9/8/26

1 Peter 2:11-12 NASB95 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

So often we talk about obedience to Christ. We do this because obedience matters. However, we must not misunderstand the reasoning behind the call to obedience. Many people wrongly claim that obedience is preached because it brings salvation. We must never mistake obedience as a way, for the only route that leads to salvation is FAITH IN JESUS! No amount of obedience will ever bring you into the presence of God the Father, because all have sinned and fallen short of God's Glory. The wages of that sin is death, which is eternal separation from God. You have a debt which, once you have received it, you can never repay. Christ never owed this debt, so He has repaid your debt. If you, by faith, knowing that He, as the sinless Son of God, has paid restitution on your behalf, and will accept His gift, then you are saved. Your obedience has no part in it.

Then, other times we think that obedience keeps our salvation. This also is false. Your salvation is secured in Christ. Scripture says no one can pluck you from the Father's hand. It also says no created thing can separate us from the love of God. Since we are created, our lack of obedience can not remove our salvation. It is secure in Christ! These things that we have discussed are legalism.

So why is it that obedience matters? Our text says, Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

We are in a spiritual war, and a lack of obedience (following God) is a weapon that weakens and causes pain and suffering in the absolute center of God's headquarters of our lives (our soul). When we refuse obedience, then we are choosing disobedience. At this, Satan celebrates because we are stabbing our own life in the body to the core of our soul with a sin sword.

Then another reason we need to be obedient is shown in the next part of our text. It says, Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers. they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Satan has convinced the lost of the world that there is no difference between a Christian and them. He keeps telling them that Jesus changes nothing. He has them watching our every move. If we lack obedience to God, then they will have reason to believe Satan. However, if we, in obedience, do deeds that are good as God leads. Then they will see a difference, and in our obedience, when we give God all the Glory, they will desire God when His Spirit convicts and calls on them.

To sum this up, obedience to God doesn't affect your salvation, but it does encourage others to receive salvation. It is therefore a part of your witness or testimony to what Christ has done in you and can do in them.

Preaching and living obediently to God correctly is not legalism; it is surrenderism.

It shows your complete surrender to your Lord Jesus!

Obedience matters!

Love Brother Scott