Is simple obedience a work of merit?

  To those who would label, "works of merit" the simple obedience to God's path of salvation, beware you are on shaky ground.

   God has always expected man to obey His commands as the avenue to His blessings. This concept is so common that it can be considered tacit. When the ancient Hebrews were dying from the serpent bites (Numbers 21:9) God commanded them to look upon the brass snake to be healed. It was the act of gazing at the snake that was the point of healing. Having faith that God would heal them was not enough. God wanted them healed under His terms. Without their obedience, they would have died in the wilderness. The gazing was not an attempt at earning the healing just the point of contact with the healing.

   The healing of the blind man at the Pool of Siloam (John 9:7) is another clear example of a necessary act of obedience. The blind man was told to go and wash. If he would have decided that he could just stay where he was and have faith that he would be healed, he would have died blind. His washing was not an attempt to merit the healing, just common sense obedience, nothing more and to label it a work is foolish.

   There are countless examples in the Bible of this simple concept:

a. Naaman the leper washing seven times to be healed. (2nd Kings 5)

b. Peter catching the fish after dropping the net (John 21:6)

c. Saul being healed after finding Ananias (Acts 22:10-13)

d. Elijah fleeing to the Brook of Chorath to be fed. (1st Kings 1:7)

e. The Jews covering their door frames with blood for the angel of death to pass over them. (Exodus 12:23)

f. etc. etc. etc.

 

   When the Bible proclaims that we must confess Jesus as Lord to be saved (Matthew 10:32) and your rebuttal is, "no that would make it a work, believing is enough". You are on the wrong side of the gospel.

   When Jesus states that we must repent to avoid hell (Luke 13:4) and your response is, "well repenting is important but its believing that saves you, repenting happens after you are saved." You are on the wrong side of the gospel.

   When Peter declared that we must be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38 & Mark 16:16) but you insist that baptism is only done as a response to being saved. You are on the wrong side of the gospel.

   When the scriptures tell us to be on guard and not lose our salvation (Matthew 10:22 & Rev. 3:5) but you reply, "Christians can never fall from grace no matter what he or she does, thinks or believes." You are on the wrong side of the gospel.

   Obedience to God's plan of salvation is not a option, but necessary to enter the Kingdom of God. So if you find yourself arguing against the clear meaning of these verses, beware! You may find yourself without your wedding garment at the banquet (Matthew 22:11-13) with the words "away, I never knew you" (Matthew 7:23)  ringing in your ears.  

   Again, faithful obedience leads to salvation not salvation leads to faithful obedience.