Many so-called societies involve an “initiation” process. These often involve some list of things that the participant has to complete in order to earn merit, to prove that they belong in the club too. Sadly, many view Christianity in much the same light, as if there is a big list of things to do or not do, and once we complete the list then we’ve somehow earned God’s favor. But this is a misconception of the relationship between blessing and obedience.

Our obedience, though required, does not merit anything before God. Instead, it is evidence that God is at work in us. The faith that obeys is itself a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9, etc.). Obedience will never product faith, but true faith will always produce obedience. Jesus clearly says that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15) and James says that faith without works is dead; it is not biblical faith, it is not saving faith (James 2:14-16). In other words, it is not enough to say that we love Christ, it is not enough that we claim Him as our Lord, we must live as though we love Him.

When we love someone, we want to do things for them, we want to please them, we want to serve them. What is your attitude about biblical obedience? Do you do things begrudgingly (if at all?), or do you do them with joy and a heart that wants to please God? Jesus uses the imagery of trees and their fruit to describe this scenario:

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 7:15-19):

How do you know a tree? By its fruit. An orange tree does not produce apples. How do you know a tree’s health? By its fruit. Jesus says that “a healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit.” Jesus doesn’t mean that a believer will never sin. Instead, he means that sin and disobedience will be uncharacteristic for the believer. When you go and grab an apple from that tree and you wipe it on your shirt and take that first bite, you’re not surprised when it’s a good apple: that’s what you expect. You’re surprised when you get a bad apple because that’s not the norm and it’s not expected. What is the norm for your life? Good fruit or bad?

In a day and age when so many people struggle with assurance of salvation, so few are willing to examine their lives. But this is exactly what Scripture calls us to do. But in doing so, we must strive to keep the proper balance and flow. As we’ve stated, obedience cannot produce faith. Yet biblical faith will produce obedience, it is a fruit, not a merit. But we cannot claim faith without also performing obedience. The truest test of our faith is our life. We are developing life-long testimonies that are powerful indicators of the true state of our hearts.

We must be cautious about erecting lists of do’s and don’ts and measuring our obedience by our own standards. Whenever we create lists, we more often look for what we want rather than what God wants. Remember that Jesus summarized the entire Law as “love of God and love for others” (Matthew 22:34-40) and we need not make it any more difficult than it already is.

Obedience is not optional for the believer. It is the fruit of the work of God in us.

• Read The Doctrine of Justification by James Buchanan
• Read Practical Religion by J.C. Ryle