Horatius Bonar

BELIEVE AND BE SAVED

It is the Holy Spirit alone that can draw us to the cross and fasten us to the Saviour. He who thinks he can do without the Spirit, has yet to learn his own sinfulness and helplessness. The gospel would be no good news to the dead in sin, if it did not tell of the love and power of the divine Spirit, as explicitly as it announces the love and power of the divine Substitute.

But, while keeping this in mind, we may try to learn from Scripture what is written concerning the bond which connects us individually with the cross of Christ; making us thereby partakers of the pardon and the life which that cross reveals.

Thus then it is written, "By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

Faith then is the link, the one link, between the sinner and the Sin-bearer. It is not faith, as a work or exercise of our minds, which must be properly performed in order to qualify or fit us for pardon. It is not faith, as a religious duty, which must be gone through according to certain rules, in order to induce Christ to give us the benefits of his work. It is faith, simply as a receiver of the divine record concerning the Son of God. It is not faith considered as the source of holiness, as containing in itself the seed of all spiritual excellence and good works; it is faith alone, recognizing simply the completeness of the great sacrifice for sin, and the trueness of the Father's testimony to that completeness; as Paul writes to the Thessalonians, "our testimony among you was believed." It is not faith as a piece of money or a thing of merit; but faith taking God at his word, and giving him credit for speaking the honest truth, when he declares that "Christ died for the ungodly," and that the life which that death contains for sinners, is to be had without money, and without price."

But let us learn the things concerning this faith, from the lips of God himself. I lay great stress on this in dealing with inquirers. For the more that we can fix the sinner's eye and conscience upon God's own words, the more likely shall we be to lead him aright, and to secure the quickening presence of that Almighty Spirit who alone can give sight to the blind. One great difficulty which the inquirer finds in such cases, is that of unlearning much of his past experience and teaching. Hence the importance of studying the divine words themselves, by which the sinner is made wise unto salvation. For they both unteach the false and imperfect, and teach the true and the perfect.

Let us mark how frequently and strongly God has spoken respecting faith and believing. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." "Therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." "The righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood...to declare his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." "He that believeth shall be saved." "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life; for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life." "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life." "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." "He that believeth on me shall never thirst." "This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life." "He that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." "These are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, ye might have life through his name." "By him all that believeth are justified from all things." "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." "To him gave all the prophets witness, that through his name whoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." "To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." "It pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe." "This is his commandment, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." "We have known and believed the love that God hath to us." "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God." "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son." "He that believeth not shall be damned."

These are some of the many texts which teach us what the link is between the sinner and the great salvation. They show that it is our belief of God's testimony, concerning his own free love, and the work of his Son, that makes us partakers of the blessings which that testimony reveals. They do not indeed ascribe any meritorious or saving virtue to our act of faith. They show us that it is the object of faith, - the person, or thing, or truth of which faith lays hold, - that is the soul's peace and consolation. But still they announce most solemnly the necessity of believing, and the greatness of the sin of unbelief. In them God demands the immediate faith of all who hear his testimony. Yet he gives no countenance to the self-righteousness of those who are trying to perform the act of faith, in order to qualify themselves for the favor of God; whose religion consists in performing acts of a certain kind; whose comfort arises from thinking of these well-performed acts; and whose assurance comes from the summing up of these at certain seasons, and dwelling upon the superior quality of many of them.

In some places the word trust occurs where perhaps we might have expected faith. But the reason of this is plain; the testimony which faith receives, is testimony to a person and his good will, in which case, belief of the testimony and confidence in the person are things inseparable. Our reception of God's testimony is confidence in God himself, and in Jesus Christ his Son. Hence it is that the Scripture speaks of trust or confidence as that which saves us, as if it would say to the sinner, "Such is the gracious character of God, that you have only to put your case into his hands, however bad it be, and entrust your soul to his keeping, and you shall be saved."

