24 He that loveth me not.
III. Teachings of Jesus
A. Matthew 7:24-27 Wise and foolish man.
B. Luke 6:46 Why call me Lord, yet disobey?
C. Matthew 21:28-31 Parable of the two sons.
IV. Submission and Trust in God
A. James 4:7 Submit yourselves to God.
B. Luke 22:41-42 Not my will, but thine.
C. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord.
V. Blessings of Obedience
A. Exodus 23:22 God will protect.
B. Isaiah 1:19 Eat the good of the land.
C. Acts 5:32 Holy Spirit given to the obedient.
D. John 8:51 Obedient will have eternal life.
VI. Examples of Obedience
A. Jesus: Philippians 2:8 Obedient unto death.
B. Abraham: Genesis 22:1-18 Willing to sacrifice.
C. Paul: Acts 26:19 Not disobedient to his call.
D. Noah: Genesis 6:14, 22 Did all God commanded.
VII. Consequences of Disobedience
A. Deuteronomy 8:20 Disobedient will perish.
B. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 Vengeance on them that obey not the gospel.
C. Ephesians 5:5-6 Will not inherit the kingdom.
VIII. Examples of Disobedience
A. Adam and Eve: Genesis 3:3-6 First sin of disobedience.
B. Saul: 1 Samuel 15: 3-23 To obey is better than sacrifice (v22).
C. Disobedient Prophet: 1 Kings 13:26 Was slain by a lion.
D. Jonah: Jonah 1:1-3 He ran from God.
E. Israelites: Jeremiah 6:16 We will not walk therein.
IX. Living as Obedient Children
A. 1 Peter 1:13-14 Be as obedient children.
B. 1 John 3:24 He that keeps God’s commandments, dwells in Him.
C. Ephesians 2:2 Children of disobedience.
X. Teaching and Observing Obedience
A. Matthew 28:19-20 Teach them to observe all things.
B. 2 Corinthians 2:9 Be obedient in all things.
C. Acts 5:29 Obey God rather than men.
XI. Obedience in Action
A. Romans 6:16 You are servants to whom you obey.
B. Psalms 119:59-60 David made haste to obey.
C. Hebrews 2:1-3 Give heed lest we let God’s Word slip.
Conclusion
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
—1 John 5:3
