Obedience

Faith’s Hearing

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We have thought that Abraham was a man who was an unusual recipient of grace as far as we can detect in the aspects of his life we have on record

James’ “faith and works” is a nothing burger.

Abraham was not called to believe. He was called to leave his home. The stages of his life do not include his witness of a large family dwelling in the land of Canaan. Here are the stages of the man’s life.

  • The call and election
  • The journey to Canaan
  • The promise of greatness
  • The promise of fame
  • The promise of blessing
  • The promise of land
  • The promise of multitudinous progeny

Reality is not from obedience or hearing

If obedience and loyalty are the guaranties of real divine wealth this  is not demonstrated in the Bible, because Abraham did not set foot in the promised land and never saw the multitude of us family for which he believed God.

Hearing God’s voice= compliance

Reading that the blessing of all the earth’s families is a result of Abraham’s attention to YHWH’s voice comes as a surprise because the idea that Abraham earned these outcomes seems antithetical to grace. The fact however that this particular promise is guaranteed by an oath makes debt or performance irrelevant.  James, the Pharisee brother of the Lord Christ makes shipwreck of this abundant grace when he equates works (of any kind) with faith.

Oaths override regulations

Genuine happiness – blessedness – will appear at God’s prerogative, not as an earned reward

“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account. (Romans 4:1-8, NASB)

Far too many people are swimming in a puddle and they are convinced that the actions they carry out will impress people that they are swimming in the wide open and beautiful ocean of grace. Hearing God’s voice does not mean juvenile obedience. In the case of Abraham and the list mass of mankind, hearing God’s voice means abandoning the current life support: one’s country, one’s relatives and one’s ancestral ties.

Myopia today

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The Short-sighted Condition is defined by the Galilean manfisher as lacking virtue (2 Peter 1:5-7). He could have addressed one lack: obedience.  Being obedient, after a closer look, however, is not a recognized spiritual achievement, and Peter is no pal of lying extremists who want to say they comply with God because they have done what he commands. The shortsighted do not give a rabbit’s phallus for what God has given his elect as their inheritance.

Since we are certain that believers are like plants under the care of the Production Master with access to water, who would it be that keeps harassing believers about their leaves and fruit other than a foe?

2) But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3) He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Psalms 1:2-3

If the exchange about the divine Spirit and virtue turns to a book we shout “Yeah!” and if the book turns out not to be the Bible we can only say “Nay”.

More than a popular list


Virtue Gifts are marked with *, and are charismatic, that is, they are marks of grace. Fruit produced by the Spirit – Spirit Fruit – are marked with ***.

1. Diligence*
2. Faith ***
3. Moral excellence*
4. Knowledge*
5. Self-control***
6. Perseverance***
7. Godliness*
8. Brotherly kindness*
9. Love***

What has anyone acquired that God did not give? Nothing. Not a single aspect of grace unleashed can be tagged as a failure. The same cannot be said about the law, not with its proponents pursuing murderous solutions to societal problems and finding no insytructions for parading a spiritual life for the world to see. A spiritual life is part the kingdom of God. It comes without human scrutiny and contribution. Be as thorough as you please if you need to settle into the 20/20 vision capacity of the redeemed; if you are intent on seeing past the weak and ineffective paradigms and talking points that define the lifestyles of the myopic of our times.

The king needs to be saved

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Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. (Psalms 20:6)

This king is either David, Davidide or Israelite. Do we know a king who does not need to be saved? Like the Nazarene, for example.

In his atoning death; saved from death:

As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (Hebrews 5:6-7)

A prince’s obedience

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; (Hebrews 5:8-9) Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 5:10)

Do we know a believer who gets saved repeatedly – every time they sin? We know many who find their obedience in a vice list, who have established a grip on the follies of Israel at Sinai, who replicate rebellion on the borders of Canaan, and who covet the greed and influence of the priesthood in New Testament times.