In some places we are said to be saved by the knowledge of God or of Christ; that is simply knowing God as he has made himself known to us in Jesus Christ. (Isa. liii.11; 1 Tim. ii.4; 2 Pet. ii.20). Thus Jesus spoke, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." And as if to make simplicity more simple, the Apostle, in speaking of the facts of Christ's death, and burial, and resurrection, says, "By which ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you."[23]

The God connects salvation with believing, trusting, knowing, remembering. Yet the salvation is not in our act of believing, trusting, knowing, or remembering; it is in the thing or person believed on, trusted, known, remembered. Nor is salvation given as a reward for believing and knowing. The things believed and known are our salvation. Nor are we saved or comforted by thinking about our act of believing and ascertaining that it possesses all the proper ingredients and qualities which would induce God to approve of it, and of us because of it. This would be making faith a meritorious, or, at least, a qualifying work; and then grace would be no more grace. It would really be making our faith a part of Christ's work, - the finishing stroke put to the great understanding of the Son of God, which, otherwise, would have been incomplete, or, at least, unsuitable for the sinner, as a sinner. To the man that makes his faith and his trust his rest, and tries to pacify his conscience by getting up evidence of their solidity and excellence, we say, miserable comforters are they all! I get light by using my eyes; not by thinking about my use of them, nor by a scientific analysis of their component parts. So I get peace by, and in believing; not by thinking about my faith, or trying to prove to myself how well I have performed the believing act. We might as well extract water from the desert sands as peace from our own act of faith. Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ will do everything for us; believing in our own faith, or trusting in our own trust, will do nothing.

Thus faith is the bond between us and the Son of God; and it is so, not because of anything in itself, but because it is only through the medium of truth, as known and believed, that the soul can get hold of things or persons. Faith is nothing, save as it lays hold of Christ; and it does so by laying hold of the truth or testimony concerning him. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," says the apostle. "Ye shall know the truth," says the Lord, "and the truth shall make you free," and again, "because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not...And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?" We have also such expressions as these: "Those that know the truth;" "those that obey not the truth;" "The truth as it is in Jesus;" "belief of the truth;" "acknowledging of the truth;" "the way of truth;" "we are of the truth;" "destitute of the truth;" "sanctify them through thy truth;" "I speak forth the words of truth;" "the Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth." Most memorable in connection with this subject, are the Lord's warnings in the parable of the sower, specially the following: - "The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are they that hear: then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." The words, too, of the beloved disciple are no less so: - "He that saw it bare record, and his record is true; and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe;" and, again, "These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

This truth regarding Christ and his sacrificial work, the natural man hates, because he hates Christ himself. "They hated me," says the Lord; nay, more, they hated me without a cause." It is not error that man hates, but truth; and hence the necessity for the Holy Spirit's work to remove that hatred, - to make the sinner even so much as willing to know the truth or the True One. Yet there is no backwardness on the part of God to give that Spirit; - and the first dawnings of inquiry and anxiety show that something beyond flesh and blood is at work in the soul.

But though it needs the power of the divine Spirit to make us believing men, this is not because faith is a mysterious thing, a great exercise or effort of soul, which must be very accurately gone through in order to make it acceptable, but because of our dislike to the truth believed, and our enmity to the Being in whom we are asked to confide. Believing is the simplest of all mental processes; yet not the less is the power of God needed. Let not the inquirer mystify or magnify faith in order to give it merit or importance in itself, so that by its superior texture or quality it may justify him; yet never, on the other hand, let him try to simplify it for the purpose of making the Spirit's work unnecessary. The more simple that he sees it to be, the more will he see his own guilt, in so deliberately refusing to believe, and his need of the divine Helper to overcome the fearful opposition of the natural heart to the simple reception of the truth.

