The moment we trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell inside us, which takes obedience to a new level. The Bible states that the Holy Spirit is the “guarantee” of our salvation. (Ephesians 1:14, 2 Corinthians 1:22, 2 Corinthians 5:5).
Through the reality of the Holy Spirit obedience is transformed from a heartless routine to an expression of love for God. The inner reality of the Holy Spirit transforms our relationship with God from an impersonal, distant relationship to a personal, intimate relationship where everything we do in life involves our relationship with Him. This type of obedience can’t be reduced to a list of do’s and don’ts.
Obedience has fallen on hard times. While the Word is still used by Christians, it is rarely understood in a healthy manner.
The most obvious result of our culture’s misunderstanding of obedience is a breakdown in relationships. We fear that our own self will be threatened by others. But is it true that committed relationships limit our growth and personalities? As Christians, we believe that God calls every one of us into being, and wills us to live and work in a community of love. As human beings, we are made by God to be capable of growing into our full potential only in communion with others. We know that this is critically true of infants, who will die from simple lack of human attention, even if they are given adequate food and shelter.
In whatever we undertake, our first obedience must be to Christ. We need to ask His guidance through prayer and searching the Scriptures, taking His words to heart before we begin our journey. If obedience is forced; if a person’s responses to what he or she hears are based on fear rather than freedom and love, a faulty foundation has been laid.
Simply stated, obedience to Christ, it means to do what Jesus wants you to do. It is an "action" word in response to trust. Obedience requires trust.
The Difference Between Belief and Obedience
Before you accept Jesus as your personal Savior, you may believe in Him, in his existence. But, you are not saved at that time just because you believe he existed. You are not saved until you act in obedience and bow your head and ask him to save you. That is your first act of obedience to God.
Obedience Brings Blessings
God gives every one of us in this world a free will. You can choose to accept Him as your personal Savior or not to. He does not force himself on you. He does not make you do anything against your will.
God allows you the freedom to choose how you live your life from day to day. But if you choose to do whatever you want without seeking to know his will, do not expect God to bless you. If you are not living in obedience to Christ, you will eventually suffer for your disobedience. Either by ill health, lost opportunities, marriage problems, money troubles, and ultimately... death and eternity in Hell if you choose to reject Him.
This is not to say that you will not suffer these things when you are faithful. We are all, every one of us, born of sin and of a sinful nature. Therefore, we have sinned in our lives, we have committed acts that are not in God's will and are sinful. We will, therefore suffer the consequences of those acts regardless of whether God forgives us or not.
To receive God's blessings, protection, and answers to prayer, you need be in obedience to Christ in your walk with him after Salvation. If you have accepted him as your Savior but refuse to trust him with the next steps he requires of you such as: baptism, church membership, tithing, soul winning, reading your Bible and prayer...you will not know God's will for your life. It is obeying and following God's Word that teaches men God's righteous ways.
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