The Obedience of Faith

The Obedience of Faith

Paul received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith. Rom. 1:5. He didn’t just come to get people to believe, but that they should practice what they believe.

The person who is not obedient to his faith is not benefited by it. The Scriptures call this kind of faith a dead faith because it is inactive, and the person who possesses it is called “O foolish man.” See James, Chapter 2.

If I believe that Jesus’ word about going into my secret chamber is very profitable, it is of very little profit if I do not act accordingly. If I believe that Jesus’ words about denying myself are good words, but do not act according to them, it proves that I despise these good words and am like a man who is building his house on sand.

However, now we have many frivolous people who proclaim faith, but at the same time the obedience of faith is pure bondage to them. “I believe,” and that is enough. Full stop! “We’ve had enough of struggling! We want to be free from such things.” This is approximately what they are saying. “We don’t want to do anything, until we are driven to it.” And so they carry on with their “faith” in complete freedom, which is nothing but pure laziness; that is freedom from obeying what they believe. They want to be driven like a stubborn mule, like lazy slaves. It requires force to get such people to obey. But if there were some who began to obey, there would immediately be some whisperers who would say that you mustn’t become a slave again. This is how an entire assembly can go on strike against the works of faith.

You can be sure that the person who is obedient to the faith with all his heart will receive the power and support of the Spirit to perform every act of faith, for God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. Acts 5:32. By his actions he tests his faith in the light he receives, discovering that there is solid ground under his feet and that God’s pleasure is over his life—strength in his spirit for him to continue to be obedient to his faith. He loves the way of faith with a willing heart, and his desire is therefore to do God’s will. He says like Jesus when He came into the world: I come, O God, to do Your will!

Some people shout continually: “Love must constrain us!” And so they wait for some unique feelings that are to drive them off on some sweet, airy wings, barely feeling that they are on earth. However, they do not know that love suffers, that it sacrifices itself to death in faithfulness to God and in obedience to the faith. They say, “Works, what is that all about?” One man said, “I have plenty of works. I was one of those who fed the 5,000 in the wilderness.”

It is terrible how souls can be so corrupted. Satan believes and trembles, but these people don’t even tremble.

The last days will be difficult times when satanic doctrines will enter in and deceiving spirits will exercise great influence. It is particularly sad to see preachers traveling around the country with a lot of confusing doctrines that lead people away from godliness and into utter rubbish.

A young, believing woman had been richly blessed by God and led into liberty, having been baptized with the Holy Spirit. She became circumspect in her conduct and careful in her life, and God was with her in an intimate fellowship from day to day. But then some people who called themselves “free” came and said that her entire careful life was just bondage. And she, who had previously lived in a holy faith in God’s voice and guidance in the details of life and practiced her faith, now became slow to hear the voice that had led her to be exact and pure. Consequently, she lost that intimate fellowship with God and got involved in what the others were doing in their “liberty.”

Then came the corresponding preaching: If anyone felt dry, they could just come to the front and pray for a new fullness. And so it went back and forth between intercessory prayer, a bad life, and a “new fullness.”

One day she came, wanting me to pray for her and lay my hands on her so she could receive a “new fullness.” When I inquired about her life, she told me her story of how God had blessed her and how her life had passed in intimate fellowship with God and how careful she used to be and how she had afterwards been led out into “liberty.” Then I asked her whether she was obedient to God. [She answered], “No, it is impossible to do God’s will now when you don’t have the power.” That would be bondage; therefore she wanted to have a “new fullness.” She didn’t even want to attempt being obedient to God’s will because she lacked the power! I pointed out to her that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. Acts 5:32. Therefore she could not expect to receive God’s Spirit on top of a disobedient life.

It is terrible that people who call themselves “free” lead souls out into such a confusing “witches’ dance” from which they see no way out. However, they will be held responsible for their works. There are many spiritual shipwrecks in our days that are the fruit of false doctrines. A brother pointed out to one of these preachers something in his life that was not right, but this is the reply he received: “You are not speaking to me, but to Jesus. I haven’t been alive for eighteen years.”

Seeing that there are such people who are out there, we can find an explanation for an episode that took place among them not too long ago.

A believing woman entered an assembly as a voice called out wildly: “Take off your shoes because the place on which you are standing is holy ground!” And even the elderly in the assembly began to take off their shoes. Then they also came to the sister who had just entered to get her to take her shoes off, but at this point she considered it best to leave.

The Scriptures speak about being sound in faith—sound and worthy. But it appears that these things are left far behind the much-praised “liberty.” It must be acknowledged that the modern “liberty” possesses great power to break free from the many scriptures that want to take their life captive to the obedience of Christ.

Nevertheless, in the midst of all this, it is a comfort to see that there are a few people who have their eyes opened, saving themselves while there is still time.

Paul received grace to labor for the obedience to the faith. I wonder if God has changed since then? I wonder if the many who preach the Word for a living neglect to preach about obedience to the faith to avoid some of the judgment over their own idleness. If they began to practice obedience to the faith themselves, the wife with whom they live, who has many little ones, would possibly avoid having to chop heavy logs of wood for cooking food for the preacher while he stands there looking like a saint with his hands in his pockets and watches her. If such people began to practice obedience to the faith, they would have to be quick about getting laziness out of their bones and take a proper job so they would not be a burden on other people. It has happened that such traveling preachers have taxed small groups of believers with collections and “Sunday dinner” every day of the week, so that in the end these people have enough left with which to buy thread to mend their stockings.

Christ as the Son learned obedience by the things He suffered—being obedient until death; but the person who is not true considers obedience bondage. For a son, obedience to the Father is a delight and God’s will is his joy, but the lazy bond-servant runs away from obedience, calling this liberty. He is like a braying runaway donkey, kicking with both his hind legs. That is truly liberty!

Paul says, “But I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Cor. 15:10. Therefore he could also say: “His grace toward me was not in vain . . . .” He received grace to labor for the obedience of faith, and he himself was an example to the believers.

Isn’t this the purpose for which we have received grace from God?