Is Obedience Necessary for Salvation?
Well, the answer to the above question depends on what a person actually means when they are mentioning that very word (Obedience). If When a minister uses the word obedience, If they are referring to the One Act of Obedience of Obeying the Gospel (which is believing the Gospel of the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ). Then Yes, Obedience (that one act of Obedience) is necessary for Salvation. Since a person must obey the Gospel in order to be saved.
And how does one Obey the Gospel? By Simply Believing the Gospel. And that’s it.
However though, When a person says that Obedience is Necessary for Salvation, if what they are referring to is obeying the commandments, and living Holy, then the answer to the question above is: NO. Since Commandment keeping and holy living are not a requirement for Salvation.
Obeying the Commandments and living Holy are a requirement for Discipleship and Spiritual growth, but they are not a requirement for Salvation. Since Salvation is not a process, but rather, it is a One Time Event. Whereas Discipleship, on the other hand, is not a One Time Event. But rather, Discipleship is a Life long journey and endeavor. Discipleship deals with how one lives their life. For consider this question now: How many times did Adam have to sin and disobey the word of God before he died spiritually and became a sinner? Only ONE TIME. All it took was ONE ACT of Disobedience against God and against His word to plunge the whole entire world into sin. And so for a lost sinner to get saved, to get out of the Line of Adam and to get into the Line of Christ, all that is required of them in terms of Obedience is the ONE ACT of Obedience: Obeying the Gospel.
And once again, how does a sinner Obey the Gospel? They Obey the Gospel by simply BELIEVING THE GOSPEL. If a person has believed the Gospel, then they have Obeyed the Gospel. It really is that simple, folks.
Furthermore, one of the reasons that what I just stated is true is this. No one has ever perfectly obeyed the Bible. No one lives in complete perfect obedience, since no one is without sin. We all still have a wicked, sin nature dwelling in our body of flesh. The only man who has ever lived in complete, perfect obedience is the Man Christ Jesus, God manifest in the Flesh. Only Jesus lived in perfect obedience to the word of God, as He was on this earth, fulfilling His earthly ministry. And yet, no one before Jesus and no one after Jesus, has ever done what Jesus Christ did. No other man on this Earth could perfectly obey the word of God. Only Jesus Christ could do that. For He was without Sin. And since None of us can claim perfect obedience to the law of God, this also is why Obedience (i.e. Commandment keeping, living holy) is not required for Salvation.
For If it was, then Salvation would be based on our works and on our performance. And it would not be by Grace. You see folks, God does not Grade on a Curve. God’s standard is perfect, complete, holiness. This is why we must have the Imputed Righteousness of Jesus Christ and His word, the Holy Scripture. If we are not as perfect and just and holy as the Lord Jesus Christ and His word (the King James Holy Bible) are, then we cannot make it into heaven. We MUST be as Perfect and Holy as Jesus Christ and His word, the Holy Scripture, are. That’s the only way we will make it into Heaven. Salvation is not of us. It is completely of God and His Holy Scripture.
In conclusion, the only Obedience which IS necessary for Salvation is the One Act of Obedience, which once again, is Obeying the Gospel. And a person obeys the Gospel by Believing the Gospel. By putting their faith and trust in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and trusting in Him alone to save them. And then the Obedience which comes after Salvation: keeping the commandments, Abiding in Christ, Walking in the Spirit, Living Holy. This Obedience which concerns how we walk and live as Children of God, this Obedience is only a requirement for Discipleship and spiritual growth. But it has nothing to do with our Salvation. God and His word took care of our Salvation. And now Discipleship and living Holy depends on Us and what WE DO.
Well, the answer to the above question depends on what a person actually means when they are mentioning that very word (Obedience). If When a minister uses the word obedience, If they are referring to the One Act of Obedience of Obeying the Gospel (which is believing the Gospel of the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ). Then Yes, Obedience (that one act of Obedience) is necessary for Salvation. Since a person must obey the Gospel in order to be saved.
And how does one Obey the Gospel? By Simply Believing the Gospel. And that’s it.
