Obedience by Faith OBEDIENCE COMES FROM PEACE
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Ps. 119:165.
It is an amazing fact that it is God's forgiveness, His mercy, and His peace that changes our lives. Peace was purchased at the cross. Because of the cross, the good news is out again today: "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).
If you are looking for victory and longing for true obedience, the very first prerequisite is that you understand the unconditional love and acceptance of God for you. We don't get peace by getting victory, we get victory by getting peace. The only person who can ever obey is the one who already has the peace of acceptance with God.
When we consider the subject of obedience, and try to learn how obedience fits in with the subject of salvation by faith alone, there are two dangers. The first is that we will focus only on the obedience. We will consider obedience only in terms of outward actions, behavior, morality. When this happens, we begin to try to make ourselves obey in order to find favor with God. If we are strong-willed and succeeds, we become proud of our success and more self-centered than ever. If we are weak, we do not succeed even outwardly, and we give up in discouragement.
The second danger is that we will conclude that obedience is neither necessary nor possible. We forget that obedience or disobedience is the great issue to be decided at the very end of the great controversy (see The Desire of Ages, p. 763). We forget that whether or not obedience was possible, or necessary, was the initial issue in the great controversy, when Satan fell from heaven and accused God before the universe of creating laws that were impossible to obey. The great controversy is not yet finally settled, and the question of whether or not obedience is possible is still being debated. God says it is essential. Satan says it is impossible. And each of us must decide whom we are going to believe.
As we come to God, admitting our helplessness to save ourselves or to make ourselves obey God's law, He gives us peace. And peace brings release. Peace brings victory. Peace brings obedience--the only kind of true obedience that there is.
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Ps. 119:165.
It is an amazing fact that it is God's forgiveness, His mercy, and His peace that changes our lives. Peace was purchased at the cross. Because of the cross, the good news is out again today: "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).
If you are looking for victory and longing for true obedience, the very first prerequisite is that you understand the unconditional love and acceptance of God for you. We don't get peace by getting victory, we get victory by getting peace. The only person who can ever obey is the one who already has the peace of acceptance with God.
When we consider the subject of obedience, and try to learn how obedience fits in with the subject of salvation by faith alone, there are two dangers. The first is that we will focus only on the obedience. We will consider obedience only in terms of outward actions, behavior, morality. When this happens, we begin to try to make ourselves obey in order to find favor with God. If we are strong-willed and succeeds, we become proud of our success and more self-centered than ever. If we are weak, we do not succeed even outwardly, and we give up in discouragement.
The second danger is that we will conclude that obedience is neither necessary nor possible. We forget that obedience or disobedience is the great issue to be decided at the very end of the great controversy (see The Desire of Ages, p. 763). We forget that whether or not obedience was possible, or necessary, was the initial issue in the great controversy, when Satan fell from heaven and accused God before the universe of creating laws that were impossible to obey. The great controversy is not yet finally settled, and the question of whether or not obedience is possible is still being debated. God says it is essential. Satan says it is impossible. And each of us must decide whom we are going to believe.
As we come to God, admitting our helplessness to save ourselves or to make ourselves obey God's law, He gives us peace. And peace brings release. Peace brings victory. Peace brings obedience--the only kind of true obedience that there is.
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