I often am amazed how many people do not know what the Bible actually states about obedience. People are taught that they must be obedient to serve Jesus. I get pastors (and others) who argue with me when I state we cannot be obedient as we have no obedience. These people tell me that Jesus enables us, or as Chuck Smith taught in a book I read, Jesus and you are lifting the table together… I see it as you look like you are lifting your end, but Jesus is lifting both ends. If not, then it is our works and not his work in and through us.
The issue is the understanding of obedience. If we are to be obedient, (which we can't) it becomes works. If we trust in the One Who was obedient even unto death, then we are in His Obedience and not our own. We walk in the obedience of Christ and not our own. The Bible seems rather clear on this matter in this simple statement:
Romans 5:19. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
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About a year ago I heard Rick McKinley preach on John 14. "If you love me, you will obey what I command," etc. He contrasted obedience out of love with obedience out of duty.
In the military there is a very disciplined obedience that is very efficient, but has no real sense of relationship or love...and that ain't the Jesus way, for sure. With Jesus, we respond (or ought to, anyway) because of our love for him in response to his massive love for us. It is never an impossible attempt to earn brownie points.
Yet, for some reason, we can't seem to get past the desire to get "Religious" and go for some form of works. For a people saved by Grace, we sure seem to love our own teeny-tiny, little, no-so-impressive strivings.
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