Musick-al note # 201
Paul in the Book of Romans gives us some insight into the matter of obedience to God. Note that in 1:16, “the Gospel of Christ is the power of God to save”. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul declared that the ‘gospel’ is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus according to the Scriptures. To ‘obey the Gospel’ is believe and reenact Jesus death, burial and resurrection – one must die to sin, be immersed and raised to life again. Romans 6:17-18 states ‘that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you are committed and having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness’. Obedience to the Gospel of Christ is the line of demarcation that separates a person from sinful living to a free life in Christ. Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” God expects those who obey Christ Jesus to live a “new” life. He has been changed from a servant of Satan to become a servant of Christ and a Child of God (Galatians 3:26-27). The change includes everything and every relationship that a man has ever known. All things become new. All relationships are new. No longer seeking to satisfy self, a Christians seeks to please Christ. A Christian does not use people for selfish pleasure but seeks to draw them to Christ, the Lord. Every aspect of one’s life must now center in the One who saved him/her from sin. Before obedience, all one could expect in eternity was the fires of hell, but now, after obedience to Christ, one can anticipate and expect to receive the fellowship of God, the Son, and all the saints of all ages as well as to enjoy the blessings and beauty of heaven. A person who really obeys Christ is really changed!
Gordon Musick
Musick-al Notes 