It's our obedience or Christ's obedience?

It's our obedience or Christ's obedience?
Many radical grace preachers say, "Of course, we are saved because of Christ's obedience. We have never obeyed and can never obey. However, Jesus fulfilled all the commandments of God and obeyed them for us so that we have no more commandments to obey or to keep. Yes, we know that the law preachers would argue and say that there are many Bible verses which still tell us to obey. But the meaning of obedience is to believe now, not to keep and obey any laws, principles, rules, and regulations. Or else, why did Paul tell us just to obey the gospel? He meant that we can just believe the gospel and be saved by the finished of Jesus Christ ... Because of the finished work of Jesus Chris, we have no more works in Christ, no more commandments, and no more do's and don'ts ..

1. 2Th 1:7-11 KJV  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,  (8)  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  (9)  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;  (10)  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.  (11)  Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
2. 1Pe 4:14-19 KJV  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  (15)  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.  (16)  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  (17)  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  (18)  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  (19)  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

I will tell them, Yes, I agree that we can never obey unless we have the obedience of Christ. But this would also mean that we can now obey because of Christ's obedience too. It means that we must still obey God or God's will. Obviously you have quoted the two Bible passages out of context when you explained that there is no more need to obey or keep God's commandments. Please read your Bible again. We don't have to go far or go through all the other Bible verses to show you why we must still keep God's commandments. Let us look at the two Bible passages again. Have you thought of reading the Bible verses before or after  the Bible verse which you quoted and explained about what is 'obey the gospel'? What did Paul say when he told us to obey the gospel in 2Th 1:7-11? God wanted all of us to be counted worthy of His calling to fulfill His will. What did Peter say when he told us to obey the gospel in 1Pe 4:14-19? He said, Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a transgressor of His laws. He said that we should suffer according to the will of God in well doing in obedience to the faithful Creator. Isn't it clear enough for us to obey the will of God and the will of God is to obey His commandments?


Before, we could not obey; but now we must obey because of the obedience of Christ
Hence, what can we say based on these Bible passages which should be quoted in context, with not only the teaching of Paul and Peter, but with the teaching of the Lord and the whole Bible? To obey the gospel of Jesus Christ is to do and keep God's commandments. Yes, before we believe, we can never know God's words and commandments. Hence, we can never keep His commandments too. But now we can keep His words and commandments because of Christ's obedience. Before, we could never obey; but now we must obey (by doing the will of the Father); otherwise we are not His sons or the disciples of Jesus Christ:

• Mat 7:13-27 KJV  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  (15)  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  (16)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  (17)  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  (18)  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  (19)  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (20)  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  (21)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  (26)  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  (27)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The obedience of Christ would mark the beginning of our obedience
They will argue, "Please don't twist the words of God to convince us to keep any commandment or law. You have quoted the words of God out of context. When the Bible tells us to cast down all our boastful imaginations or bring into captivity our thought to the obedience of Christ, it means that thinking of Christ's finished work only, not any law or principle. When we keep thinking of Christ's obedience or finished work, we don't have to think of any law to obey again because Christ has obeyed all the laws on our behalf. As Christ is, so are we !"

• 2Co 10:3-7 KJV  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (4)  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  (5)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  (6)  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.  (7)  Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

I will tell them, I don't know Who twist the words? If you think that you are Christ's, please think this again, that, as you are Christ's, even so are we Christ's. Please think again, Why do we need to bring into captivity all our thoughts to the obedience of Christ? It's because our thoughts are not obedient thoughts. Occasionally our lawless or sinful old man will rise up against the knowledge of God and rebel. It will exalt itself against God. That's why we need to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Obviously Paul was not talking about the non-believers because the non-believers could never bring into captivity their thoughts to the obedience of Christ. Obviously the obedience of Christ does not end the works of obedience. On the contrary, the finished work of Christ would only mark the beginning of a believer's works !



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