Our Reception Of It

     How we ought to receive what God has said to us, and how we ought to respond to His instruction is a

matter  of  grave  concern  to  true  believers,  for  we  will  be  judged  at  last  by  His  word  (John  12:48-50).  

“Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them” is the language Jesus used to pronounce blessing

upon  the  obedient  (Matthew  7:24).    He  taught  people  to  be  concerned  about all of God’s instruction to

them.    Even  jots  and  tittles  have  their  significance  (Matthew  5:18).    “Every word”, “the whole counsel of

God”, and “all scripture” are biblical expressions that make us attentive to all that Christ has said to us, to

receive it and to do it (Matthew 4:4; Acts 20:27; II Timothy 3:16,17).  

     When the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”, how

did Jesus respond?  Did He tell them that they were too concerned about law and its particulars?  Please

read Matthew 19:3-9.  Did Jesus tell the Jews that it was not required that they tithe mint and anise and

cummin?  Please read Matthew 23:23 carefully!  When Cornelius told Peter that those present were there

to hear all things commanded by God (Acts 10:33), did Peter tell him that he was on the wrong track and

that Christianity is all about love and not commandment-keeping?  Please read Acts 10:34-48.  Was love

excluded from Peter’s message?  Certainly not!  Note verse 38.  Obedience is the manifestation of love

and an essential element of it (I John 3:16-18; 4:9; 5:2,3).  Love does not supplant obedience, but urges

and  requires  it.    “He  who  has  My  commandments  and  keeps  them, it is he who loves Me,” Jesus said

(John 14:21).  To ignore or refuse to obey Christ’s commands is to show that one does not truly love Him

(John 14:24).

     Friends and brethren, we will all give an account to God based on how we have received His word and

whether  we  have  believed  and  obeyed  it,  loving  God  and  fearing  God.    Let  us not commit the error of

contrasting love and obedience to the commands of the Lord, and let us not deny the essentiality of either

love or obedience for salvation.

Gilbert Alexander

Beulah Church of Christ

(256) 232-1050