WHY WAIT TO DO WHAT GOD HAS COMMANDED?
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE
When God’s word shows us what we should do, how should we respond?
We may listen carefully, recognize that the teaching is true, and even explain it to someone else. Yet knowing what God requires does not automatically mean that we have submitted to it.
Sometimes the difficulty comes when the passage requires a change in our own conduct. A sinful habit must be abandoned. An accusation must be corrected. Forgiveness must be extended. A neglected responsibility must be fulfilled. A person who understands the gospel must respond to its requirements.
At that point, we may begin looking for a more convenient time.
The psalmist described a different response:
“I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.”
— Psalm 119:59, KJV
“I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.”
— Psalm 119:60, KJV
Notice the connection: examination led to a change of direction, and that change was carried into action.
Psalm 119 describes devotion to God under the Old Covenant. Christians learn their covenant responsibilities from Christ and His apostles. When we examine the New Testament, we find that hearing, understanding, submission, obedient action, and continued faithfulness belong together.
FIVE CONNECTED PARTS OF THE BIBLICAL RESPONSE
| Part of the pattern | Supporting Scripture — full KJV verse | What the passage establishes |
|---|---|---|
| HEAR GOD’S WORD | Romans 10:17 — “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” | Faith must be grounded in the message God has revealed. |
| UNDERSTAND WHAT HE REQUIRES | Ephesians 5:17 — “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” | We are responsible for learning and understanding the Lord’s will. |
| SUBMIT TO HIS AUTHORITY | Luke 6:46 — “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” | Acknowledging Jesus as Lord carries a responsibility to follow His instruction. |
| ACT IN FAITH | James 1:22 — “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” | Receiving the word must lead to practicing it. |
| CONTINUE IN OBEDIENCE | John 8:31 — “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;” | Discipleship requires continuing in Christ’s teaching. |
HEAR GOD’S WORD
The first responsibility is to give attention to what God has revealed.
Family traditions, personal feelings, popular religious opinions, and familiar expressions must all be examined by Scripture. Something does not become the Lord’s teaching merely because it has been repeated for many years.
Romans 10 places faith in connection with hearing the message. We should therefore be willing to open the Scriptures, read the passage, and consider its context.
That responsibility belongs to the teacher as well as the listener. Both must allow God’s word to govern the discussion.
UNDERSTAND WHAT HE REQUIRES
Ephesians 5:17 calls for understanding the Lord’s will.
Careful study involves more than locating a phrase that seems to support an idea. We must consider who is speaking, who is being addressed, the covenant involved, and the purpose of the passage. Relevant Scriptures must be examined together.
We should distinguish between a command God has given and an assumption someone has attached to it.
Study should bring clarity concerning our responsibility. When the teaching becomes clear, we must decide whether we will submit to it.
SUBMIT TO HIS AUTHORITY
Jesus’ question in Luke 6:46 reaches beyond religious language.
A person may speak respectfully about Christ while refusing to follow His instruction. The Lord’s question requires us to examine whether our conduct agrees with the authority we acknowledge.
Jesus also said:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
— John 14:15, KJV
Love for Christ must influence our decisions. His authority must govern our teaching, worship, relationships, and daily conduct.
When Scripture exposes an error, submission means being willing to make the correction—even when the practice is familiar or the change is difficult.
ACT IN FAITH
James 1:22 warns that hearing without doing can leave a person deceived about his own response.
We may know what Scripture teaches about forgiveness while continuing to hold resentment. We may defend honesty while repeating an accusation we have not established. We may recognize a responsibility while repeatedly postponing it.
Faith must express itself in the response God requires.
Consider the instruction Ananias gave Saul:
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
— Acts 22:16, KJV
Ananias instructed Saul to act. The passage connects baptism with the cleansing he needed and his appeal to the Lord.
When someone understands the gospel, believes its message, and is prepared to submit to Christ, the instruction deserves an obedient response. We should encourage what the Lord requires and help remove obstacles to carrying it out.
CONTINUE IN OBEDIENCE
Jesus addressed John 8:31 to people who believed on Him. He connected genuine discipleship with continuing in His word.
Our responsibility therefore extends beyond a single decision or an earlier act of obedience.
Christians must continue learning, examining their conduct, correcting sin, and practicing the Lord’s teaching. A faithful response yesterday does not remove the responsibilities we have today.
The same humility that receives the gospel must remain present when Scripture corrects us later.
THE DANGER OF POSTPONING OUR RESPONSE
Acts 24:24–25 records that Felix heard Paul concerning faith in Christ. Paul’s reasoning about righteousness, self-control, and coming judgment affected him deeply. Nevertheless, Felix postponed further attention to a more convenient occasion.
We should examine ourselves before treating that response as someone else’s problem.
Have we understood a duty but continued to delay it? Have we waited for obedience to become comfortable? Have we mistaken concern about our conduct for an actual change in that conduct?
An emotional response should lead to a faithful response.
APPLYING THE FIVE PARTS OF THE PATTERN
| Part of the pattern | Question for personal examination | Faithful application |
|---|---|---|
| Hear God’s word | Have I given the Scriptures an honest hearing? | Read the relevant passages rather than relying only on someone’s assertion. |
| Understand what He requires | Have I established what the passage teaches in context? | Examine its audience, covenant, purpose, and relationship to other Scriptures. |
| Submit to His authority | Am I willing to accept the teaching when it requires me to change? | Allow Christ’s instruction to govern the decision. |
| Act in faith | What response have I understood but continued to postpone? | Make the correction, fulfill the responsibility, or obey the gospel as Scripture directs. |
| Continue in obedience | Am I still practicing the teaching I previously received? | Remain in Christ’s word and continue correcting conduct that conflicts with it. |
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN
HEAR GOD’S WORD
↓
UNDERSTAND WHAT HE REQUIRES
↓
SUBMIT TO HIS AUTHORITY
↓
ACT IN FAITH
↓
CONTINUE IN OBEDIENCE
These five parts describe a connected response to divine instruction. Hearing provides the message. Understanding identifies the duty. Submission recognizes the Lord’s authority. Faith acts upon His teaching. Continued obedience demonstrates an ongoing commitment to follow Him.
What has God commanded that you have understood but continued to postpone?
Examine the Scriptures carefully. Establish the duty. Then give the Lord’s instruction the response it deserves.
Open the Scriptures. Examine the teaching. Follow what God has revealed.
THAT IS THE BIBLICAL PATTERN.
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
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