OBEDIENCE is not LEGALISM
There are far too many people who believe that being obedient to the Commandments of Jesus equates to Leagelism, and/or one trying to do works to receive Salvation. Both of these views are so very wrong.
Obedience is now, always has been, and always will be required by God. To believe that one can live in disobedience to God and still receive eternal life borders on insanity in my opinion.
Far too many Scriptures reveal the Truth that obedience is required by God for any sane person to argue against or ignore. No true believer can live in disobedience to God. Any person who is living in disobedience to God has a serious issue facing them come the day of Judgement.
John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Acts 5:29 - Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
1 Peter 1:14 - As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1 John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
John 14:31 - But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
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.
Luke 6:46 - And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
John 8:51 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Romans 2:6
who will render to each person according to his deeds:
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
1 Peter 1:17
If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;
Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
Psalms 62:12
And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord,
For You recompense a man according to his work.
Colossians 3:25
For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
1 Corinthians 3:8
Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Given all these Scriptures, it is easy to say "are you not trying to earn salvation through works?" Yes, that is an easy question to ask, but it is asked out of ignorance.
Obedience and good works are NOT to earn Salvation: they are a FRUIT of Salvation. It is because of our Salvation, and adoption into the family of God, and having become heirs of the Promise that we are obedient and seek to do the good works that He HAS PURPOSED us for.
When people understand this, then possibly people can walk in obedience to Jesus/God, and not according to the flesh. And, NO, doing this in the heart won't cut it. Our deeds and words are required to be in obedience to God!
Salvation is just the FIRST STEP in our life with Jesus, not the end. Sanctification and Justification are a process that one must continue to seek throughout their life walk with Jesus. John 3:16 says "believeth" and this is translated to be a "continuous act" of believing. Not a one time thing. This is complimented by the words of Jesus when He said:
Matthew 24:13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
I simply feel sorry for those who believe they only have to repent and confess their sinfilled lives and accept Jesus as Lord of their lives ONE TIME; and, after that, they can just go on living. Believing that they never again have to worry about any sin/disobedience they commit. They will surely be rudely surprised come the day they stand before He who will judge.
Again:
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
OBEDIENCE IS NOT LEGALISM....IT IS LOVE!