Why does God require obedience?

[Ben Collyer]

People always say we cant earn Gods love, its unconditional, but to have fellowship with him we need to be obedient. isnt that earning his love?

 

[Brian Mc]

People always say we cant earn Gods love, its unconditional, but to have fellowship with him we need to be obedient. isnt that earning his love?

 

[Brian Mc]

Just as a child on earth wants attention & affection & to receive loving ways, we receive that from Father & because we love Him & are His child we seek the help/guidance of the Holy Spirit to be obedient to Father.

The Holy Spirit is always present so ---
Rom 8:13 For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die (be separated from Father ... as Adam & Eve were). But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.
Rom 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

 

[Catherineanne]

People always say we cant earn Gods love, its unconditional, but to have fellowship with him we need to be obedient. isnt that earning his love?

That depends who God is, and what we are being obedient to, I would think.

If you consider that God is Truth and Love, Justice and Mercy, and then think of being obedient to those things; truth, love, mercy, justice, in relation to the people around you and in relation to your own life, then it might be easier to see why faithfulness to who God is and who we are is a good thing.

This is not slavish obedience to a tyrant; it is recognising that the best human qualities are those we share with God, and being true to them.

 

[Catherineanne]

Just as a child on earth wants attention & affection & to receive loving ways, we receive that from Father & because we love Him & are His child we seek the help/guidance of the Holy Spirit to be obedient to Father.

The Holy Spirit is always present so ---
Rom 8:13 For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die (be separated from Father ... as Adam & Eve were). But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.
Rom 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

I don't demand total obedience from my daughter; I only ask that she becomes the person God created her to be, and I try to help her to achieve that. I don't much care what she gets wrong; I take very great pride in what she gets right, or even if she does not get it right, in how hard she tries.

And I am not a better parent than God.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Obedience is a manifestation of our love for God. So being obedient is more about us loving God than anything else

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

Greetings @Ben Collyer
Obedience is required because He Loves Us.
Now let's put forth what this Obedience is directed to.

It is Obedience unto His Word or His Way of doing things.

Let's look at why,
On our own we can not stack up to His Holiness and are born into sin and on the path to hell.

Now Through His Son, Jesus our Christ we become in right standing with God our creator and Father.

Now we still have an enemy the devil who is out to destroy us and deceive us out of our salvation. Yes it can be done.

Now He gave us Promises that are backed by all the Honor of His Name.
Now He has told us how to live in order to access these promises and protection.

Look at it this way, IF we will do things His way then He will do what He said in His word. He is obligated by His word.

When we do things any other way other then His way then He is Not obligated to His word.

These are kingdom laws or principals in which He put forth into being. They are the ways we are to conduct ourselves once we are born again unto Him.

That is what sets us apart from the rest of the world.
So yes sir, He requires Obedience because He Loves us and wants His best in our lives.

Carnal or Worldy Christians miss out on His best and provisions to say the least.

Note.....when we walk in His ways then we have His Authority by the Name of Jesus and can overcome the enemy.
When we don't walk in His ways then we don't have that authority and His word is not working in our lives and we live defeated in many areas.

Blessings
FCJ

 

[Tolworth John]

People always say we cant earn Gods love, its unconditional, but to have fellowship with him we need to be obedient. isnt that earning his love?

No it is showing that we love God.
Disobedience shows either a casual attitude to God or outright hatred.

 

[Petros2015]

John 15:14-16

You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit —fruit that will remain— so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

He is sovereign, but calls us friends if we follow His commands, and at other places calls us sons and heirs.

Romans 8:16-18

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ — if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him. I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.


Think of the relationship between a King and sons. In human history, a king's sons often try to murder their father and usurp the throne. In other cases, they go off and do their own thing and never become fit heirs. We are very much adopted into the Kingdom of God by grace through unconditional and undeserved love. We follow obedience for our own benefit, rebellion is just a self-centered attempt at usurping the Kingdom. We follow obedience that we might be fit servants, sons and heirs, and friends to God in His will.

Luke 17:20-21

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

The Kingdom of God is within you. Always was. Our business is to hand over the keys.

 

[com7fy8]

People always say we cant earn Gods love, its unconditional, but to have fellowship with him we need to be obedient. isnt that earning his love?

It is true how we can not earn God's love. Because even before we were born, already God loved us and His own Son Jesus so suffered and died for us, in His love for us, on the cross.

