Key Passages:

John 17:20-21

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

philippians 2:1-2

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

The Call to obedience

IF you love Me...

john 14:15

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

this is love for God... commands are not burdensome

1 john 5:3

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

my notes:

through one Man’s obedience the many

philippians 2:5-11

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

romans 5:19

For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

for you were called to this... follow in His footsteps!

1 peter 2:21

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

my notes:

The Challenge of Obedience

obey God rather than people

acts 5:29

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

“why do you call me Lord, Lord...”

luke 6:46

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

I hurried, not hesitating...

psalm 119:60

I hasten and do not delay

to keep your commandments.

my notes:

but be doers of the Word...

james 1:22-25

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

The Comfort of Obedience

how can a young man keep his way pure...?

psalm 119:9

How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

I have chosen the way of faithfulness...

psalm 119:30

I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

I set your rules before me.

my notes:

the one who keeps His commands remains in Him...

1 john 3:24

Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

my notes:

The Cost of Disobedience

no half measures

matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

do not merely listen to the word...

james 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

my notes:

faith without works..

james 2:14-26

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

for whoever is ashamed of me

luke 9:26

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

my notes:

called to follow in His footsteps

1 peter 2:21

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

the Father judges no one..

john 5:22-23

For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

The Joy in Obedience

“the one who has my commands and keeps them...”

john 14:21

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

“you are my friends IF you keep my commands.”

john 15:14

You are my friends if you do what I command you.

my notes:

...the law is good if one uses it lawfully

1 timothy 1:8

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,

perfect love drives out fear

1 john 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

for God so loved the world

john 3:16-18

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

their sins and lawless acts...

hebrews 10:17

then he adds,

“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

my notes:

IF we confess or sins

1 john 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The Camaraderie / Brotherhood of Obedience

do not neglect gathering together...

hebrews 10:25

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

encourage and build one another up

1 thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

my notes:

a cord of three strands...

ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

I want very much to see you... mutually encouraged by each others faith

romans 1:11-12

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

provoke to love and good works

hebrews 10:24

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

iron sharpens iron

proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron,

and one man sharpens another.

my notes:

warn those who are idle

1 thessalonians 5:14

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

restore him gently, being watchful

galatians 6:1-2

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

finally all of you...

1 peter 3:8

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

since we are members of one body

ephesians 5:30

because we are members of his body.

my notes:

I want their hearts to be encouraged...

colossians 2:2

that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,

as we have opportunity

galatians 6:10

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

my notes: