Posted on 03/15/2011 5:53:59 AM PDT by Christian-59
Many have been the times I have heard people say that obedience to God is not as important as our relationship with Him. People believe that God knows their heart and that if they have love for God in their hearts then His grace will somehow make up the difference between obedience and disobedience. I have spoken with people who say they have their own relationship with God and that they do not have to attend the assemblies of the saints or seek God's will through His word and live in obedience to that will. The purpose of this lesson is to examine the various characteristics of our relationship with God and to determine what the word of God teaches about our relationship to God.
(Excerpt) Read more at granbychurchofchrist.org ...
I believe that’s a private matter between me & God.
The question one needs to truly know the answer to is; does God know you?
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’NKJV
YUP !!!!!!!!
Yes! I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ - for it is the power to save! (Romans 1) Furthermore, if I am ashamed of Christ - He will be ashamed of us before the Father. (Mark 8) Lastly, it’s not private...I am commanded to proclaim the gospel & the year of our LORD! ( Matthew 28 & Isaiah 61)
Seems there are many who believe in God....they just don’t believe Him.
from Nichole Nordeman’s song “What if?”
What if you’re right?
And he was just another nice guy
What if you’re right?
What if it’s true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it’s true?
What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?
But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
One of the biggest pitfalls of obedience living is self judgment and self condemnation.
While the article does not directly address salvation, it does properly refer to loss of relationship as the consequence of disobedience. Unfortunately, people generally have a hard time separating the two. The thinking and presumption in most minds is that if we lack relationship, we must also lack salvation.
It is true that we cannot grow closer to God if we are living in sin... if we continue to disobey... and if we continue to reject God’s discipline, consequences are sure to follow... up to and including physical death. But DO NOT let the enemy convince you that you do not belong to God if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, simply because we continue to sin.
Does a child ever fear abandonment or disowning as consequence for disobedience? Should they?
Will a good parent ever consider abandonment or disowning their children for bad behavior?
The goal of perfection is unattainable... and if pursued can only lead to discouragement and self condemnation.
Who is obedient? Who is worthy? who is really righteous of their own accord?
Many things stated in the article are true.
However, I think it falls short of defining what “relationship” means, and the difference between our love for God, and His Love for us.
Before we can grow our relationship with Christ, we must have one with Him.... and we cannot attain that through our actions or obedience. Once we DO have that relationship with Christ, it is imperative that we understand how unbreakable it truly is so that we will be encouraged to strive for a CLOSER walk with Him through our obedience.
Organized religion has done so much damage throughout history.
While I agree you do not have to be a part of man’s religion to be saved. I do however believe that you must have fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ to realize the “Abundant life” that Jesus promises us.
It can be at your work in your home, at a park, or wherever. “Iron sharpens iron” the scriptures say so gathering with those who celebrate, challenge, and need our faith so strengthens us as believers.
That is correct...
I don’t trust an article that buries Christ’s atoning death somewhere in the middle.
Correct. C of C type churches elevate their own peculiar doctrines while miniming the message of Christ crucified for our sins.
That sounds like someone projecting their own preconceived ideas on what someone says. A right relationship with God will result in obedience. It’s not the other way around. I’ve seen people try that straw dog too many times. They try to justify their own “self righteous” attitude that works justifies.
The belief and relationship comes first or any “obedience” to legalism is empty.
If people have not accepted CHRIST as Saviour and Lord - they are lost!
If people have accepted CHRIST as Saviour and Lord but sin is not dormant in their lives - one of two things will happen....
(1) their names will be removed from the Lamb’s Book of Life and they will perish
(2) they will lose precious rewards and Heavenly privileges at the Judgment Seat of CHRIST
Either way - these groups of people never had an intimate relationship with JESUS CHRIST and He will say to them...I NEVER KNEW YOU!!
**private matter between me & God.**
So are you saying that your sins affect no one else?
They don’t affect a spouse, your children, your co-workers, your boss?
You always do the right thing — drive the speed limit for example — when no one is watching?
EVERYTHING we do affects other people. And we will all know at the general judgment when the sheep and the goats are separated. (You will know, of course, at the moment of your death — your particular judgment.)
Hmmmm.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
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