Topical Bible: Obedience: The Disciples

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Obedience is a central theme in the life and ministry of the disciples of Jesus Christ, as depicted in the New Testament. The disciples, chosen by Jesus, were called to follow Him and adhere to His teachings, demonstrating obedience as a fundamental aspect of their faith and mission.

Calling and Immediate Response

The call of the disciples is a profound example of immediate obedience. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus calls Peter and Andrew, saying, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." The text records their response: "And at once they left their nets and followed Him" (Matthew 4:19-20). Similarly, James and John left their boat and their father to follow Jesus without hesitation (Matthew 4:21-22). This immediate response underscores the disciples' willingness to forsake their livelihoods and familial ties in obedience to Christ's call.

Obedience to Jesus' Teachings

Throughout their time with Jesus, the disciples were instructed to obey His teachings. In the Gospel of John, Jesus emphasizes the importance of obedience as a demonstration of love: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). The disciples' commitment to learning and living out Jesus' teachings is evident in their actions and the transformation of their lives.

Commissioning and Mission

After His resurrection, Jesus commissioned the disciples to spread the Gospel, a task requiring steadfast obedience. In the Great Commission, Jesus commands, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). The disciples' obedience to this command is seen in the Acts of the Apostles, where they boldly proclaim the Gospel despite persecution and hardship.

Obedience in the Face of Persecution

The disciples' obedience was tested through persecution and trials. In Acts 5, when the apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin and ordered not to teach in the name of Jesus, Peter and the other apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). This declaration highlights their unwavering commitment to obeying God's commands above human authority, even at the risk of their own lives.

Empowerment by the Holy Spirit

The disciples' ability to obey and fulfill their mission was empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit as a Helper to guide them into all truth (John 16:13). On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, enabling them to speak in various tongues and boldly proclaim the Gospel (Acts 2:1-4). This empowerment was crucial for their obedience to the Great Commission and their role in establishing the early Church.

Legacy of Obedience

The obedience of the disciples set a precedent for future generations of believers. Their lives and ministries serve as a testament to the transformative power of obedience to Christ. The New Testament epistles, many authored by the apostles, continue to exhort believers to live in obedience to God's Word, following the example set by the disciples.

In summary, the disciples' obedience to Jesus Christ is a foundational element of their identity and mission. Their immediate response to His call, adherence to His teachings, perseverance through persecution, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit exemplify the essence of true discipleship.

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John 17:6
I have manifested your name to the men which you gave me out of the world: your they were, and you gave them me; and they have kept your word.
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Library

Farewell Discourse to Disciples.
... By a like obedience the disciples might have a like sense of his presence and approval,
and hence a like joy.] 12 This is my commandment, that ye love one ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxi farewell discourse to disciples.htm

Obedience to the Last Command
... He has trained His disciples to obedience. ... Brethren! this is not obedience. This
is not the spirit in which the first disciples accepted it. ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/viii obedience to the last.htm

The Reward of Obedience.
... he promises, he only states some fact that will encourage his disciples"that is ... father;
be my children, and I will be your father.' Every obedience is the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/hope of the gospel/the reward of obedience.htm

Knowledge and Obedience.
... V. KNOWLEDGE AND OBEDIENCE. "For this cause ... visited (ch. ii.1). Christianity
was brought there by Epaphras, one of his disciples (ch. i ...
/.../thomas/the prayers of st paul/v knowledge and obedience.htm

The First Disciples: iii. Philip
... by this command to accept His teaching in a very special way, not merely as Hillel
or Gamaliel asked their disciples to accept ... It is also a call to obedience. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the first disciples iii philip.htm

If God Demands Obedience from Man, if He Formed Man, Called Him ...
... God does indeed profit God nothing, nor has God need of human obedience; but He ...
Wherefore also did the Lord say to His disciples, "Ye have not chosen Me, but I ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xiv if god demands obedience.htm

The Secret of True Obedience.
... On earth Christ was a learner in the school of obedience; in heaven He teaches
it to His disciples here on earth. In a world where ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/iii the secret of true.htm

First Withdrawal from Herod's Territory and Return.
... [The obedience of the disciples in leaving him helped to persuade the multitude
to do likewise.] 46 And when he had taken leave of them, ^a 23 And after he had ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxiii first withdrawal from herods 3.htm

When, and in what Things this Obedience Doth Most Concern the ...
... as expert and skilful Masters of Spirit, did exercise their Disciples in divers ...
marvellous and effectual stratagems to make tryal of simple obedience and to ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap xi when and in.htm

The Relationship we have with Christ through Obedience.
... Obedience to God makes us one with God. ... And he stretched forth his hand toward
his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! ...
/.../orr/how to live a holy life/the relationship we have with.htm