The condition of life and death

In the second chapter of the book of Genesis, the Bible records that the Lord God commanded the man, to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but before the commandment was given, the Lord God told the man that of every tree of the garden, man may freely eat. If man chose to disobey God, the the condition that was stipulated was the man would “surely” die. In other words, the cost to obey God and enjoy all of God’s provisions was nothing (it was free), but the cost of disobeying God was certain (sure) and severe – it would cost man everything (life itself).

Points to ponder:
From this text we can learn that God provides for those whom he commands. So the next time, you think of what God has commanded you to do, make sure to hear the provisions he gives you along with that commandment. Then recognize to obey God is to choose life, but to disobey God is to reject life and choose death. The condition of life and death is in our choice to obey or not obey God. What is your condition? Are you alive? or Are you dead?

Genesis 2:16-17 (KJV)
¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
¹⁷ But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The other side of obedience …

When the people of Israel renewed their commitment to the LORD as Joshua addressed them, after they were set free from the physical bondage of Egypt, they told Joshua, that they will obey the voice of the LORD and Him they will serve (Joshua 24:24).

If obedience to the LORD is one side of the coin, the other side is service. Service goes hand in hand with obedience. There are many of us who serve but not obey and there are others who obey but not serve. Jesus served God the Father in obedience to the will of God the Father. Just as one cannot serve without obeying, one cannot obey without serving.

Points to ponder:
Now, we who have been set free from the spiritual bondage of sin and the power of death, is our response the same as that of the Israelities – dual in its function, which is to obey AND serve. “To obey or not to obey” is synonymous to “To serve or not to serve.” For even Jesus Christ, came to serve (obey) and not to be served; how much more should we emulate that same attitude!

Joshua 24:24 (KJV)
²⁴ And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

To obey means …

The Bible mandates that we ought to obey the Lord and keep his commands. It also informs us that those who do not obey will perish (Proverbs 36:12). So what does this mean? What does it mean to obey? The Bible gives us the answer in John 3:16 which states “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life.” This establishes the fact that when one believes in Jesus Christ, he/she will NOT perish.

One will perish if they disobey (Proverbs 36:12). One will not perish if they believe (John 3:16). This implies that disobedience is the antonym of believing. Today if you hear God’s voice (asking you to believe in Him), do not harden your hearts, but obey His voice. Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Just believe. In other words, Obey!

Point to ponder:
To not perish or to perish? is synonymous to “To believe or not to believe” which is synonymous to “To obey or not to obey?”

Obedience bring camaraderie and credence

The Bible instructs believers of Jesus Christ that when another believer walks disorderly, eating without working, not obeying the word, then one must have no company with this person so that he/she may be ashamed, but this must be done in brotherly admonition and not as an enemy (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15). So if disobedience brings separation (no company) and shame, then obedience must bring camaraderie and credence. Camaraderie is a spirit of good friendship and fellowship, synonymous with brotherhood. Credence is synonymous with trust or acceptance; an acknowledgment of one’s worthiness of belief.

Point(s) to ponder:
The questions that remains are
1. Would God and his people consider you/me to be a comrade?
2. Would they consider you/me to be worthy of belief, trustworthy and accepted?.

In other words, are we in obedience to the word of God, working for His kingdom so that we can eat?

Jesus said, his meat (food) was to do the will of God the Father, who sent Him and to finish His work (John 4:34).
What is yours and mine?

Let us not be busybodies, whose reward is not camaraderie or credence, but separation and shame!

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 (KJV)
⁶ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
⁷ For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
⁸ Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
⁹ Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
¹⁰ For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
¹¹ For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
¹² Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
¹³ But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
¹⁴ And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
¹⁵ Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Who is given the Holy Spirit?

Question: Who is given the Holy Spirit of God?
Answer: To all who obey Him (Acts 5:32)

If obedience is the pre-requisite to being given the Holy Spirit of God, then disobedience (sin) would result in the taking away of the Holy Spirit of God. This is Scripturally sound as we can see from the life of two kings, Saul (God’s rejected) and David (God’s appointed). The Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul (1 Samuel 16:14) for he had disobeyed the commandments of God who chose to obey men as he feared them over God (1 Samuel 15:24). David on the other hand, even though he was appointed by God, when he sinned against God and man, by his sin of sex, lies and deceit, he pleaded with God, that God’s Spirit not be taken away from him (Psalm 51:11).

So obedience is the pre-requisite to be given the Holy Spirit of God, but obedience to whom or what? It can be sadly mistaken that obeying moral commands or to standards of life that mandate a pious lifestyle assures the gift of the Holy Spirit, because if this is the case, then anyone who can live up to the standards, can receive the Holy Spirit, whether they believe in Jesus Christ or not. Interestingly it can be observed that many non-Christians such as the Hindu hermits, Buddhist monks, Muslim Mullahs or Jewish Rabbis live a far more pious life than do most Christians. So it is of most importance to understand as to what the Bible means, when it says that “the Holy Spirit is given by God to all who obey him.”

Obedience as recorded in Acts 5 is used in the context of believing in Jesus Christ, as one’s Lord (Ruler/Prince) and Savior. This address was given by the apostles, who chose not to fear men, but God and obey him to be his witnesses. It asserts that it is to them that believe in Jesus Christ, as their Lord and Savior, that the Holy Spirit of God is given. So whether one is Christian or a non-Christian, unless one believes in Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God is not given to that individual. The Holy Spirit of God is given only to all who have put their faith and trust in Christ Jesus, and none other, for the Salvation of their souls.

The question that remains is “To obey or not to obey?” or in other words “To be given the Holy Spirit or not?”

Acts 5:27-32 (KJV)
²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
²⁸ Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
²⁹ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
³¹ Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
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.

The double reward of Obedience

From obedience not only comes pardon (from our sins) but protection as well. The Lord has promised to be on the side of all them that obey Him and when God is on our  side, we can be assured that no one can be against us (Romans 8:31).

From obedience comes not only pardon but protection; not only salvation but safety/security.

Exodus 23:21-22 (KJV)
²¹ Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
²² But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

Better than Sacrifice is Obedience

The following account is recorded in the Holy Scripture in the first book of Samuel chapter 15. 

Requirement: of God for Saul, the appointed king of Israel was to utterly destroy the sinners (Amalekites, led by king Agag) and everything that belonged to them. No one (including their livestock) was to be spared.
Response: of Saul, the appointed king of Israel was not total obedience; He spared king Agag and the best of the land.
Reason: that Saul gave was that he wished to sacrifice what he had spared as an offering to the LORD.
Result: of Saul’s action was rejection. God rejected Saul from continuing to be the king of Israel.

Though Saul’s reason sounds superficially as a good reason, but in reality it was not. Why, God wanted to completely (utterly) destroy sin and avenge His people. But the appointed king (Saul), disappointed the King of kings by not totally obeying God’s commandment (requirement). To OBEY is better than sacrifice!

Point(s) to ponder:
1. What may seem like a good reason (even if it is about sacrificing and worshipping God) can be unacceptable if it contradicts what God has commanded us to.
2. Disobedience (even partial disobedience) can lead to total rejection from God.
3. Total obedience is better than any sacrifice we can give to God.

1 Samuel 15:22 (KJV)
²² And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.