The difficulty of believing has its real root in pure self-righteousness; and the struggles to believe, the endeavors to trust, of which men speak, are the indications of this self-righteousness. So far are these spiritual exercises from being tokens for good, they are often mere expressions of spiritual pride, - evidences of the desperate strength of self-righteousness. It is worse than vain, then, to try to comfort an anxious soul by pointing to these exercises or efforts as proofs of existing faith. They are proofs either of ignorance or of unbelief, - proofs of the sinner's determination to do anything rather than believe that all is done. Doubts are not the best evidences of faith; and attempts at performing this great thing called faith are mere proofs of blindness to the finished propitiation of the Son of God.

To do some great thing called faith, in order to win God's favour, the sinner has no objection; nay, it is just what he wants, for it gives him the opportunity of working for his salvation. But he rejects the idea of taking his stand upon a work already done, and so ceasing to exercise his soul in order to effect a reconciliation, for which all that is needed was accomplished eighteen hundred years ago, upon the cross of Him who "was made sin for us, though he knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Merry Christmas

I wanted to wish any and all a very Merry Christmas. If you have visited this blog please leave a quick hello. I want to know if anyone visits.

PREACHERS

Preachers

What have we done really?

We have preached, we have witnessed, and we have passed out tracts. “Repent!” Is the cry of the Preacher? "Turn or Burn" is the words of the Evangelist. But what have we done really? Jesus said "Repent or Perish", the Bible says "There is a place of everlasting punishment" you warn. "Hell Fire is What Awaits You" the Preacher cries. But what have we really done? We preached hard against Sin, we exposed unrighteousness and every evil perpetrated against a loving God. But what, what, what have we really done? Have We Wept? Have we been terrified for the souls of those we preach to? Have the faces been so burned into our memory that we can see them every time we close our eyes? Has our joy been turned to mourning, when we consider they're fate? I'm not talking about feeling sorry for them or throwing up a 1 minute prayer or two. But have we writhed in agony over their soul? Are your dreams turned into nightmares when their torment is before your eyes? I say here and now my fellow Preachers. If your whole being does not ache for they're souls then perhaps you should go home. Put away your banners and sandwich boards. Turn off your megaphones and PA systems. Send the tracts back to the store. GO! Go to your knees and plead the Lord forgive you. Then when you have yielded every selfish, proud desire to Him and your heart comes to know His Calvary Love. When you feel His nail scarred hands and feet. When the sword and crown have pierced and wounded your heart. Then, then GO!.........GO!.......PREACH!........From your wounded Heart. Then shall the Lord of glory be pleased, then shall He pour forth His power upon your preaching and then shall men be made new.

Christ Has Set You Free

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,* and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. 7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

In verse 1 what is it we have been set free from? (the bondage of the law)

In verse 4 what is this fallen from grace? (it is taking our eyes off of faith in Christ and looking back at the law)

In verse 6 what is it that matters? (all that matters is faith wotking through love)

In verse 9 what is the leaven? (it is looking back to the law and trying to gain something by it.)

In verse 10 what is Pauls attitude toward these brethren? (he is confident in them, in the Lord)

In verse 11 what was Paul not preaching? (he did not preach circumcision which is a part of the law) Why? (because then they or we would be debtors to the whole law)

In verse 11 what would stop if Paul preached adherence to the law? (the offense of the Cross)

In verse 12 how did Paul feel toward those who tried to bring people back into bondage to the law? (he wished they would cut themselves off)

In verse 13 what should we not use our liberty for? (an opportunity for the flesh) What opportunity is the flesh looking for based on this exhortation and warning from Paul? (it is looking to the law for justification)

Finaly what is it that fulfills the law? (LOVE)


What is it throughout all human history that defines Love? It is God the ALMIGHTY ONE becoming a man JESUS CHRIST to fulfill the law in perfect obedience to it for us. Becoming the sacrafice for OUR SIN and LOVINGLY and JOYFULLY going to the Cross and raising again on the third day. This is LOVE!!

