Obedience to God: Justification Obtained by That of Christ
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Introduction

Obedience to God is a central theme throughout the Bible, reflecting the relationship between humanity and the divine. In Christian theology, the concept of obedience is intricately linked to the idea of justification, which is the act of being declared righteous before God. This entry explores how justification is obtained through the obedience of Jesus Christ, as understood within the framework of biblical teachings.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible presents obedience as a fundamental requirement for a relationship with God. In the Old Testament, obedience to God's commandments was essential for the Israelites to maintain their covenant relationship with Him. Deuteronomy 11:1 states, "You shall therefore love the LORD your God and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments."

In the New Testament, the focus shifts to the obedience of Jesus Christ as the means by which believers are justified. Romans 5:19 declares, "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." This verse highlights the contrast between Adam's disobedience, which brought sin into the world, and Christ's obedience, which brings righteousness to believers.

The Obedience of Christ

The obedience of Jesus is central to the Christian understanding of salvation. Philippians 2:8 describes Christ's humility and obedience: "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross." This act of obedience is seen as the ultimate fulfillment of God's will and the means by which humanity is reconciled to God.

Hebrews 5:8-9 further emphasizes the significance of Christ's obedience: "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." Here, Christ's obedience is portrayed as both a model for believers and the foundation of their salvation.

Justification Through Christ's Obedience

Justification, in Christian theology, is the act of God declaring a sinner righteous on the basis of Christ's righteousness. This is not achieved through human effort or adherence to the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:28 states, "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law."

The obedience of Christ is the basis for this justification. By living a sinless life and fulfilling the law perfectly, Jesus provided the righteousness that believers could never achieve on their own. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains, "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

Implications for Believers

While justification is obtained through Christ's obedience, believers are called to respond with their own obedience. This is not to earn salvation but as a demonstration of faith and gratitude for the grace received. James 2:17 reminds us, "So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead."

The obedience of believers is a reflection of their transformed lives in Christ. Ephesians 2:10 states, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life." This obedience is empowered by the Holy Spirit and is a testament to the believer's new identity in Christ.

Conclusion

The obedience of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christian justification, providing the righteousness necessary for believers to be declared righteous before God. Through faith in Christ, believers are called to live lives of obedience, reflecting the transformative power of the gospel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Romans 5:19
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

On Justification
... to be constituted righteous through the obedience of Christ ... be at the close of life,
when God will grant ... denominated the formal cause of justification; and when ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xlviii on justification.htm

On the Church of God and of Christ: or on the Church in General ...
... we have obtained the blessings of justification and sanctification ... only constituted
the children of God and the ... fit that we should render obedience and worship ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation l on the church.htm

Christ Rightly and Properly Said to have Merited Grace and ...
... sin of Adam we were alienated from God and doomed to destruction, so by the obedience
of Christ ... the free gift is of many offences unto justification.". ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 17 christ rightly and.htm

Article iii: of Christ.
... and in all afflictions; finally, it requires obedience to God ... the remission of sins
and of justification for Christ's ... This faith brings to God not confidence in ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 2 article iii of.htm

On the Justification of Man Before God
... and merciful, but also Christ by his obedience, offering, and intercession according
to God through his ... be thus defined, "it is a justification by which a ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 19 on the justification.htm

Christ Our Sanctification.
... men have only small beginnings of this obedience, which constrain ... Since the
justification of the ungodly is at once ... like a star the wisdom of God had arisen ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/vi christ our sanctification.htm

Of Justification by Faith. Both the Name and the Reality Defined.
... undoubtedly understands by reconciliation nothing else than justification. ... are made
righteous "by the obedience" of Christ ... righteous in the sight of God in him ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 11 of justification by.htm

Knowing that a Man is not Justified by the Work of the Law, but by ...
... to us as what it is, holiness, or obedience to God ... I know whether I am in a state
of justification or not ... God has not revealed it in the Scriptures, that you, or ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/knowing that a man is.htm

Sirs, what must I do to be Saved? and they Said, Believe on the ...
... Justification relates to the manner in which we are accepted and ... such a glory on
the law of God, that grace is willing to consider obedience in such a ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/sirs what must i do.htm

Justification.
... not only so, but we also joy in God, through our ... the free gift came upon all men
unto justification of life ... many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxxvi justification.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 to God: Josiah
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