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Disobedience
Reprinted from The Spiritual Sword
David R. Pharr
Some
might assume that disobedience would be
consequential only in outrageous crimes such as
murder, adultery, blasphemy and the like.
Sensitive folk can readily see that gross acts of
immorality or sacrilege are deserving of
punishment. These are offensive to ordinary
concepts of decency and are in direct rebellion
against the well-known prohibitions of the
Decalogue. What needs to be realized, however, is
that failure to accept the saving instructions of
the gospel is also disobedience and will also
result in eternal consequences.
In a
sermon on “How and Why Men Disobey God” the late
Foy E. Wallace, Jr. listed eight ways one might
disobey and gave Bible examples to illustrate
each.[i] There is overlapping in the list, but
each is significant in understanding the nature of
disobedience. One might disobey by violating
prohibitions, the “Thou shalt nots.” One
might disobey by omission, failing to
comply with specific instructions. A third kind
of disobedience is by addition,
going beyond what is authorized. Closely related
is substitution, choosing something in the
place of what is commanded. Presumption is
the sin of thinking some requirements do not
matter. To negate the authority of God in favor
of one’s own will is usurpation. It
happens also that some people disobey because of
deception, being wrongly convinced to do
other than is required. Finally there is the
disobedience of rebellion. When Jehovah
urged Israel to walk in the old paths, they
adamantly refused: “We will not walk therein” (Jere.
6:16).
Each
of these may enter into the matter, but in any
case failure to properly respond to the
requirements of the Lord’s gracious invitation is
to be guilty of the disobedience of omission. It
may be the result of deception. Or one may refuse
the invitation because he presumes it does not
matter. Additions to what is commanded and
substitutions in place of what is commanded are
always counter to obedience. It ought to be
obvious that God will not accept that which is
done out of a spirit of usurpation or of
rebellion. Regardless of the compounding factors,
however, one who does not accept Christ’s
invitation on his terms is living in disobedience
and without repentance can have no hope.
Neglect
The
admonition of Hebrews 2:1-3 urges careful
attention to the word of God and warns of the
severe consequences of neglect. The text pertains
to the need for Christians to continue faithfully,
but the same concern applies to neglecting initial
gospel requirements. “Therefore we ought to give
the more earnest heed to the things which we have
heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
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 . . .” (Heb.
2:1-3)?
In the
wedding parable of Matthew 22 the invited guests
“made light” of the invitation (Matt. 22:5). They
had other emphases in their lives and depreciated
the importance of the king’s expectations. The word
translated “made light” is the word rendered
“neglect” in Hebrews 2:3. The men of the parable
are not charged with what usually would be called
crimes. Their attention was to what otherwise were
legitimate pursuits. Their sin was the sin of
omission. They neglected that which was more
important. Though one may not count himself an
overt enemy of Christ, he is nonetheless disobedient
if he simply neglects the great salvation. As
regards the will of the Lord, to do nothing is to do
wrong! A commandment not obeyed is a commandment
broken! And to slight his invitation is to reject
the Master! It is no less sin to neglect obedience
than it is to violate a prohibition.
A
thread running through the epistle of James makes
compliance the only proper response. In chapter one
it is hearing and doing (Jas. 1:22ff). Hearing
without obeying is self deception (v.22). In
chapter two it is believing and doing (Jas.
2:14ff). Faith without works is dead faith (vv. 17,
20, 26). In chapter 4 it is knowing and doing.
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth
it not, to him it is sin” (Jas. 4:17), the
disobedience of ommission.
Great Salvation, Great Sin
The
above text from Hebrews argues from the lesser to
the greater. The Old Testament system, spoken by
angels, was designed for the benefit of the people.
It offered blessings from God for those who were
obedient. But for any who disobeyed, there were
severe and inescapable sanctions. A greater offer
(“salvation”), spoken by One who is greater than
angels, carries a greater threat for those who
neglect it. If one supposes that sin is not the
same in the gospel age, let him see that it is
different only in that it is worse! “For unto
whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much
required: and to whom men have committed much, of
him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:48).
People
are gravely mistaken when they imagine that the Lord
will no longer be so harsh in punishment as he was
under the former covenant. Some preachers have led
people to believe that the grace of Christ nullifies
retribution. It is true that under the gospel there
is a superior emphasis on grace, but there is
nothing–not one verse–that lessens the enormity of
disobedience. The fact is that the greater evidence
of grace makes the neglect of grace the more
offensive.