Caring for the Lost

Have you heard the story of the man and his family who walked by a home on fire? Mr. Smith was on his way to the park with his wife and three children. They were going to spend the day playing in the playground, sailing boats in the pond, and enjoying God’s gift to them. You see, it was Sunday afternoon and church was out. They had heard a glorious sermon, and the music was so uplifting. The children colored pictures at Sunday School, and hung them with pride on the refrigerator in their lovely home.
This day was special for other reasons as well. Today was the day that their twelve-year-old daughter, Mandy, had been baptized. One week earlier, she went forward at the altar and prayed to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. So it truly was a great day for this Christian family. Little did they know that on the way to the park they would be faced with an immense test of faith and love.
“Fire!” cried little Sally Smith as she looked ahead toward the park. Ahead was a small, wood-framed house with white shutters and faded blue paint that was peeling in most places. The roof needed repair and the lawn was overgrown with weeds. The McClintock family lived there with their two young children. The family had moved to the town about 18 months earlier, and the Smiths had walked past their house many times before on their way to the park. They had seen the family when they were out in the yard and had met them at the park on occasion.
The McClintocks didn’t go to church. Mr. McClintock was a truck driver, and he drank a lot of beer, smoked, and was usually pretty unfriendly to the neighbors. That was if anyone bothered to say anything to Mr. McClintock, most didn’t. You see in Niceville most people were Christians and went to church on Sunday; they tried to obey the Golden Rule—“Don’t get involved in other people’s business.” But this day would be different for the Smiths. They would be faced with going against the Golden Rule they had tried so hard to keep. In fact, Mr. Smith was very consistent at keeping the Golden Rule. Only a few days before, he was asked at the grocery store if he thought everyone should believe in Jesus. “Well,” he replied, “I think that everyone needs to believe in something, and I don’t think people should push their religion on others.”
However, today as the Smiths approached the park, they saw the flames! Mr. Smith’s heart jumped inside him like never before. He ran towards the McClintock’s house and could see the flame flickering through the downstairs window. Racing around the side of the house, he saw the McClintock family through the upstairs window. They seemed to be sitting watching TV and enjoying a snack. Mr. McClintock was drinking his daily beer. The flames were growing larger, and the house was filling with smoke, but Mr. Smith stood paralyzed not wanting to break the “Golden Rule.” “What should I do?” he thought, “They seem to be fine and they will probably notice the smoke and flames before the fire kills them.” As he stood looking in the window, he fought with all his might the urge in his heart, and then turned, rejoined his family and headed to the park to celebrate Mandy’s new birth. The next day as Mr. Smith read the newspaper, the headline read “FAMILY OF FOUR DIES IN HORRIBLE FIRE.” Police and fire reports showed that the fire started in the basement of the home. It took at least six or eight hours for the smoldering basement wires to burst into flames, and then another two or three hours before the flames reached the family upstairs. Authorities said that by all accounts many had passed by the McClintock’s house that day. They had passed by on the other side as they headed to the park after a glorious day at church.

GONE FISHING


Praise the Lord. We had over 40 people come to our 1st ever WOTM training session and we headed out to our local mall with about 20 of us. We went in teams of 2-4 and passed out allot of tracts and spoke to many people. I was able to speak with 2 groups of teenagers. In the first group I asked who thought they were a good person and 1 girl cheerfully replied, "I am a very good person". So we headed down commandment road and as the 2 ladies with me pointed out later. Her countenance changed by question 3. She admitted she is guilty and headed to Hell. She was very concerned for her eternal destiny. I explained to her Gods grace at the cross and her need to fall on her knees at the foot of the cross. The second group had much the same result, with all of them no longer smiling and joking but with their heads hung and their faces looking concerned.

