CAN A PERSON BE SAVED WITHOUT OBEYING CHRIST?
Many people readily acknowledge Jesus as Savior.
But the New Testament also presents Jesus as Lord.
That raises an important question:
CAN WE ACCEPT JESUS AS SAVIOR WHILE REFUSING TO OBEY HIM AS LORD?
Jesus asked:
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
(Luke 6:46, KJV)
Those words deserve careful attention.
Calling Jesus “Lord” is not the same thing as submitting to His lordship.
JESUS CONNECTED LOVE WITH OBEDIENCE
Jesus said:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
(John 14:15, KJV)
Love for Christ is not merely an emotion.
It responds to what Christ says.
JESUS WARNED THAT SAYING “LORD” IS NOT ENOUGH
Jesus said:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven…”
(Matthew 7:21, KJV)
Then who will enter?
“…but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
(Matthew 7:21, KJV)
Notice the contrast:
SAYING “LORD, LORD”
↓
IS NOT ENOUGH
DOING THE FATHER’S WILL
↓
IS REQUIRED
Jesus did not teach salvation by empty profession.
He taught submission to God.
CHRIST IS THE AUTHOR OF SALVATION TO THOSE WHO OBEY HIM
Hebrews says concerning Jesus:
“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”
(Hebrews 5:9, KJV)
Notice what the passage does not say:
“unto all them that merely claim Him.”
It says:
“UNTO ALL THEM THAT OBEY HIM.”
Obedience does not earn salvation.
Christ is still the author of salvation.
But the people receiving that salvation are described as those who obey Him.
THE GOSPEL ITSELF MUST BE OBEYED
Paul warned concerning those:
“…that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
(2 Thessalonians 1:8, KJV)
Peter likewise asked:
“…what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”
(1 Peter 4:17, KJV)
Those warnings would make little sense if obedience had nothing to do with our response to the gospel.
WHAT DOES OBEDIENT FAITH LOOK LIKE?
On Pentecost, the people heard the gospel and were:
“…pricked in their heart…”
(Acts 2:37, KJV)
They asked:
“…Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Peter answered:
“…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…”
(Acts 2:38, KJV)
Then:
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized…”
(Acts 2:41, KJV)
They did not merely agree with Peter’s message.
They received it and acted upon it.
That is obedient faith.
PAUL SPOKE OF THE “OBEDIENCE OF FAITH”
At the beginning of Romans, Paul described his mission as being:
“…for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:”
(Romans 1:5, KJV)
At the end of the same letter, he spoke of the gospel being:
“…made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”
(Romans 16:26, KJV)
Faith and obedience are not enemies.
Biblical faith obeys.
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN
CHRIST SPEAKS
↓
WE HEAR HIS WORD
↓
WE BELIEVE HIM
↓
WE SUBMIT TO HIS WILL
↓
WE OBEY THE GOSPEL
↓
WE CONTINUE TO OBEY HIM AS LORD
That does not mean we earn salvation.
No act of obedience can purchase the blood of Christ.
No amount of human effort can place God in our debt.
Salvation remains possible only because of God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice.
But grace does not turn disobedience into faithfulness.
Jesus asked:
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
(Luke 6:46, KJV)
That question is just as important today as when Jesus first asked it.
So the question is not merely:
“DO I BELIEVE IN JESUS?”
We must also ask:
“AM I WILLING TO OBEY JESUS?”
A person cannot separate Jesus the Savior from Jesus the Lord.
The same Christ who offers salvation also commands obedience.
The same Christ who shed His blood for us asks:
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
(Luke 6:46, KJV)
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN IS NOT:
PROFESS CHRIST
↓
IGNORE HIS COMMANDS
↓
EXPECT SALVATION
The biblical pattern is:
HEAR CHRIST
↓
BELIEVE CHRIST
↓
OBEY THE GOSPEL
↓
SUBMIT TO CHRIST AS LORD
↓
CONTINUE FAITHFULLY IN HIM
Jesus is the Savior.
We cannot save ourselves.
But Scripture describes Him as:
“…the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”
(Hebrews 5:9, KJV)
Therefore, we should not ask whether obedience earns salvation.
It does not.
We should ask whether a faith that refuses to obey Christ is the saving faith revealed in Scripture.
Jesus Himself gives us the question:
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
(Luke 6:46, KJV)
Don’t accept that conclusion merely because it is written here.
Open your Bible.
Read Matthew 7.
Read Luke 6.
Read John 14.
Read Acts 2.
Read Romans 1 and Romans 16.
Read Hebrews 5.
Read 2 Thessalonians 1.
Compare Scripture with Scripture.
Then ask:
AM I MERELY CALLING JESUS LORD, OR AM I SUBMITTING TO HIM AS LORD?
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
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The Biblical Pattern 