1 John 3:24 NKJV
“Now he who keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the spirit whom he has given us.”
We often use the word "obedience" as an expectation and an innate moral code within human beings yet, this is the farthest from true. We even expect our kids to be obedient when they make decisions; yet, they do not know obedience by being born. Why? Because we live in a fallen world rooted in one word, "disobedience."
Adam and Eve chose to be disobedient to the Father of the Universe. They didn't choose sexual immorality, addiction, or murder. These two chose effortless disobedience via eating fruit; the result? We now turn to our "animalistic" ways of survival of the fittest. We want what is best for ourselves. The thought makes sense in many ways. If I am starving, I am going to look for food. If I am unsafe, I am going to leave the situation; it makes complete sense. But in the end, it is about self-preservation.
This idea of "self" is the problem because it removes God the Father and replaces him with "me." This "self" grows and overtakes within us until we meet Jesus Christ, our glorious Lord and Savior. This Jesus never thought about himself but everyone else. He gave up his rightful place at the right hand of the Father. He came to earth fully human and fully God. He lived a life not for self-gain but for the freedom of every person ever to walk this earth. He died a death upon a tree as they mocked and scoffed at him with nothing to say but "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34). He then rose again on the third day to prove that the selfless life was to be continued and given through power to those that believe in him as Lord and Savior.
What is this power that can overcome self? This power can help us lay down our own lives for another human and even God. What is it? The reason Jesus fulfilled the law, the reason Jesus came to earth, the reason Jesus gives us new life, the reason he includes us in his magnificent love story of reconciliation! To provide us with the Holy Spirit, the third part of our loving God. To allow us the opportunity to restore what has been lost. This God the Father gives us a third of himself, the selfless working of the Holy Spirit that desires worship with his creation. The removal of self because everyone, whether we want to admit it or not, adds to the tension and selfishness we see in the world, and we do this all because of self — me, myself, and I.
Direct disobedience to the Father is turning from his commands. The law of Christ in Galatians 6:2 is, "bear one another's burdens." Live a selfless life is the law or command of Jesus so, if we are not abiding (living with, dwelling among, at peace with, united with) with our Father in heaven, then I choose not to live with the Father, then he cannot live with me. I need to turn, I need to change, I need to repent, I need to confess, I need to restore, I need to be humble, I need to let go of myself so that the Holy Spirit can help, comfort, and empower me to fulfill the law of Christ. I cannot obey God without the Holy Spirit. I need the Holy Spirit to follow Christ. So that one-third of God can live inside of me so that all of God can dwell with me. All of this is possible because of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, the Lord of lords, the mediator between humans and the Father, and the answer to a broken world, "but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).
Brady Roser is associate pastor at The Bridge Church.
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