Obedient Faith Motivated by Love is all that God Requires of Man
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
MICAH 6:8
1. God provides the grace.
a. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” Titus 2:11
b. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10
2. The Holy Spirit furnishes the revelation.
a. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” 2 Peter 1:21
b. “And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 2:13
3. Jesus supplies the blood.
a. “For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” Matthew 26:28
b. “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands - remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” Ephesians 2:11-16
4. The obedience of faith is man’s responding to grace by complying with divine revelation in order to be cleansed by blood.
a. “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith - to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.” Romans 16:25-27
5. Man can talk about believing in God, loving God, trusting God, and depending on God, but until he obeys God, he is merely beating the air with words.
a. “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:25
b. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”
2 Tim. 3:16-17
c. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” 2 Peter 1:3
d. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:14-17
e. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32
Obedient faith motivated by love is all that God requires of man. God provides the grace. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” Titus 2:11. The Holy Spirit furnishes the revelation. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” 2 Peter 1:21. Jesus supplies the blood. “For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” Matthew 26:28. The obedience of faith is man’s responding to grace by complying with divine revelation in order to be cleansed by blood. Man can talk about believing in God, loving God, trusting God, and depending on God, but until he obeys God, he is merely beating the air with words.
Page 198, "Portrait of God" by Frank Chesser
