THE NATURE OF OBEDIENCE

Faith obeys. That's one of the things we noted in our article in this space last month. Ponder this. What makes a real Christian such a different person from others? It is obedience. Peter wrote, "As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as He who has called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (I Pet. 1:14-16). The difference, "obedient children." It can truly be said of such a person that he marches to the sound of a different drummer, that he is possessed of a different spirit, much like Caleb of whom it is written, "My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him has followed Me fully…." (Num. 14:24).

THE NATURE OF OBEDIENCE. Obedience in its more general usage is from a word formed from "hupo" (under) and "akouo" (to hear). The idea is that of giving ear, therefore, of subjection, of listening and submitting. Look at several passages where the word is used: Rom. 1:5; 15:18; 16:19,26; Philem. 21, Acts 6:7. In two of those Paul spoke of the "obedience of faith" and "obedience to the faith."

Obedience, then, is a hearing and responding accordingly. Thus, children are instructed to be obedient to their parents (Eph. 6:1; Col. 3:20; cf. Prov. 1:8). Citizens are to recognize and submit to the powers of civil authority (Rom. 13:1; I Pet. 2:13-14). And so for one who would be God's child, there is a hearing, learning, and obeying. Jesus said, "No man can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me" (John 6:44-45). Paul could gladly proclaim, "God be thanked that though you were servants of sin, yet you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered" (Rom. 6:17). And Peter echoing the sentiment said, "Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit…." (I Pet. 1:22).

Because of its very nature, obedience is not accidental. True, what one does unknowingly or incidentally may be right; and it may please another who is worthy of that one's obedience. A child may do what seems right in a given situation with no knowledge of his parents' desire in the matter; and a citizen in a given circumstance, without knowledge of the law affecting that circumstance, may do what the law requires. Though their actions were proper, could they be said to be obedience? Obedience is a hearing and responding to what is heard out of deference to the one whose will has been heard.