But if we are not obeying how He in His love has us living, we miss out. Obeying God means you are together with Him in His love, but disobeying means you are not benefitting from Him like we can. We need to obey how He shares with us and takes care of us, if we want our Father to personally share with us and take care of us

Maybe it is kind of like if you have two children and you dearly love them both, equally. You say stay with us at home so we can share together as family. So, one child stays with you, and at times this child snuggles with you or your wife, on your lap; so this child enjoys affection and warmth and this child is also closely corrected since this child is so close to you, but also is able to benefit from your good example of how you are and how you share with your wife in marriage and bringing up your family

Meanwhile, the other child does not obey, but goes out back, into the swamp. The child gets bitten by mosquitoes and gets diseases, gets stung playing around bumble bee holes which this naughty child does not even know are there and is clueless why he or she keeps getting stung, plus this wayward child gets more and more sucked dry by leeches. If this child were to come home, he or she would not be earning your love, but obeying how you desire to do good to this child while enjoying him or her.



"casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

"'Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.'" (Matthew 11:28-30)

God cares for us; so He is surely willing and committed to taking care of anything . . . with us

But this includes taking Christ's yoke upon ourselves . . . not only surrendering but willingly submitting to Jesus and learning from Jesus how to become and how to please our Heavenly Father and how to love any and all people while relating as His family with each other. So, obeying is not puppet doing things we think He wants, but learning how to love, in personal sharing with God

 

[ToBeLoved]

People always say we cant earn Gods love, its unconditional, but to have fellowship with him we need to be obedient. isnt that earning his love?

It depends on how you look at it and where your heart is at. For instance:

Jesus told us the two greatest commandments, love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and to love your neighbor as yourself.

So just looking at those two commandments we have to evaluate them.

To love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind is a TALL order. Think about it deeper, to love God with all your heart is so all encompasing. To love God like that if you take it at face value is to love God more than yourself. At first it doesn't seem like it, but really, really thinking about the fact that our hearts in our own love (ego, desires, thoughts, ect) finds our natural self at conflict with God's Word. God cares about your heart. The state of your heart, so in everything you desire one can ask themselves "is this my selfish desire for self or is this desire for my heart to be void of self and only loving and obedient to God.

Us, in our sin is the antithesis of rebellion against God. At a very mature point, it is one or he other. You cannot seek self and love God at the same time. It takes a lot of self examination, but when you start looking at everything you do and asking and seeking in your heart, what is my motivation, who am I trying to please, is love freely given (agape, expecting NOTHING in return) or is my love coming with strings attached?

Now the idea is not that everyone become perfect in this, but in just evaluating self we will see that ourself is usually the desire, so to love God as Jesus loved, with no strings attached is some hard stuff.

It really takes looking inward and being so honest with yourself that you are willing to call yourself out, brutal honesty and the deeper you look, the more you see all your own fluff that you have added to what you do.

So just changing the desires of your own heart is a lifelong journey. But that is really the standard. Love God with all your heart.

Then think about your mind. All your thoughts. Everytime you see a billboard, or magazine, or something in the world that you think is so wrong. Where is your mind? And is your mind reflective of your heart and who you are in Christ?

And then throw other people, all other people into the mix. The ones who drive you crazy. Are unlovable. Not the ones who are easy to love because they love you, but the ones who sin against you. Hurt you deeply or affect your life in a very negative way. How is your heart towards them?

So just the two greatest commandments can keep you busy for the rest of your life if you are willing to look deep enough into yourself.

But fear not, because God does not expect perfection, Jesus is perfect for you. God only expects growth and He is a patient and loving teacher.

Just don't be afraid to look and ask God to change your heart. Give you the desire to love those who don't show you love. The desire to change your heart to love God. God is there to help, so ask Him.

Enjoy the journey, you will learn a lot and it takes time. One step forward. Sometimes you;ll take one or two steps backward, so what. Realize it happened and take a step forward and repent. God loves when we try, so just keep trying.

 

[tturt]

What's written in Scripture for us to follow is for our own good. Obeying Yahweh is trusting Him. We obey, not out of fear, but because we love Him. Obeying Him is the follow through of loving Him. Obeying Him is one of the main ways - the action part of loving Him.

 

[Brian Mc]

What's written in Scripture for us to follow is for our own good. Obeying Yahweh is trusting Him. We obey, not out of fear, but because we love Him. Obeying Him is the follow through of loving Him. Obeying Him is one of the main ways - the action part of loving Him.

Yes .... trust & obey, for there is no other way!

The exiles from Egypt learnt that the hard way, even Moses ... all but Joshua & Caleb were prevented from entering the Promised Land.

John 14:23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.


John 3:3 Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh {and} new has come!

...A new creation ------- able to be "raptured" when He comes in the clouds ....?? soon.

 

[Soyeong]

People always say we cant earn Gods love, its unconditional, but to have fellowship with him we need to be obedient. isnt that earning his love?

Why does an earthly father require obedience from their children? Is it so that they can earn his love? Rather, a father requires obedience from their children for their own good, to teach them to walk in his ways, to show them how to live in a way where they will prosper, and to show his love to them. Children in turn obey their father because they love him, because they have faith in him to guide them in how to rightly live, and because they want to thereby grow in a relationship with him. This is no different than without our heavenly Father (Deuteronomy 6:24).