Obedience: John and James
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John

The theme of obedience is central to the writings of the Apostle John, particularly in his Gospel and epistles. John emphasizes the connection between love for God and obedience to His commandments. In the Gospel of John, Jesus Himself sets the example of obedience to the Father. John 14:15 records Jesus saying, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." This statement underscores the inseparable link between love and obedience, suggesting that true love for Christ manifests in adherence to His teachings.

John further elaborates on this theme in his first epistle. In 1 John 2:3-5 , he writes, "By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. If anyone says, 'I know Him,' but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him." Here, John presents obedience as evidence of genuine knowledge of God and the perfection of His love within believers.

Moreover, John highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in enabling obedience. In John 14:26 , Jesus promises the coming of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who "will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you." The Spirit empowers believers to live in obedience, guiding them in truth and reminding them of Christ's teachings.

James

The Epistle of James also places significant emphasis on obedience, particularly in the context of faith and works. James presents a practical approach to Christian living, where obedience is demonstrated through actions. In James 1:22 , he exhorts, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves." This call to action highlights the necessity of obedience as an integral part of faith, warning against self-deception that comes from merely listening without acting.

James further illustrates the relationship between faith and obedience in James 2:17-18 : "So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds." Here, James argues that genuine faith is evidenced by obedience through works, suggesting that faith without corresponding action is lifeless.

Additionally, James addresses the importance of obedience in controlling one's speech and behavior. In James 3:2 , he acknowledges, "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body." This verse implies that obedience extends to self-discipline, particularly in speech, as a reflection of one's faith and maturity.

In summary, both John and James present obedience as a fundamental aspect of the Christian life. John emphasizes the connection between love and obedience, while James focuses on the practical outworking of faith through obedient actions. Together, their writings provide a comprehensive understanding of obedience as an essential expression of faith and love for God.
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Mark 1:19,20
And when he had gone a little farther there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
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Library

How Brother James Della Massa Saw in a vision all the Friars Minor ...
... a greater wish to see." When Brother John of Parma ... a minister of the convent, this
Brother James was once ... thou didst reveal it out of obedience." Brother James ...
/.../the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter xlviii how brother james.htm

The Progress of the Gospel from the Death of Christ to the Death ...
... The apostles here disclaimed the doctrine of passive obedience, and asserted ... juncture
at least two of the apostles, James the brother of John, and Peter ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter iv the progress of.htm

The General Epistle of James
... element of life according to the law is a love that reveals itself in grateful
obedience to God and ... While James, the brother of John, and James the son of ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the general epistle of james.htm

The Works of James Arminius, Vol. 2
... LXXIII ON PARTICULAR ACTS OF OBEDIENCE, OR THOSE ... AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST TO JOHN
UYTENBOGARD, HIS ... PECULIARLY BELOVED BROTHER IN CHRIST, JAMES ARMINIUS WISHES ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/

Obedience to God the Way to Faith in Christ.
... we are taught in Scripture that perfect obedience is the ... James: "Whosoever shall
keep the whole law, and yet offend in ... John: "Hereby do we know that we know Him ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xiv obedience to god.htm

Jesus Works his First Miracle at Cana in Galilee.
... Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, and probably John and James.] 3 And ... [She commands
unlimited obedience. ... The details of the account suggest that John was an eye ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxii jesus works his first.htm

The Early Welcome and the First Ministers of the King
... True, Herod's sword cut their union asunder, and James died first, and John last,
of ... as for and from Him, were exemplified in the swift obedience of these ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the early welcome and the.htm

On the Holy Spirit Respondent: James Mahot
... DISPUTATION 6 ON THE HOLY SPIRIT RESPONDENT: JAMES MAHOT. ... God; (1 Corinthians 2:10,
11; John 16:13 ... faith, hope, charity, confidence, fear, and obedience, to the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 6 on the holy.htm

The Jewish Christian Theology --I. James and the Gospel of Law.
... result: a holy life of love and obedience as the ... But in this case, James, as a sensible
and practical ... preparatory to it, as the preaching of John the Baptist ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 69 the jewish christian.htm

Characteristics of the Twelve
... We have seen James leading him for a time. It was in obedience to a sign from Peter
that he asked ... up behind, when in first, although it was John who thereupon ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 3 14-19 characteristics of the.htm

Resources
What is active obedience? What is passive obedience? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about obedience? | GotQuestions.org

