November 24: Salvation begins a life of obedience

Back in the mass evangelism movement, which began with Billy Graham and others, a cry of "Easy Believism" was raised. Opponents criticized anyone who preached regeneration based on faith in Christ as Savior who did not emphasize His lordship. The opponents argued one must surrender to Jesus as Savior and Lord at the same time. They believed the changed life must be manifested immediately after conversion. The evangelists emphasize faith alone, preceded by repentance, as all that is needed to be born again. good works would follow in due time. Regardless of which view one takes, some principles are generally accepted by all.

Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

First, the Bible teaches that obedience is a personal decision (vv. 12-14). Otherwise, it amounts to forced subjugation. New birth creates a new person, but the old person has not been destroyed. That holdover works against the divine impulses. Because we are aware of the inner warfare, we take an active part in minimizing the power of the old nature. In the first stage, we deliberately yield to the Holy Spirit's power while refusing to let sin keep the upper hand (v. 12).

In the second stage, we deal with more specific urges - those arising from physical needs and desires. At times we have to take defensive action to keep the old nature in check. For example, someone fighting a drug problem has to avoid the drug environment. Part of the victory comes in yielding to God (v. 13) by depending on Him for strength.

The Bible uses a slave analogy to illustrate obedience reveals ownership (vv. 15-16). For centuries slavery had been a part of the social and economic structure of Eastern and European cultures. In the Old Testament, provision was made for indentured service of Israelites. In ancient Greece, Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) included ownership of slaves as part of a normal political structure.

Slavery provided many illustrations of the parallel between freedom in Christ and slavery to sin. Believers were even called Christ's bond servants, as the Greek word for slave could be translated. One could readily discern the owner of bond servants by watching and listening to whom they obeyed.

The Bible adds another aspect of obedience-obedience leads to holy living (vv. 17-19). We thank God our citizenship has been canceled in Satan's kingdom and established in God's (Col. 1: 13). In hearing and obeying the Good News of Christ ("form of doctrine" in the KJV), we've been freed from the slavery of sin, and released into the freedom of righteousness. The word "form" could be translated as "mold." Sound doctrine is the mold that shapes our lives. Another way of stating this truth is, "What we really believe, we do; all else is just religious talk."

Two ways of living stand out. In the way of sin, we lived subject to the sinful nature, oblivious to the new life available in Christ. We yielded to the old nature, letting physical desires govern moral choices. In the new life in Christ, the mold of the new nature forms us to yield to holy living in Christ. We're able to contemplate the old life and the destruction it produces. We realize the devastation sexual looseness inflicts on society. Sexually transmitted diseases plague society. Homes are wrecked by alcohol and drugs. Those sins bear "fruit," but it corrupts itself into death, both spiritual and physical. We're "ashamed" to the extent we used to live that way.

Now that we have been freed from that lifestyle and are being molded by the Holy Spirit into fruitful, righteous living which lasts forever, why would anyone desire to go back into the way of destruction? As verse 23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."