However though, When a person says that Obedience is Necessary for Salvation, if what they are referring to is obeying the commandments, and living Holy, then the answer to the question above is: NO. Since Commandment keeping and holy living are not a requirement for Salvation.
Obeying the Commandments and living Holy are a requirement for Discipleship and Spiritual growth, but they are not a requirement for Salvation. Since Salvation is not a process, but rather, it is a One Time Event. Whereas Discipleship, on the other hand, is not a One Time Event. But rather, Discipleship is a Life long journey and endeavor. Discipleship deals with how one lives their life. For consider this question now: How many times did Adam have to sin and disobey the word of God before he died spiritually and became a sinner? Only ONE TIME. All it took was ONE ACT of Disobedience against God and against His word to plunge the whole entire world into sin. And so for a lost sinner to get saved, to get out of the Line of Adam and to get into the Line of Christ, all that is required of them in terms of Obedience is the ONE ACT of Obedience: Obeying the Gospel.
And once again, how does a sinner Obey the Gospel? They Obey the Gospel by simply BELIEVING THE GOSPEL. If a person has believed the Gospel, then they have Obeyed the Gospel. It really is that simple, folks.
Furthermore, one of the reasons that what I just stated is true is this. No one has ever perfectly obeyed the Bible. No one lives in complete perfect obedience, since no one is without sin. We all still have a wicked, sin nature dwelling in our body of flesh. The only man who has ever lived in complete, perfect obedience is the Man Christ Jesus, God manifest in the Flesh. Only Jesus lived in perfect obedience to the word of God, as He was on this earth, fulfilling His earthly ministry. And yet, no one before Jesus and no one after Jesus, has ever done what Jesus Christ did. No other man on this Earth could perfectly obey the word of God. Only Jesus Christ could do that. For He was without Sin. And since None of us can claim perfect obedience to the law of God, this also is why Obedience (i.e. Commandment keeping, living holy) is not required for Salvation.
For If it was, then Salvation would be based on our works and on our performance. And it would not be by Grace. You see folks, God does not Grade on a Curve. God’s standard is perfect, complete, holiness. This is why we must have the Imputed Righteousness of Jesus Christ and His word, the Holy Scripture. If we are not as perfect and just and holy as the Lord Jesus Christ and His word (the King James Holy Bible) are, then we cannot make it into heaven. We MUST be as Perfect and Holy as Jesus Christ and His word, the Holy Scripture, are. That’s the only way we will make it into Heaven. Salvation is not of us. It is completely of God and His Holy Scripture.
In conclusion, the only Obedience which IS necessary for Salvation is the One Act of Obedience, which once again, is Obeying the Gospel. And a person obeys the Gospel by Believing the Gospel. By putting their faith and trust in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and trusting in Him alone to save them. And then the Obedience which comes after Salvation: keeping the commandments, Abiding in Christ, Walking in the Spirit, Living Holy. This Obedience which concerns how we walk and live as Children of God, this Obedience is only a requirement for Discipleship and spiritual growth. But it has nothing to do with our Salvation. God and His word took care of our Salvation. And now Discipleship and living Holy depends on Us and what WE DO.
But 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. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:16-18, 20-
when you read Paul’s writing you should consider everything he was teaching was for this purpose
“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,”
Romans 15:18 KJV
if his letters become an argument for why we don’t need to repent and obey God it’s because they are misunderstood
We obey God but do we obey Moses word ?
“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”
Acts 15:10-11, 19, 24 KJV
But what about Christs word of we hear and believe his word in the gospel ?
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 5:24 KJV
“And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
John 8:23-24, 26-28, 30-32,
so Paul was saying to believers of the gospel who were baptized
“ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
Hearing Gods word and believing it works in us effectually to bring us into his will
“when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”
Paul again talking obedience
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12-13 KJV
Believing the Gospel Jesus taught brings us to repentance and obedience so we are saved this does t mean we’re perfect yet or sinless but anytime an argument is why we don’t need to repent and obey it is misled