Topic: Obedience

Matthew 7:21-27 > 1 Peter 4:17-19 > Luke 11:28 > Genesis 22:18; 26:4-5> The Acts 5:29, 32 > Hebrews 5:8-9 > 2 Nephi 31:7-10 > Mosiah 5:8-9 > Romans 2:5-16 > Galatians 3:1 > Doctrine and Covenants 56:2-4 > Doctrine and Covenants 64:34 > Doctrine and Covenants 93:1

In the book of Matthew, chapters 5, 6 and 7, we find recorded Jesus’ great, “Sermon on the Mount”. He addressed many wonderful principles of His Gospel. Among the principles He taught those who were there was the topic of Obedience and He did so in a most interesting way. Says He, in Matthew chapter 7 verses 21 through 27, and I paraphrase all His words in this paragraph, “Not all of you who call me Lord will enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but only those who will do the will of my Father, who lives in Heaven.” Those who call Jesus Lord, but do not His will, will then argue saying, “Have we not prophesied in thy name? Have we not cast out devils in thy name? Have we not done many wonderful works in thy name?” After their argument is finished, Jesus will they reply saying, “I never knew you, depart from me all you who work iniquity.” From these words of Jesus it is obvious to see that wonderful works will not ensure us a place in the kingdom of God. What is the distinguishing factor between those who do the works of God and are saved and those who may do the same works and are not saved? As far as the latter group goes, their works did not bring them to know Jesus; or their works were not motivated out of faith in Jesus. Jesus goes on to say, “Whosoever hears my words and does them, I will liken to a wise man who built his house (meaning his life and his life’s work) on a rock (meaning a sure foundation, even Christ). Those whose lives are centered in Christ and do good as a result of their faith and belief in Him, following His example, will be those who He will invite into His eternal kingdom for they have come to know Him through their righteous works. There are many people in the world who think that they can wrap up for themselves a great reward by going about doing wonderful things in the name of deity, these are they who Christ says, “Built their house upon the sand” (meaning an unsure foundation, someone other than Christ). Apparently their wonderful works were not in accordance with the will of Heavenly Father. “They did not do the will of my Father who is in heaven”, therefore they did not come to know Him. Yet as good and Christ-like in our obedience as we try to be, Peter teaches in 1 Peter chapter 4 verses 17 through 19, if the righteous scarcely be saved what can then be said concerning the disobedient. The only reason the righteous are saved is through the grace of God. As discussed in an earlier Scripture Train, we cannot work our way into heaven. Only through the grace of God are we saved, after our best efforts. Our best efforts are seen in our striving toward perfect obedience. We will never be perfect in this life, but we can certainly strive for that ideal. Peter says that as we do our best we can have confidence that God will keep our souls.

It is through our obedience to God and His commandments that we come to know Him for when we obey Him we serve Him by serving our fellowman. Most all of the commandments that we have recorded in scripture in some way or another require sacrifice on our part in an act of service toward our fellowman.

In Luke chapter 11 verse 28, Christ is recorded as saying that those who hear the word of God and keep it, or in other words, who obey it, will be blessed. Would it be just if someone who profess a belief in Christ but is not obedient to His commandments were to receive the same blessings from God as those who profess a belief and are obedient? If the first instance were just, why would Christ require obedience? Why would He teach that the obedient would be blessed? He teaches Abraham in Genesis chapter 22 verse 18 and chapter 26 verses 4 and 5, that because of his obedience future generations will be blessed through his seed. We see that not only the obedient are blessed, but their posterity also. Obedience has been taught from the very beginning; it was taught by Christ and by His Apostle, Peter, in The Acts chapter 5 verses 29; he says that we ought to obey God. In verse 32 he states one of the great blessings that come to the obedient is that they have a right to the gift of the Holy Ghost.

In Hebrews chapter 5 verses 8 and 9, we learn that Jesus was obedient to His Father and was made perfect and that He became the author of eternal salvation to the obedient. So another blessing that comes to the obedient is salvation! This truth is brought into greater light in the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi chapter 31 verses 7 through 10. Here, the question is asked, “Know ye not that he was holy?” Yes, we know He was holy, perfect, without sin, yet this verse teaches us that He showed humility and a willingness to be completely obedient to His Father by keeping His commandments. One of those commandments was to be baptized; so he humbly sought out baptism at the hand of John the Baptist. From this, we gain greater understanding of why the path to the kingdom of God is strait and gate narrow. Only those who are worthy of access can enter. We can only become worthy through obedience to God’s commandments and of course, through His grace. We cannot fully follow the Savior without being perfectly obedient to the commandments of the Father. In fact, King Benjamin teaches in Mosiah chapter 5 verses 8 and 9 that only those who covenant obedience to Christ are eligible to take upon themselves His name. This is important! Is there any other name through whom salvation will come? No! Salvation can come only through Christ and he teaches that only those who have taken upon themselves the name of Christ can be saved. So only those who are known by Christ’s name will be received up into the kingdom of God. Only those who are obedient to this requirement will be saved!

Paul, in the book of Romans chapter 5 verses 5 through 16, teaches the same principle. He says that Christ will render to every man according to his works, or in other words, his obedience to the commandments of the Father. He also teaches that God is no respecter of persons, in other words, He must be just and reward to every man according to the law of Christ. We will not be judged against one another, but rather we will be judged according to the law we had, and our ability to understand the law and how well we lived according to the dictates of our conscience and our understanding of right and wrong.

One of the greatest testimonies of the strict need for obedience is Paul’s testimony in his question to the Galatians recorded in Galatians chapter 3 verse 1. He asks the question, “Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth…?” In my mind this absolutely puts to rest any question on the need for and the importance of obedience to our eventual salvation. Obviously, someone had convinced them that they don’t need to be obedient to the truths of the gospel. But Paul, in his letter to them, reaffirms the necessity to be obedient.

Instruction in Doctrine and Covenants section 56 verses 2 through 4, offers us additional understanding of this doctrine. Christ teaches us that if we do not follow Him and keep His commandments, we will not be saved. In fact, Christ emphasis this point further by saying that if we are not obedient then we will be cut off, meaning that we will be cut off from Him and His people. Doctrine and Covenants section 64 verse 34 adds a little more understanding to the need of obedience. Not only are we to be obedient, but we ought to be willingly obedient! We cannot be willingly obedient to the commandments and at the same time have our heart set on worldly things. God wants us to have a heart set on Him and He wants us to love His commandments. We cannot have our heart in evil and wickedness and we cannot be double minded if we want salvation in the kingdom of God.

Leaving this Train on a high and inspirational note we turn to Doctrine and Covenants section 93 verse 1. This verse of scripture offers us one of the greatest blessings we could ever desire while here upon the earth! If we will forsake our sins by coming unto Christ and call upon Him and then obey Him and keep His commandments will see Jesus and know that He lives. Is seeing Jesus and coming to know Him on such a personal level worth your willing obedience? It is to me.