by R. L. Morrison

Perhaps the question of the title should be "Is obedience necessary to salvation?" In reality, obedience to the law of the Spirit is not essential to life in the flesh. However, there are certain laws of nature, which are God given, that men must obey and all do so even if they are not aware of it.

This study concerns salvation, the forgiveness of sins in this life and an eternal life in that which God purposes for the redeemed of earth! The question is not can one obey the laws, traditions, or doctrines of men. It is not can one determine his own course in life and please God. The question is not must I belong to a church to be saved eternally. The question is as personal as a question can be: "Must one (I) obey the commandments of God in order to be saved in eternity?" What do the scriptures teach?

God has always required obedience to His will. He placed a curse on Adam for his disobedience. That curse was extended to include the earth, and we yet suffer the consequences of it. This is not to say we inherit Adam's sin. Rather we are born into a world where sin exists and this is because our common ancestors, Adam and Eve, disobeyed the commandment of God.

In Romans 15:4, Paul wrote that the things written afore time were written for our learning. This means that Old Testament history teaches us, if we will but learn. God did not tolerate disobedience: "For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him" (Heb. 2:2-3). God's word is steadfast. It is also complete, in that it provides us with "all things which pertain unto life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3), and "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

God has always told men what He requires of them, in language that could be understood. For example, in Genesis 6, we find that because of the wickedness of man, God determined to destroy man from the face of the earth. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. So Noah was given instructions as to how to build an ark or ship. God gave a "blueprint" (instructions), which were to be followed. Noah understood and obeyed. This vessel of gopher wood bore him and his family up during the flood that came upon the earth. They were saved from death by obedience to the will or instructions of God. The record says, "Thus did Noah, according to all that God commanded him, so did he" (Gen. 6:22). Some, today, do not believe in the Bible account of the flood. But Jesus did. In Matthew 24:38, he spoke of the day in which Noah entered the ark. If one believes Jesus, he believes in the flood, Noah, and the ark. He will learn the lesson concerning the necessity of obeying God.

Two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, were appointed as priests to serve God and Israel after Moses had revealed the law of God to the Israelites. Their duty on one occasion was to offer incense before the Lord. They had been instructed as to where to obtain the fire used in doing so. However, they did not obey, for they offered strange fire, that is, fire from a source which God had not authorized. The record says they were consumed by fire, the result of their disobedience. This may seem strange to us. Many would think, "Well, fire is fire. What difference does it make where it came from?" This may be true of man, but not of God. He required obedience. This example, written "aforetime", shows God's attitude toward disobedience!

When Jesus gave the apostles the responsibility of revealing the New Covenant to the human race, he said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. But he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15- 16). The gospel was to be (is to be) preached. Those who hear make a decision concerning it. They either believe it, obey it, and are baptized, or they do not believe it. But Jesus said, "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved." There is no promise to the unbeliever, or to a believer who refuses to be baptized.

The gospel of Christ can be obeyed, indeed must be obeyed, to escape eternal destruction. Paul wrote, "Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you, and to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:6-8).

In Hebrews 5:8-9, we find "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."

Some object to the phrase: "obedience to the gospel." It is, they say, the good news or glad tidings of salvation through Christ. This is true, but the gospel presents facts to be believed, commands to be obeyed, and promises to be enjoyed. The facts concern the Sonship, or Deity of Christ. The commands are the terms He set in the gospel for the sinner to obey. They include hearing, believing the good news, repentance of sin, a confession of faith in Christ, and baptism in water for the remission of sins. The promise is forgiveness, being added by the Lord to the church, and, through faithfulness, life eternal.

Let us now consider another example of a failure to obey the commands of God. It is found in Genesis chapters 2-3.

God placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. He gave them a command saying:"Of every tree of the garden thou mayst freely eat. But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." This command is simply stated and easily understood. The fruit of every tree except one could be freely eaten. To eat the fruit of the forbidden tree would result in death. They understood what God said. This is apparent for when Satan questioned Eve regarding what God had said, she replied: "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden. But the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die" (Gen. 3:2-3). So they head, understood and believed what God said. But Satan convinced Eve that God did not mean what he said. He also promised their eyes would be opened and "ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." She believed what she was told, ate of the forbidden fruit and gave it to her husband also.

They knew what God said, and yet deliberately disobeyed, becoming guilty of sin. They both died spiritually, in that disobedience. They were separated from God, spiritually dead, as the result of their sin.

Adam and Eve heard God; they believed for awhile. But Satan came, told them a lie which they believed and acted upon. In so doing they introduced sin into their lives and the world.

Today, there are those who have heard, believed and obeyed the truth. In so doing they were made free from the guilt of sin. But someone came with a false doctrine, which they heard, believed and acted upon. As the result they died spiritually, as did Adam and Eve, our common parents in their disobedience. False doctrine??? There is much of it being taught in the world today! And it is being done by people who claim to be teaching the truth. Or perhaps like Satan: It really doesn't make any difference WHAT one believe or does, just as long as he sincerely believes it. Think of Adam and Eve. Was it necessary for that man and woman to obey?

Obedience to the will of Christ is an absolute necessity in order to obtain eternal salvation. Have you obeyed the will of Christ to become a Christian? If you have, are you yet living in harmony with that will of Christ? Since he saves only the obedient, what hope is there for continued disobedience? If you desire eternal salvation, obey his will today. Continue in it and dwell eternally in God's presence. To refuse is to be lost!