In John 15, Jesus says these two things:
John 15:12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:17 - These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (ESV)
Do you see the logic?
Jesus wants us to know His command (vs. 12) SO THAT we do the command (vs. 17). This is the goal! The danger for us is that we would believe the destination is knowledge of Christ when the goal is that we would be more like Christ. Of course, you cannot have one without the other. You must "know" Him before you can make Him known!
Throughout the Bible, this is being communicated to the people of God. In the OT, "Hear, O Israel..." means, "obey, O Israel..." In the New Testament, Paul continually unfolds the Gospel and leads us to "Therefore..." We know that all of this work is done through the grace of God, that is, the power of the new life. His Spirit indwelling us to transform us!
But, it is possible to grieve and quench that work of the Spirit. If our relationship with God's word becomes academic, our hearts become atrophied to obedience. And we say, if I have more knowledge, I will magically be different.
Paul writes in Philippians that our faith is a "striving and straining," it is a "pressing toward," it is a "working out." As those who have completed the work of justification through Christ Jesus, we are now called to participate with the Spirit in our becoming more and more like Jesus (sanctification).
In James, there is possibly the most alarming implication of an academic posture:
James 2:18–19 [18] But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (ESV)
Here is a section from Douglas Moo's commentary on this verse:
As C. L. Mitton puts it, "It is a good thing to possess an accurate theology, but it is unsatisfactory unless that good theology also possesses us." The warning applies especially to people like me who study and teach theology day in and day out. C. S. Lewis is said to have warned new Christians about going into the ministry for fear that constant contact with "holy things" would render them commonplace.
[Douglas J. Moo, The Letter of James, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2000), 130.]
James compares a posture toward God's Word that has no intention to submit to it or obey it to that of demons! And I would say the demons are not afraid of what we know. They are grieved by our obedience, by the works of our belief. And conversely, we know this:
Philippians 2:12–13 [12] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)
God is pleased in our obedience!
Encouragement
So then, I encourage us all to grow in our posture of obeying. This is why we have the time to consider at the end of each service. It is an opportunity to slow down, pray, repent, and plot obedience in our lives. To thank our Lord for His grace, which has not only forgiven us fully but also empowered us to stand and live in light of those mercies. "Buried with Christ to walk in the new life" (Romans 6:4).
Accountability
This is a vital element of why we have community: to help remind us of obedience.
There are millions of hours of biblical teaching online, and if just understanding the Bible was the goal, then I would encourage us all to stay home! But that is not the goal. At various times in our church's short history, we have encouraged and even programmed smaller groups that would walk together in encouragement and accountability. This morning, I am not announcing that we will be programming that again, BUT I am saying that we all desperately need it. So, I am throwing all of my weight into encouraging each of you to find a few people to walk in close community with. If we don't consider what we have heard from God, our hearts will become hard to it. Each of us needs the work of the Spirit in and through others! To ask us "therefore" questions.
How does that shape how you spend your time alone?
How does that shape how you treat your spouse?
How does that shape how you feel about your boss?
How does that shape your thoughts?
How does that shape how you talk about others?
How does that shape what you look at?
How does that reorient your treasure?
How is that action or inaction fall short of God’s image?
What do I need to repent of?
Starting last week, I included four questions to help us consider and plot obedience in our lives from what we studied in God's word. These questions can be used each week to help start the conversation in your community to take what we have heard into our lives.
I acknowledge that finding people to walk with can be difficult. I encourage you to be a part of our SS classes, Bible Studies, and Fellowship Meals, arrive at church earlier, and linger a little longer afterward. Get to know others, and pray that God will lead you to find people to walk with. I also acknowledge that for some this is near impossible - if that is the case, please do not hesitate to let me know! Text or email me right now, and I will do my best to help you find that community! This is vital.
Two More Things:
I need this as well. I will be participating in this process. I do not want my relationship to God's word to become demonic, I want it to become a pleasing aroma to my King! And so I need people asking me, how are you walking in what you just preached?
There is grace for all of this! We do this as we abide with Christ through the power of His Spirit. We are not crushed by His calling to be new people; we are being invited! Find rest in this work! Christ has already accomplished what He is now empowering in us!
May we be a people who consider, who meditate (plot) obedience in our lives! That we would look more and more like Christ for His glory alone!
By His Grace Alone!
Steve