Christ-honoring Obedience

Christ-honoring obedience is found in His call to “Follow me.” It would not be accurate to say that obeying Jesus is only the result of being accepted by Him. Being accepted by Him points to the faulty notion of being selected to follow Him before His call to “Follow Me.”

Between the beginning and the end stands the cross of Christ. Paul writes, “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”Romans 5:18-19 NASB.; “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8; or “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.”’ Hebrews 5:8-9.

Someone has said, “Obedience follows being accepted.” And I ask, are we accepted before our obedience? This is a difficult question, but we find this, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10. Paul indicates here that our obedience in grace and faith precedes being accepted in salvation. Salvation does not come first. This is Christ-honoring obedience.

Jesus called the 12 to obey Him before they were born-again. They were not accepted as His Disciples until they obeyed Him to, “Follow Me.” When they specifically chose to follow the Messiah in obedience He the accepted them.

Some from whom He demanded obedience chose not to follow and one walked away sad. Most could not bear the cross of obedience. And just as John pointed out, “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.” 1 John 2:18-19.

Jesus remains Lord.