So far we’ve seen how faith and works go together. If divorced,
we are bound to have problems.
If faith stands alone, we rest on cheap grace. A grace that thinks
the sum of Christianity is saying the sinner’s prayer with no need for further
change, action, or discipleship. If
works stand without faith one is doomed for hell, for the Bible clearly tells
us we cannot work our way into heaven.
We’ve also look at disbelief being a form of disobedience,
whether deliberate or unconscious.
Today we delve even deeper, but first let’s go back to this
phrase:
“Only he who believes is
obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”
Scenario: Unsaved man desires to know more about Jesus but
finds it difficult to believe. At first
he claims ignorance of God and His commandments, but as he begins to learn and
hear about the grace of God he still is uncertain and asserts there are grey areas
in the Bible, various interpretations and therefore he doesn’t know what to
believe. As he continues to question the Bible, his heart grows harder until he
finally decides there is no way for him to be saved.
He may say, “I have lost the faith I once had.”
Christians often do not know how to respond when confronted
with this situation. This man tried and has given up. Perhaps we think he is
being stubborn. He is being disobedient and therefore he cannot be saved
because he refuses to have faith.
“Only he who believes is obedient, and only he
who is obedient believes.”
We, and the man, conclude he cannot be obedient because he
does not believe.
But that does not have to be the end for this story.
“Only he who is obedient
believes.”
Here is what Bonhoeffer says to one who struggles to believe,
“You are disobedient, you are trying to
keep some part of your life under your own control. That is what is preventing
you from listening to Christ and believing in his grace. You cannot hear Christ because you are
willfully disobedient. Somewhere in your
heart you are refusing to listen to his call.”
Bonhoeffer explains that man must step out of his comfort
zone to meet the Savior. So long as he
remains inactive, he feels justified in his lack of faith and will continue to
not hear the voice of God calling.
“Our sinner has
drugged himself with cheap and easy grace by accepting the proposition that
only those who believe can obey. He persists in disobedience, and seeks
consolation by absolving himself. This
only serves to deaden his ears to the Word of God. We cannot breach the fortress so long as we
merely repeat the proposition which affords him his self-defense. So we must
make for the turning point…and exhort him to obedience- “Only those who obey
can believe.””
If we move out of the
sphere of questions, doubts and disobedience we are able to hear more
clearly. The will of God become easier
to understand and our hesitations begin to fade, but first we must MOVE. We
cannot remain immobile and expect our walk with Christ to grow!
Bonhoeffer continues, “He
will be …compelled to come to a definite decision. In this way his ears are opened
once more for the call of Jesus to faith and discipleship.”
To help us understand this scenario Bonhoeffer looks at the
Rich Young Man in Matt 19:16-22.
Here we find a young man who knows the Bible and wants to
have a religious discussion with a “Good Master”. Jesus
quickly lets him know He isn’t an ordinary rabbi and the young man goes on the
defense asking “Which?” commandment pertains to him, even though he knows the
scriptures.
“But this means
disobedience from the start. Doubt and reflection take the place of spontaneous
obedience. The grown-up man with his freedom of conscious vaunts his
superiority over the child of obedience.”
This young man wants an academic discussion, a pat on the back
for his works; he is unprepared for a meeting with God.
“He hoped Jesus would
offer him a solution to his moral difficulties. But instead he finds Jesus
attacking not his question but himself.”
Jesus commands him to ACT instead of focusing on details.
When we listen to Satan we find an endless array of
questions keeping us from performing whatever task God is calling us to do. “[H]e
(Satan) says: “Keep on posing problems, and you will escape the necessity of
obedience.”
Bonhoeffer breaks this scripture down further. I encourage you to read it as it is very
enlightening.
Next Bonhoeffer looks at the Good Samaritan in Luke
10:25-29. This man too questions God;
the only difference- we are told he is trying to trap Jesus by his questions.
To sum this chapter up- whether you are an unbeliever, a new
Christian or been a follower of Christ for multiple years:
“You can only know and think
about it by actually doing it. You can
only learn what obedience is by obeying.
It is no use asking questions; for it is only through obedience that you
come to learn the truth.”
Questions:
Christian-
1. Have
you ever witnessed to a person who struggling to believe, if so how did you
handle it? Do you think the equation of obedience and faith would be effective
in witnessing?
2. Can you see how this applies to our daily
lives and being obedient and not just about the initial call to follow? What is
God calling you to do that is testing your faith? Does this post help motivate you
to ACT regardless of all your questions?
Non-Christian-
1. Is
God trying to speak but you’re having difficulty hearing/understanding?
2. Do you have more questions than
answers? If so, I encourage you to take
the step even if you don’t have the faith.
You may not have answers right away, your life may not change
immediately, but I truly believe God wants to lavish His love on you. Please be open to listening, take a step…what
could it hurt?
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