Martin Lemon
Consider the words of Mary, the mother of the Lord, as she spoke concerning her son and the first miracle He performed. Right here we can find a wonderful lesson that the world needs in general and that the church needs in particular. The Bible amply points out Jesus as the Savior of the world. But it also points out that Jesus will only save those who obey Him (Heb. 5:8-9). However, we are not interested mainly in the setting of this statement, at this time. What we are interested in is obedience to Christ. Mary shows unquestioned obedience. “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” There is the faith that will be pleasing unto God. There is the attitude that is lacking so much in so many lives. The world explains away the commands of our Lord and classes them as nonessential. The church sometimes goes astray from true obedience.
Following the Lord is in no sense comparable to following the commands of weak, frail creatures of the dust. Man can and does sin, err, give the wrong commands, or not even try to do right. But the Lord is in no way bound by sin, or prone to make mistakes. Mary could make this statement and rest assured that whatever Jesus did, it would be the right thing. He came to do the will of God (John 5:30). He knew no sin (1 Peter 2:22). He pointed to heaven (John 14:1-3). He left us an example (1 Peter 2:21). He went about doing good (Acts 10:38). And He had the approval of God. (Matt. 17:5.) Mary then, knowing Jesus as she did, could tell people to obey Him, without reservation.
Some though, want to try the Lord, rebel at His commands or ignore Him completely. But my friend, nothing but complete, unreserved, wholehearted obedience can be pleasing unto the Lord. The Bible tells us that obedience is God’s delight (1 Sam. 15:22). In the New Testament Cornelius (Acts 10:33) had the spirit of obedience (Verse 33b). “Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.” That certainly would show Cornelius wanted to know the will of God.
Now as Mary told people to obey the Lord because she had been with Him and knew Him, so Christians can tell the world to obey God. It is very hard to understand today just why the world in general will treat the commands of the Lord in the way that they do. I know of a number of things that are given that people say make them view the plan of salvation in the way that they do. To those who believe the Bible as God’s word, how can you justify all of the different ways in which to be saved when the Word only shows one way? Jesus Christ is the way (John 14:6). He has been given all authority (Matt. 28:18). He died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3) and arose for our justification (Rom. 4:25). But none of this will avail us anything until we lay hold onto it. We must do the will of God. “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” (Matt. 7:21). Now I think that is as plain as any passage of scripture could be. Just do what the Lord says.
Yes, someone will say, that’s true but everything that the Lord spoke on and had put in the New Testament concerning our salvation is not essential. Maybe James needs to be consulted about this. He says in James 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Wouldn’t that teach that the Lord will not accept partial obedience? People cannot take the part of the Gospel that they want and leave out the part that they do not want. Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 1:8 that the Lord will take vengeance on those who know not God, and on them that obey not the Gospel. How better it is then to obey and remain faithful and go home to glory in the after awhile.
The God of heaven is desirous of the salvation of all people. Isaiah the prophet of the Old Testament says “seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read.” So let’s do that. The Old Testament points to Christ and the New Testament shows His life here and His commands for us to obey. Jesus said in John 8:24 “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” Again Hebrews 11:6 teaches that we must have faith. “Without faith, it is impossible to be pleasing unto him.” Whatsoever he saith, do it. Belief in God and Christ is essential but that is not all. It must be an active faith. A faith that obeys. Notice now the story of the cleansing of the ten lepers found in Luke 17. Verse 14 states, “As they went, they were cleansed.” Thus they had an active faith. They were doing just what the Lord told them to do. They were on their way to the priests, as Jesus commanded and as the Old Testament plan found in Leviticus 13 concerning leprosy bade them. The point is: they were blessed when, and only when, they acted. Again, the Lord commanded in Luke 13:3 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Repentance is a change of heart that leads to a change of life. It is a turning. Thus the Gospel teaches people to give up the world and accept Christ. But just that is not accepting Christ. The good confession is next in order in the obedience to the gospel. In Acts 8:37 the confession was “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
On the day of Pentecost, Peter preaching to those Jews who had rejected Christ, as well as a multitude of other Jews, told them to repent and be baptized. What was that for? Let him tell us. Verse 38 says it was “for the remission of sins.” But someone will say that Jesus did not say that. No, he didn’t but he promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles into all truth (John 16:13). He did, because Acts 2:4 says they began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance. So these words came from heaven as well as the words that Jesus uttered (John 17:8). Three thousand obeyed those words on Pentecost and the Lord added them to the church. They were saved from past sins, they were born again, they became children of God. That was God’s plan then, it is God’s plan now. Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
So as Mary told the people to do whatever the Lord commanded, we as Christians tell the world to heed the teachings of Christ, obey His every command that you might stand justified in His sight. All of his commands are essential and must be followed. It is impossible to go wrong while following the Lord. Following men and groups of men is folly if that following is out of harmony with the truth of God’s will. So without question, or hesitation or any other thing, bring now your will, life, and your all in harmony with the will of the Master.
