Reverence and Awe

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

This Evening's Reading deals with one of those subjects that is often misunderstood, in two extremes. I am speaking of obedience under the New Covenant. Some take the commands to obey to the point that your salvation is dependent upon your obedience (we would call this legalism). Others take it to the other extreme that emphasizes that we are under grace not the Law, and therefore we don't need to worry about it (we call this anti-nomianism-from the Greek meaning lawless).

Neither extreme has it right, in my opinion. It it true that we are commanded over and over again in the New Testament to obey the commands of God. For example:

But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?—Luke 6:46 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.—Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV

But clearly Scripture also tells us that salvation is by faith and not by works.

...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.—Galatians 2:16 NKJV

So the LORD does call us as a matter of daily Christian living to follow Him. That includes obeying Him. But the beautiful thing about the New Covenant is that Christ gives to the regenerate believer the Holy Spirit to indwell us, to empower us to live that Christian walk.

Desire to obey God, yes! Choose to obey God, yes! But always call upon the gift of the power of God (through the Holy Spirit) to accomplish these things. How do we do that? Well I think the Morning Reading gives us a good start. Prayer to the LORD and communion with Him! Let our paths be dropping with the fatness of prayer and communion with our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.—2Thessalonians 2:16-17 NKJV

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon