For centuries, the Church has taught repentance as a benchmark of the Christian experience (a daily confession of all sins). But, from the beginning with Adam and Eve, God has always been much more concerned about our “Obedience” to His word.
God is not a man; He cannot lie; therefore, whenever He speaks, obedience is the only expected response. Thus, whenever we hear instructions from “The Word of God,” our singular response--is "Simply obey."
Through his infinite mercies, God continues to allow repentance as the means whereby “The Penitent” can be restored in his/her relationship with God. However, repentance was never meant to be used as a crutch for disobedience.
No...! Repentance Is Never a Substitute for Obedience.
We are not at liberty to sin just because we can repent. The following scriptures should give us a deeper understanding.
- “For brethren, we have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh…” (Galatians 5:13).
- “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1,2).
- Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
- For he that is dead is free from sin. (Romans 6:6,7).
- Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lust thereof. (Romans 6: 12).
- For sin shall not have dominion over you … (R0mans 6:14).
- “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)
- “This I say then, walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16).
- “Know ye not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are…whether of sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness.” (Romans 6:16).
- “Neither do I condemn thee, Go and Sin No More” (John 8:11).
Obedience, therefore, must be the Church's primary focus, not repentance, as has been the practice for far too long.
For, in obedience, there's no need for repentance.
The Prophet Samuel declared– “Hath the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold! To obey is better... (I Samuel 15:22).
God is not a man; He cannot lie; therefore, whenever He speaks, obedience is the only expected response. Thus, whenever we hear instructions from “The Word of God,” our singular response--is to obey.
It is written, "By one man’s disobedience, many were made sinners; so too, by the obedience of one (Jesus), shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19).
Christians must “Grow Up” in him in all things. We’ve got to put away “Childish behaviors” and “Carnal Mindedness” and move on unto perfection. (Hebrews 6:1).
Paul writes: “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16).
In Romans, he said, “Know ye not, that to whom you yield yourselves, servants to obey, his servants ye are…whether of sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness.” (Romans 6:16).
Furthermore, Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn thee, Go and Sin No More” (John 8:11).
“For the perfecting of the saints...Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12,13).
“The Church” cannot continue dwarfed in sin and repentance. We must leave the shores of repentance and launch out into the ocean of obedience.
As It is written, “All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you harken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God.” (Deuteronomy 28:1,2).
Instead of praying for blessings, simply obey, and all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you ….
Even Jesus He also learned obedience by the things He suffered, and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:8).
If we are to follow His example, then we, too, must learn obedience by being doers of the word and not hearers only.
In the closing remarks of His first public sermon, Jesus said, “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them is likened unto a Wise man. But he who hears these sayings and doeth them not is like a fool building his house on sand. (Matthew 7:24,26).
Where have you been building your spiritual house: on Sand or the Solid Rock?
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