Postponing Obedience
True obedience to God and His Christ is a tough requirement in the Christian life, and salvation without obedience is a self-contradicting impossibility.
A.W. Tozer addresses the dangerous heresy within evangelical circles that allows individuals to accept Christ as Savior while postponing their obedience to Him. He emphasizes that true salvation is inseparable from obedience, as highlighted by Peter's description of Christians as 'obedient children.' Tozer argues that the entire Bible supports the notion that genuine obedience is a fundamental requirement of the Christian life, and that the idea of salvation without obedience is fundamentally flawed. He reminds us that disobedience led to humanity's downfall, reinforcing the necessity of immediate and consistent obedience to God.
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A notable heresy has come into being throughout our evangelical Christian circle-the widely accepted concept that we humans can choose to accept Christ only because we need Him as Savior, and that we have the right to postpone our obedience to Him as long as we want to! The truth is that salvation apart from obedience is unknown in the sacred Scriptures.
Peter makes it plain that we are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience." It seems most important to me that Peter speaks of his fellow Christians as "obedient children." He knew their spirituality-he was not just giving them an exhortation to be obedient.
The entire Bible teaches that true obedience to God and His Christ is one of the toughest requirements in the Christian life. Actually, salvation without obedience is a self-contradicting impossibility! Humans do not want to admit it, but the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans long ago that "by one man's disobedience" came the downfall of the human race!
Sermon Outline
- The Concept of Postponing Obedience
- The Importance of Obedience
- The Connection Between Disobedience and Sin
- Salvation without obedience is a self-contradicting impossibility
- The Apostle Paul wrote that 'by one man's disobedience' came the downfall of the human race
Key Quotes
“The truth is that salvation apart from obedience is unknown in the sacred Scriptures.” — A.W. Tozer
“Actually, salvation without obedience is a self-contradicting impossibility!” — A.W. Tozer
“by one man's disobedience came the downfall of the human race” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize that true obedience to God and His Christ is a tough requirement in the Christian life.
- Understand that salvation without obedience is a self-contradicting impossibility.
- Make a conscious decision to prioritize obedience in your Christian walk.