This is the very point made
later in Hebrews. “He that despised Moses' law
died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of
how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be
thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son
of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,
wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and
hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we
know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto
me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again,
The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God”
(Heb. 10:28-31).
Obey Not the Gospel
The
Lord’s precious invitation is to all men, but it is
offered on his terms. It cannot be accepted except
by complying with the stated conditions. The offer
of eternal life is on the basis of coming to him,
which entails obedience to specific commands.
It is
presented in various words in various texts, but the
invitation is never more beautifully expressed than
in its final proclamation in Revelation 22:17. “And
the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that
heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life
freely.” It is not accidental, however, that the
importance of obedience is accentuated in the same
context. “Blessed are they that do his
commandments, that they may have right to the tree
of life, and may enter in through the gates into the
city” (Rev. 22:14). Christ is “the author of
eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb.
5:9), never to those who disobey him.
The
Scriptures, therefore, as certainly warn of
punishment for disobedience as they assure blessings
for compliance. Perhaps no text shows this more
forcefully than does II Thessalonians 1:7-9. “. . .
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: Who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his
power . . .” (emphasis added).
The
consequences of disobedience are clearly enunciated
with each primary gospel command. It is required
that one believe. To fail to believe means
condemnation. “He that believeth not is condemned
already, because he hath not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). Those
who do not believe will die in sin (John 8:24) and
cannot go to Christ (John 8:21). “He that believeth
not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16b).
So
also is the requirement of repentance, a command
given to all men (Acts 17:30). The warning Jesus
gave in Luke 13:3, 5 states the principle that has
no exception. “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye
repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Failure to make the good confession, as an outgrowth
and evidence of faith and repentance, makes one
ineligible to continue his obedience (Rom. 10:9-10;
Acts 8:37; I Tim. 6:12). While Jesus’ words in
Matthew 10:32-33 about confessing and denying have a
broader application in the continuing Christian
life, they also apply to one who wants to become a
Christian. To fail to confess is to deny. To deny
is to be denied.
The
command to be baptized is no less essential and to
disobey it is just as surely to reject the Lord’s
invitation. One has not come to Christ until he has
put on Christ in baptism (Gal. 3:27). This is the
point of John 3:5, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Rejecting Life
Several years ago I became acquainted with a man who
liked to discuss obscure religious issues. He would
come to my study to argue his points, but I would
gradually try to turn the conversation to gospel
obedience. In time he understood the Lord’s
commands, but did not immediately obey. When he
walked in one morning, I greeted him with, “What do
you know today?”
He
somewhat piously answered, “I know Jesus Christ and
him crucified,” appropriating the words of I
Corinthians 2:2.
I
quickly responded, “My Bible says, ‘He that saith, I
know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a
liar, and the truth is not in him.’ Now, tell me
what do you know?” He may have been a bit startled,
but the story has a good ending because a few hours
later, after considering his state of disobedience,
he was baptized.
The
passage I cited is the negative side of the verse
before. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if
we keep his commandments” (I John 2:3, 4). Again,
in verse 5 we read, “But whoso keepeth his word, in
him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know
we that we are in him.” His commandments are not
burdensome (I John 5:3). Every step of obedience is
a step to bring us closer to Christ. He invites us
to abundant life (John 10:10). To accept Christ is
to accept his gift of life. But what Jesus said to
the disobedient of his day sadly still applies to
many. “And ye will not come to me, that ye might
have life” (Jn. 5:40). To refuse the terms of
pardon is to forfeit eternal life.
The
difference between the rewards for obedience and the
consequences of disobedience are painted in sharp and
unmistakable contrasts in Romans 2:6-9. “[God] will
render to every man according to his deeds: To them
who by patient continuance in well doing seek for
glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But
unto them that are contentious, and do not obey
the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and
wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of
man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the
Gentile” (emphasis added).
What a
wonderful thing to know that Christ is “the author of
eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb.
5:9). “But they have not all obeyed the gospel” (Rom.
10:16). Paul asked the Galatians a forthright
question which is fitting for any who neglect or
refuse to come to Jesus in humble obedience. “Who
hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth”
(Gal. 3:1).
Endnote:
[i] Foy E. Wallace, Jr., Number One Gospel Sermons
(Nashville: Foy E. Wallace Publications, 1967) pp. 67-69.
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