Why is obedience to God important? | GotQuestions.org

Obedience: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Obedience

Obedience of Christ

Obedience to God

Obedience to God without Faith, is Impossible

Obedience to God: A Characteristic of Saints

Obedience to God: Abram

Obedience to God: Angels Engaged In

Obedience to God: Asa

Obedience to God: Better than Sacrifice

Obedience to God: Blessedness of

Obedience to God: Caleb

Obedience to God: Christ, an Example of

Obedience to God: Commanded

Obedience to God: Confess Your Failure In

Obedience to God: David

Obedience to God: Elijah

Obedience to God: Exhortations To

Obedience to God: Hezekiah

Obedience to God: Includes: Keeping his Commandments

Obedience to God: Includes: Obeying Christ

Obedience to God: Includes: Obeying his Law

Obedience to God: Includes: Obeying his Voice

Obedience to God: Includes: Obeying the Gospel

Obedience to God: Includes: Submission to Higher Powers

Obedience to God: Israelites

Obedience to God: Joseph

Obedience to God: Josiah

Obedience to God: Justification Obtained by That of Christ

Obedience to God: Noah

Obedience to God: Obligations To

Obedience to God: Paul

Obedience to God: Pray to be Taught

Obedience to God: Prepare the Heart For

Obedience to God: Promises To

Obedience to God: Punishment of Refusing

Obedience to God: Resolve Upon

Obedience to God: Saints Elected To

Obedience to God: Saints of Rome

Obedience to God: should be Constant

Obedience to God: should be from the Heart

Obedience to God: should be Undeviating

Obedience to God: should be Unreserved

Obedience to God: should Be with Willingness

Obedience to God: The Wicked Refuse

Obedience to God: To be Universal in the Latter Days

Obedience to God: Wise Men

Obedience to God: Zacharias

Obedience to God: Zerubbabel

Obedience: Abraham

Obedience: Asa

Obedience: Bethuel and Laban

Obedience: Caleb

Obedience: Cornelius

Obedience: Cyrus

Obedience: Daniel

Obedience: David

Obedience: Elisha

Obedience: Enjoined

Obedience: Exemplified

Obedience: Ezra

Obedience: General Scriptures Concerning

Obedience: Gideon

Obedience: Hanani

Obedience: Hezekiah

Obedience: Jacob

Obedience: Jehoiada

Obedience: Jehoshaphat

Obedience: Jesus

Obedience: Job

Obedience: John and James

Obedience: John the Baptist

Obedience: Jonah

Obedience: Joseph

Obedience: Joshua

Obedience: Josiah

Obedience: Jotham

Obedience: Levi

Obedience: Levites

Obedience: Mary

Obedience: Matthew

Obedience: Moses

Obedience: Moses and Aaron

Obedience: Nathanael

Obedience: Ninevites

Obedience: Noah

Obedience: Paul

Obedience: Reubenites

Obedience: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego

Obedience: Simeon

Obedience: Simon and Andrew

Obedience: The Disciples

Obedience: The Israelites

Obedience: The Rich Young Man

Obedience: Under the Preaching of Haggai

Obedience: Uzziah

Obedience: Zacharias

Related Terms

Feign (11 Occurrences)

Obedient (39 Occurrences)

Obeisance (45 Occurrences)

Obey (219 Occurrences)

Win (27 Occurrences)

Resulting (7 Occurrences)

Discipline (63 Occurrences)

Commandments (181 Occurrences)

Atonement (112 Occurrences)

Commands (216 Occurrences)

Child (355 Occurrences)

Commandment (209 Occurrences)

Imputation

Result (73 Occurrences)

Unaccompanied (2 Occurrences)

Leads (64 Occurrences)

Works (379 Occurrences)

Intense (13 Occurrences)

Foreskin (12 Occurrences)

Disobedience (49 Occurrences)

Mediator (7 Occurrences)

Consists (7 Occurrences)

Sacraments

Declared (261 Occurrences)

Manifested (48 Occurrences)

Bondmen (117 Occurrences)

Behalf (140 Occurrences)

Justification (6 Occurrences)

Scriptures (25 Occurrences)

Guilt (180 Occurrences)

Either (152 Occurrences)

Slaves (119 Occurrences)

Peoples (305 Occurrences)

Brotherly (8 Occurrences)

Service (317 Occurrences)

Righteous (407 Occurrences)

Leading (101 Occurrences)

Act (204 Occurrences)

Affection (30 Occurrences)

Whether (239 Occurrences)

Someone (153 Occurrences)

Ages (114 Occurrences)

Purpose (448 Occurrences)

Fully (153 Occurrences)

Love (703 Occurrences)

Children

Deuteronomy (1 Occurrence)

Gnosticism

Ground (538 Occurrences)

Gentiles (150 Occurrences)

Yours (226 Occurrences)

Life (6001 Occurrences)

Sanctification (13 Occurrences)

Adam (29 Occurrences)

Slavery (31 Occurrences)

Eternal (166 Occurrences)

Slave (148 Occurrences)

Foreknow (1 Occurrence)

Present (577 Occurrences)

Foreknowledge (2 Occurrences)

Nations (683 Occurrences)

Yourselves (530 Occurrences)

Yielded (28 Occurrences)

Quoted (2 Occurrences)

Venture (10 Occurrences)

Kenites (8 Occurrences)

Kingly (7 Occurrences)

Kidron (11 Occurrences)

Kindness (295 Occurrences)

Person (807 Occurrences)

Command (442 Occurrences)

Yield (78 Occurrences)

Nun (31 Occurrences)

Nervous (1 Occurrence)

Name's (31 Occurrences)

Ungodly (41 Occurrences)

Ucal (1 Occurrence)

Outpouring (3 Occurrences)

Obedience: Job
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