We certainly don’t bind Where God has not Bound!
If one treats one’s obedience as payment and expects God to settle up, they’re in the wrong, Paul buried that idea: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Also, binding commands on people that God never gave was doomed by Jesus as worship built on human teaching (Matthew 15:9). Yet, we do wish to serve Jesus. For He said, “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’” (Luke 17:10). Perfect obedience wouldn’t put God in anyone’s debt, and none of us is close to perfect anyway. Mercy is the only door in (Titus 3:5).
Well, Are we Under a Spiritual Law?
Yes, the “law” of “grace and Truth” (John 1). We have a moral standard that is set by Jesus. We have doctrine, that is set by Jesus (1 Tim. 2) Doctrine means “healthy religious teaching to be obeyed”. We are within the framework of a law that is based in grace, the reason is, God doesn’t tell us all the things “not to do” in the New Testament, for if He did the Bible would be too long to read. Rather God tells us “what to do” and then we obey. If God “Amen’s” the choice of what we do, it is because He has said it is O.K. to do.
Now, we don’t say: “well, where does it say, “I can’t “do” this or “that”? God’s law thinks we are both wise enough and capable enough of not being “presumptuous”. To “presume” is to have the lifestyle that just assumes any thing can be done, as long as it wasn’t forbidden.
With all this we are to expect a God who has “standards”. We actually think more of people with standards. Universities with prestige are that way because of a rigorous set of expectations. Or, consider a young lady that tells a young fellow,” no, I will not accept your proposal to marry me until you have saved enough to buy a diamond ring, and until you have a job that can support a family, and I will not marry you if you are just living in your parents garage playing video games all day”. Obviously we see that there are standards for anyone of wisdom. So, how much more so with Almighty God. His standards are for every child of God’s own good. For, to live under His law His way amounts to “walking with God” on earth. And when one does this, it is the only way of life that makes sense.
Obedience Is not drudgery; It Liberating
Because God says: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). That’s Jesus talking, not a committee. And His apostle John added something people miss when they picture obedience as drudgery: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Obedience isn’t the price of grace. It’s the shape gratitude takes when grace has actually reached you. People searching for what’s missing in their lives often discover God’s love worth answering, because His law is a law embodied with love. Law and love combining is the plea of the new testament follower.
Isn’t Requiring Baptism Legalistic?
We hear this one a lot. When we teach that baptism is necessary and is for the forgiveness of sins, we’re repeating the New Testament’s own words (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21), not inventing a hurdle. Doing what Jesus said isn’t legalism; it never was. (Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12-13).
Then Where Did the Reputation Come From?
Partly from our own carefulness. We seek Bible authority for whatever a congregation does in worship and in its work (Colossians 3:17), and beside churches guided by scriptural meticulous obedience look rigid. Partly, too, from real failures. Jesus blasted religious people who minded the small commands and abandoned “justice and mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23), and Christians today can repeat their mistake. Where that’s happened, the problem was the heart, not the Bible.
Is Every Church of Christ Like This?
We are certainly unique here. Just observing a sign that says “church of Christ” outside of a place of worship, does not ensure the form of worship is Biblically accurate. There’s no headquarters and no denomination behind the name, so each congregation stands on its own, and only God’s word measures any of them. What’s on this page is generally true of non-institutional churches of Christ. What we know firsthand is who we are, locally.
If Something’s Been Missing
Plenty of people carry religion around like unpaid debt and call the weight normal. It isn’t. Grace answered obediently brings peace, not exhaustion, and we’d love for you to see that up close at the Church of Christ at South Bumby, at the corner of Pershing and South Bumby Avenue in Orlando. Plan your visit.
Wondering what the Bible says about being saved? Start here.
When we meet:
- Sunday: Bible Class 9:30 am · Worship 10:30 am
- Wednesday: Bible Class 7pm