My 15 year old son came along also and at the end of the day I saw him speaking with a man of about 40-45 years old. The man had the million dollar bill tract in his hand a I overheard my son telling him, " well that's just a tradition you follow" don't know exactly what else they were talking about. So I decided to join them and it turned out that the man is my sons English teacher and is a Mormon. I asked the man if my son had asked him the million dollar question, "if you die tonight are you going to heaven or hell. He said he had asked and that he was sure he was going to Heaven because he was a righteous man. Which of course contradicts Gods word, " there is none righteousness no not one". Well our conversation was interrupted at that point and the teacher quickly escaped.

All in all it was a great day. God was glorified, many heard and read the gospel and were confronted with their own sin.

Obedience or Legalism

By, Britt Williams


Many today erroneously believe that the "covenant of grace" either de-emphasizes or relinquishes the Christian's obligation to fulfill the moral law. Few truly search the Scriptures and form their theological ideas from holy writ, but rather, glean "here and there" from the latest spiritual best-seller or the most popular TV evangelist/teacher. In the pulpit the situation isn't much better. Tragically, sound Biblical doctrine (that exposes sin and exalts Jesus) is unpopular. On the contrary, positive, up-beat, motivational, feel-good speaking is in unprecedented demand. Sadly, multitudes of professing Christians today violently reject any standard of morality as teachings of "law." With such thinking so prevalent and vehemently defended as orthodox, we are forced to ask ourselves these questions: Are we, as Christians, to obey the commandments of God? And if so, is to teach obedience a doctrine of legalism? An honest examination of our current spiritual state reveals that in an attempt to avoid legalism we have now obviously succumb to antinomianism. Man has so recoiled from a "salvation by works" that he has produced a salvation without obedience. We would be wise to consider the warning of Christ regarding the spiritual atmosphere of the last days... Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. The Greek word here translated "iniquity" means "lawlessness." Jesus, is clearly pointing out that the last day spiritual error will be one marked by a hatred for restraint rather than a bent toward legalism. However, the church has sired a generation who fear legalism more than they hate sin. They ramble on and on about avoiding "the bondage of law" while they participate in unspeakable vice and compromise. They piously talk of "defending the faith" yet live cold, dry, uninspired lives void of passion for Jesus. When talking to such people it appears that nearly every basic Biblical term has been redefined. What is spiritual bondage? Apparently, obedience to the commandments of God is their worst nightmare. What is Biblical liberty? Evidently, according to such thinking, Jesus died to allow them to "do as they please." Not surprisingly, the FALSE and BLASPHEMOUS doctrine of "once saved always saved" is the most popular doctrinal error of our times. Confusion abounds. This spiritual malady in doctrine is referred to as antinomianism. Antinomianism: {Webster's} One of a sect who maintain, that, under the gospel dispensation, the law is of no use or obligation; or who hold doctrines which supersede the necessity of good works and a virtuous life. Interestingly, in many Christian circles the mentioning of the law of God is treated with greater disdain than gossip, cursing, and false doctrine. Is this Biblically sound? Ironically, Jesus, nor any of the Apostles ever spoke of the law of God in a derogatory manner. Many would be shocked to simply come to the revelation of this one Biblical fact: the Holy Ghost will never inspire anyone to speak negatively about the law of God. True, the law cannot save, nor can it make anyone holy, however, it has its place even under the gospel dispensation (1 Tim. 1:8-10). Nevertheless, Christians today forget that it is the ceremonial law, not the moral law, that is "done away with in Christ." Under the covenant of grace, the moral law is expressed and established in the love commandments of Christ (Matthew 22:40) and nowhere in the New Testament are we freed from our obligation to fulfill this moral law. The Bible teaches that "Christ's righteousness" was imputed to us, not His obedience - this we must offer ourselves through the power of the Holy Ghost (John 15:4-5). At justification, we are rendered "righteous" by virtue of the finished work of Christ as we are forgiven for all "sins past" (Romans 3:25). However, as Christians, we are obligated to fulfill the law of God by daily "walking in the Spirit" (Romans 8:4, Gal. 5:14-16). Furthermore, we are given "grace" that we might "walk in newness of life" and "present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto God which is our REASONABLE SERVICE" (When confronted with their obligation to "holiness" and "obedience" many professing Christians believe it is an unreasonable demand) (Romans 6:4, 12:1). Let the reader understand, the Bible clearly teaches that Christians MUST OBEY! Listen to the words of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church, as he decries the errors of Antinomianism in his day... Question: What is antinomianism? Answer: Antinomianism is the