Obedience to Christ's Commands and Teachings in Scripture

Obedience to Christ's commands and teachings is presented in Scripture as a fundamental aspect of Christian life and a clear indication of one's relationship with Christ ^[10]. This obedience is not merely an external act but stems from faith and love for God ^{[10, 12]}.

The concept of obedience to God is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where it is commanded, emphasizing listening to God's voice and keeping His law ^[1]. For instance, Deuteronomy 13:4 states, "You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him." Similarly, Ecclesiastes 8:2 advises, "Keep the king’s command because of the oath to God" ^[5]. The Old Testament also highlights that God inclines the heart to walk in His ways and keep His commands ^[8].

In the New Testament, obedience to Christ is explicitly commanded ^{[1, 4]}. Jesus Himself set an example of obedience, as seen in His submission to the Father's will, even to the point of death ^{[1, 2]}. Philippians 2:5-8 describes Christ's humility and obedience, stating that He "humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." The Apostle Paul also emphasizes obedience to Christ, noting that "we take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5) ^[1].

The teachings of Christ, particularly those found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), form a significant part of the commands disciples are to obey ^[13]. Jesus's statement in Matthew 5:19, concerning the law, implies that obedience to all His commands is the expected response from His followers ^[11]. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:20 instructs disciples to "teach them to observe all that I have commanded you," indicating that Christ's commands are the curriculum for His followers ^[13].

Obedience is intrinsically linked with faith and love. John 14:21 states, "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me" ^[4]. The apostle John further clarifies this connection, asserting that "this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another" (1 John 3:23) ^{[12, 14]}. This belief in Christ and love for one another are inseparable; faith works through love ^[14]. The Tyndale House commentary on 1 John 2:3 notes that obedience is a clear indicator of knowing Christ and belonging to Him, and that through obedience, love for God and knowledge of Him mature ^[10].

The Scriptures are considered the source of all authority in matters of doctrine and practice ^[16]. Christ Himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them ^[3]. Therefore, obedience to Christ's commands involves heeding the teachings found in the inspired Word of God ^{[3, 15]}.

The call to obedience extends to various aspects of life. It includes obeying the gospel (Romans 1:5), submitting to higher powers (Romans 13:1), and living a life characterized by Christian conduct such as fearing God, loving God, and following Christ's example ^{[1, 4]}. Servants are exhorted to obey their masters "as unto Christ" (Ephesians 6:5) ^[6]. The sanctifying work of the Spirit enables believers to obey Jesus Christ ^{[7, 9]}.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Obedience to God — Commanded -- De 13:4. Without faith, is impossible -- Heb 11:6. Includes Obeying his voice. -- Ex 19:5; Jer 7:23. Obeying his law. -- De 11:27; Isa 42:24. Obeying Christ. -- Ex 23:21; 2Co 10:5. Obeying the gospel. -- Ro 1:5; 6:17; 10:16,17. Keeping his commandments. -- Ec 12:13. Submission to higher powers. -- Ro 13:1. Better than sacrifice -- 1Sa 15:22. Justification obtained by that of Christ -- Ro 5:19. Christ, an example of -- Mt 3:15; Joh 15:20; Php 2:5-8; Heb 5:8. Angles engaged in -- Ps 103:20. A characteristic of saints -- 1Pe 1:14. Saints ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
Ecclesiastes “I say, “Keep the king’s command!” because of the oath to God. -- Ecclesiastes 8:2”
Ephesians “Ephesians 6:5 (Geneva1599) — Seruants, be obedient vnto them that are your masters, according to the flesh, with feare and trembling in singlenesse of your hearts as vnto Christ,”
1 Peter “1 Peter 1:2 (NASB) — according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”
I Kings “I Kings 8:58 (YLT) — to incline our heart unto Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commands, and His statutes, and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers;”
I Peter “I Peter 1:2 (LEB) — according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”
1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 2:3: 2:3-6 Obedience is one clear indication that we know Christ and belong to him. If we do not obey Christ, it is obvious that we do not belong to him or love him. • As we obey Christ and his commandments, our love for God and our knowledge of him will grow toward completeness and maturity. We will live . . . as Jesus did, in union with God and showing love for others.”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 5:19: 5:19 The realization of the law in Christ means that obedience to all of his commands (see 28:20) is the only acceptable response for his disciples. • Commandment refers to the Old Testament commands (5:18) as now fulfilled in Christ’s teaching (see 5:21-48). • the least in the Kingdom of Heaven: Jesus may mean that such an individual will enter the Kingdom, but only barely and with low status; alternatively, some Jewish evidence suggests that he is referring to damnation (cp. 8:12, where “those for whom the Kingdom was prepared” are eternally excluded).”
1 John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 John 3:23: The apostle, having mentioned keeping the commandments, and pleasing God, as the qualification of effectual petitioners in and with Heaven, here suitably proceeds, I. To represent to us what those commandments primarily and summarily are; they are comprehended in this double one: And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment, Jo1 3:23. To believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ is, 1. To discern what he is, according to his name, to have an intellectual view of his perso”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 28:20: 28:20 Teach: The disciples’ curriculum is comprised of all the commands of Jesus (e.g., the Sermon on the Mount, chs 5–7). The church is to be marked by its obedience to Jesus’ commands (5:17-20; 7:13-27). Jesus’ authority and presence are the basis for the disciples’ mission (see also 1:23; 18:20).”
1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 3:22: And this is his commandment,.... Having mentioned the keeping of the commandments of God, the apostle proceeds to show what they are; that they are faith in Christ, and love to one another; which two are reduced to one, because they are inseparable; where the one is, the other is; faith works by love. That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ; Christ is the object of faith, and he is no, as he is Jesus, a Saviour; faith deals with him as such, and will have no other Saviour but he: and now to believe in him, is not merely to believe that he is the S”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:134: Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous,.... The Scriptures are holy, just, and good; and what is contained in them are according to godliness; are for instruction in righteousness, and teach men to live soberly, righteously, and godly; and very faithful; or "true" (u): all the sayings in them are true and faithful sayings; for they are the sayings of God that cannot lie; the promises in them are faithfully performed by him that made them; they are all yea and amen in Christ. The words may be rendered, "thou hast commanded righteousness in thy test”
1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:16: Scripture is the true source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice. Be ye . . . for I am--It is I with whom ye have to do. Ye are mine. Therefore abstain from Gentile pollutions. We are too prone to have respect unto men [CALVIN]. As I am the fountain of holiness, being holy in My essence, be ye therefore zealous to be partakers of holiness, that ye may be as I also am [DIDYMUS]. God is essentially holy: the creature is holy in so far as it is sanctified by God. God, in giving the command, is willing to give also the power to obey i”

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