What is obedience-based discipleship, and is it biblical? The issue isn’t as simple as it seems. This week, Alex and Scott discuss Alex’s article addressing the topic and explore all the related questions of law, gospel, and salvation by faith alone.
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Interesting discussion–well researched! But, in the Great Commission, Jesus does not say that we are to teach but that we are to teach disciples to obey everything He commanded. So this is what the apostles did and is what we also are to do. This is Lordship and should be taught and modeled by each person saved by the grace of God. I think teaching to fully obey Jesus is super important to remember as we make disciples–He is and must be at the center of it all, which also involves His commands. His death and resurrection and work of the Spirit are to bring us into obedience so that we can live for Him(see 2 Cor 5.15). Obedience is God’s love language–He feels loved when we obey Him, trusting Him (see John 14.21). We’ve got to be careful not to talk around this, because it is obedience that the Savior is after as He saves people through the Gospel, developing His agape-love in them. It involves getting to know the Savior intimately. Doctrine is supposed to be instruction from God’s Word to the believers and should lead to more complete obedience to the Savior. Without obedience, we won’t know Jesus.
Lordship(discipleship) simply involves faith in and obedience to the Savior. I personally find many in our American culture are repulsed by the word obedience. This may be controversial to some, but if Jesus is not our Lord, then chances are He is not our Savior either. By the way, if we obey Jesus, we will become fishers of men and will find someone God has given us to disciple! (Matt 4.19).
Thank you for a very meaningful discussion about Obedience-Based Discipleship. Indeed, it is by God’s grace that we are saved and obedience simply the product of SALVATION happened in the life of the person. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. same as true with obedience to the commands of our God in His Words in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
A person must be converted first to be beliver and follower of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in his body as God’s temple during the day of his conversion in the of the gospel of Jesus Christ produces obedience and understanding of what he is in Christ now after his salvation; as it is the product of salvation and the prompting and leading of the Holy Spirit in his new life in Christ proves the more of his obedience to the Word of God with the help of God the Holy Spirit.
God is good! God is awesome as I was saved first and got converted before I became obedient to the great commission that God has told us in Matthew 28:19-20.
Thank you for your sharing this truth to all who listens to your discussion! God bless your ministry!
SALVATION produces OBEDIENCE and it needs one Discipler/teacher to fully understand the essence of obeying God’s Word because you have he power to say NO TO SIN.
GOD BE PRAISED!