Knowledge Without Obedience

[W]e can often forget that a knowledge of Scripture alone is not sufficient. Of course, James won’t let us forget that we must “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). This verse tells us that apart from obedience, knowledge can be deceptive. This puts an interesting twist on some of the favorite activities of good evangelical pastors: attending ministerial conferences, listening to sermons, and reading doctrinally sound books. All such activities afford us the opportunity for serious progress in personal godliness and ministry effectiveness. Yet each one can also be an instrument of progressive self-deception. 

. . . please understand: according to James, if you consume truth without applying truth, you risk the false and dangerous impression that spiritual growth was achieved without application. But it never is—never. We must be ever wary of the self-deception of which James speaks. Let’s recognize limitations of sound doctrine, and make the practice of truth a daily priority. Never stop watching your life.

—C. J. Mahaney, Preaching the Cross (Crossway, 2007), 120–121.

Two things strike me when considering the above. First, the importance of self examination in relationship to one's walk and second, the importance of community in living out an obedient life. We should regularly (daily?) examine ourselves to see if we are acting in disobedience to Almighty God. One method, which I have not done consistently as of yet, is to nightly review the day for disobedient acts or failures of omission with repentance and resolve to change. Community is necessary for accountability, love and spiritual fullness of growth. We cannot hold ourselves to the highest standard that God demands locked in our rooms reading books. The application of truth can only occur in a real sense in the arena of daily life surrounded by those God puts into our circle of influence.

Peace

See in the meantime that your faith brings forth obedience, and God in due time will cause it to bring forth peace. John Owen

βίος

2 Timothy 2:4: No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.

Paul describes the believer as one who is a "soldier" for Christ. (Christ is our commanding officer). The soldier doesn't get involved in civilian affairs. He dedicates himself to the commands and wishes of his commander. So, what are civilian affairs? It's interesting that the greek word translated to civilian affairs is bios which means daily life or existence day to day. So, Paul is saying have a weak hold on the things of earthly life. Abandon all that is worldly for the wishes of Jesus. To allow Christ to be my Lord, I must hold loosely to all things temporal and spontaneously respond immediately to all Christ's directives.

2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15.

--do your best: spoudazo: to make effort; be diligent; endeavor, labor, study. This implies strenuous persistent action on our part.

--approved: dokimos: acceptable. We are acceptable before God because of the shed blood of Christ, the atonement for the sins of those who believe, but this implies we should strive in our own activity to please God. This means knowing and obeying His commands.

--workman: ergates: toiler, laborer, worker. One who is engaged in the activities God commands.

--correctly handles: rightly divides in KJV: othotomeo: make a straight cut; dissect. Not just reading the word but studying it, understanding it and applying it.

Observations:
1) We are to strive to please God. This is active and energy requiring.
2) We can only please God if we know what he commands and/or delights him.
3) Knowing the scripture is the only way we can understand what God delights in and commands.
4) Rightly dividing scripture requires us to know the scripture as a whole (as each passage should be interpreted in light of all the others) and requires close communion with God (as revelation from the Holy Spirit is necessary for understanding and application).

Saved By Grace

We are saved only by the grace of God, through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9). This is not of ourselves. God loves us even as sinners (Romans 5:8), he draws us (John 6:44) and he atones for our sin and grants us eternal life if we believe. He does it all. The great exchange-- our sins for his righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

If we believe, we have the right to be called children of God (John 1:12). But what is belief? Is it knowing the gospel? I would say that is not enough as even the demons know the gospel and they are doomed to eternal torment (James 2:19).

If we really believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, our lives will be changed (2 Corinthians 5:17). This change is reflected in our behavior as we are obedient to God's commands. So James, the Lord's brother, says faith without works is dead. Works are behaviors spurred on by our desire to be obedient to God. Works do not save us. They have nothing to do with our salvation. However, they are evident in all who believe. If we say we believe but are not fruitful in our lives, we have no reason to be assured of our salvation. In Mathew chapter 25 the Lord tells three stories that are particularly convicting. The parable of the ten virgins demonstrates the need for watchful readiness for the Lord's coming. The five virgins that knew the bridegroom was coming but weren't prepared are left out of the wedding banquet. The parable of the talents shows we will be held accountable to produce fruit dependent on the gifts we are given. Fear is not an excuse for lack of fruit. Lastly, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, the Lord separates people based on their behavior. Convicting and compelling words that we should take obedience to the commands of God very seriously.

So, we are saved by faith and works develop out of that faith and bring us assurance that we are Christ's. Faith without works is not a real faith.

Even though our works have nothing to do with our salvation, the Bible says our degree of reward in heaven will depend on our fruitfulness on earth relative to the gifts God has given us. Speaking to believers, Paul says we must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.(2 Corintians 5:10). In 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, Paul talks about our works being tested with fire with resulting reward or loss depending on that testing. Now heaven will be awesome for all who believe, but Jesus was, I think, speaking literally when he said store up treasure in heaven rather than on earth (Mark 10:21).

The above is a reminder to me that if I truly believe I will be obedient to God. Disobedience can only come from unbelief. For who could stare at our God, the consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and disobey? Who could believe: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13) and not fall on their knees in submission?

O Lord, have mercy on me.

1 Peter Opening

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect, strangers in the world, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: (1 Peter 1:1-2).

There is an amazing amount of information in this text.

Observations:

• -This is not our home. (Heaven is).
• -The trinity is seen clearly (Father, Spirit, Jesus).
• -Believers are chosen by God according to his foreknowledge or forthought.
• -God's foreknowledge speaks to his knowing of the future, in this case of our individual acceptance of his free gift of salvation.
• -The Spirit enters our lives and begins to sanctify us or mold us to the image of Christ.
• -We are sprinkled by Christ's blood through faith receiving forgiveness for our sins. Christ's righteousness in God's eyes is given to us or imputed to us in this transaction.
• -Real faith in Christ mandates obedience to his commands.

John 14:21

Jesus said, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Observations:
-We cannot "have" Jesus' commands without reading and knowing the Bible.
-Willful ignorance of Christ's commands is not an acceptable excuse.
-Obedience to Christ is evidence of love for Christ. Disobedience suggests abscence of faith.
-Obedience leads to further revelation.