Basics: An Overview

                                                         Basics: Obedience

Every true Christian is called to

                                   . . . the obedience that comes from faith.

This means that if you are truly following Christ you obey – because you trust. Your faith, which
comes by hearing the voice of God, is made complete by what you do. To claim that you have faith,
and yet refuse to walk out obedience proves you have a dead faith.

                                   . . . faith without works is dead.

So, a faith that has no follow through to action is dead. It is no faith at all. This dead faith may hear the
voice of God and even acknowledge the reality of His will, but in the end it refuses to trust the spoken
truth and apply it to the life. Instead, a false faith claims the idea of obeying Jesus only to act
religiously on its own. Following religious concepts and then labeling them “biblical principles” is not
obedience.

Obedience – and as a matter of fact everything – that does not come from faith is sin. Even if the
sacrifice is great and the heart sincere, the faithless action done in order to please God actually
accomplishes the opposite. Therefore:

                                   . . . to obey is better than sacrifice . . .

Though we don’t sacrifice animals in this generation as they did then, we have plenty of other things
we sacrifice in attempt to please God. Many go to church, do mission work, and even help the poor
as a sacrifice to please God. Others may give the sacrifice of Bible study, prayer, and financial
support. Yet, you can do all of these things (and many more) out of a selfish motive while telling
yourself it’s what God wants. The fact is God is alive and very capable of telling you what He wants –
if you will listen. So trust His voice, not your own, and learn to obey Him with all your heart.

1. Romans 1:5 NIV
2. Romans 10:17
3. James 2:22 NIV
4. James 2:26
5. Romans 14:23
6. 1 Sam 15:22