doctrine which makes void the law through faith. Question: What are the main false pillars thereof? Answer:[1] That Christ abolished the moral law. [2] That Christians are no longer obliged to observe it. [3] That one branch of Christian liberty is, liberty from obeying the commandments of God. [4] That it is bondage to do a thing because it is commanded, or forbear it because it is forbidden. [5] That a believer is not obligated to use the ordinance of God, or to do good works. [6] That a preacher ought not to exhort to good works; not unbelievers, because it is hurtful; not believers, because it is needless. Sound familiar? It should, this perfectly describes the popular theology of the evangelical church-world of America today. In fact, these tenets are the rallying cries, the precious creeds, and the prized dogmas of the professing church for the past three decades. And we wonder why sin reigns from the White House to the county seat and from the pulpit to the pew? Friend, we are nothing more than a reflection of the theology we've embraced. Perhaps you may conclude that this article was written by a "legalist" who is promoting "salvation by works." Others will believe these are the rantings of some far-out, on the fringe, cultic leader. However, before you calmly and confidently label such ideas as "of the devil" and "doctrines of bondage" would you please carefully consider the Bible? What did Jesus teach? Jesus commanded the Apostles to go and make disciples and teach all new converts to OBEY everything that He commanded them. Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Jesus declared only those who obey God's Word are truly blessed. Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. We show our love for Jesus and God by obedience. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. In the Bible, love and obedience are inseparable. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 2 John 1:5-6 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.Disobedience, according to the Bible, irrefutably proves a lack of love for Jesus. John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.Those who actually inherit the kingdom of God love (or obey) God. James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?To remain in Jesus' love, we must meet the condition of obeying His commands. John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. Jesus' servants obey today just like they did back in Jesus' days on Earth. John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. The Apostles knew and taught that obedience to God and His commandments were mandatory. Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. Romans 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith... The Holy Ghost is ONLY given to people who obey God. Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. We are either slaves to sin, or slaves to obedience, depending on whom we obey. Romans 6:16-18 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. The gospel is to be obeyed for salvation's sake. 2 Thes. 1:8-9 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power... Those who possess eternal salvation are those who obey God. Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him... 1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. In the Bible, the unsaved are described as those who don't obey the gospel. 1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? Obedience to God's commands is a proof of salvation. Those who claim salvation, but don't obey are LIARS. 1 John 2:3-4 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Prayer assurance for a Christian is based on obedience. 1 John 3:22-23 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. Christians are described, in part, as those who obey God's commandments. Rev. 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. A Christian's obedience comes from faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name... From all these Scriptures, we have a clear picture that true Christians can and do obey God's commandments and are not living immorally as multitudes of false teachers, such as those that teach unconditional eternal security or OSAS (once saved, always saved). Disobedience can bring forth spiritual death to a person who was once saved (Lk. 15:24; Rom. 6:16; 8:13; James 1:14-15; 5:19-20, etc...). Ponder the following Scriptures that clarify this and do not let yourself be deceived: 1 Cor. 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.1 Thes. 4:7-8 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. Ephes. 5:5-7 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7Be not ye therefore partakers with them. Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 6:8-9 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Rev. 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. And remember, Jesus described his true spiritual family (his disciples) as those who put into practice God's Word and do His will. Luke 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. Matthew 12:49-50 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. He also stated that one is a wise builder or a foolish builder based on the single condition of putting into practice the Word of God. Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Friend, the real importance about your obedience to God and the seriousness of disobedience (sin) is partly shown by these Bible verses. Reject all who teach otherwise, even if they are popular