When we think about faith our mind races toward Abraham who is recognized as our father in faith. In Hebrews 11, Abraham has two major moments of faith highlighted, his pilgrimage and the sacrifice of his son Isaac. However, Moses has six cases of faith highlighted in the Hall of Fame. Moses truly was an example of faith and reveals how faith works in our lives.
The background of Moses’ life sets the stage for Moses’ faith. When Moses was born, Pharaoh was slaying all the newborn males by throwing them in the Nile river. However, Moses was saved and raised by Pharaoh’s family. Then Moses lived in the wilderness for forty years and God heard the cries of His people. God sends Moses as His messenger to confront Pharaoh and commands, “Let my people go”. After God executed His ten judgments on Egypt. Right before the final plague, while still under Pharaoh’s oppression, Hebrews 11:28 says “By faith he kept the Passover”. Moses’ faith is characterized by obedience. He kept the Passover in obedience to God.
Faith and obedience are inseparable. They are always intermingled, working together. True faith always acts in obedience. Faith without obedience is a farce. Faith manifests in our speech, behavior, and actions. The first thing faith understands is that God’s word is the truth that God’s truth is Jesus. Faith trusts in Jesus who is true. That is why knowing the truth is not the full extent of faith. Even the demons also know the truth but do not obey (James 2:19). The power of faith is in obedience. Every Christian must be obedient to God because Yahweh is their authority (Exodus 12:12).
There was a Korean man over 60 years old who decided to become a missionary and go to the Philippines. Many fellow Christians doubted he should be a missionary at that age. Yet he went and God blessed his ministry. Why? Because he was called and obeyed. Apostle Peter had toiled all night without catching a single fish, but Peter obeyed Jesus’ command to cast the net on the other side. Faith obeys Jesus’ word even though it makes no sense, even though it is unreasonable, even though it is improbable. Faith obeys because God says so.
There are some warnings to those who claim to have faith without obedience. James 2:26 says just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Apostle John also calls those who claim to know God but do not keep His commandments as liars (1 John 2:4). They are deceived and caught in the snare of Satan, the father of lies.
How do you know you are faithfully obedient? The intention is not to make you feel guilty but to clarify and convict. Psalm 119:11 “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you”. Do you love the word of God and constantly meditate on it? Do you cherish the Word of God above all the other necessities in your life? Our worship must be regulated purely by the Word of God. It is our rule and guide for all things. How can we understand or handle our hardships or our difficulties? God’s word holds the answer. He never makes any mistakes, which is why we can rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16).
Faithful obedience is a matter of life and death. Your obedience can affect the lives of many others. Obedience is a requirement for saving faith. It is not that obedience saves us, but without obedience, we cannot receive salvation. If we look at Hebrews 11:28 obedience is necessary for them to be passed over and avoid death. God had commanded the Israelites to take the blood of a lamb and put it on their doorposts. In the houses with blood on the doors, the firstborn son would be saved from death (Exodus 12:5,21-23). Unless they obeyed, they would have died. Salvation requires obedience.
It is the same for the Christian. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). The shedding of blood has been accomplished in Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). John the Baptist proclaims about Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It is the blood of Jesus that saves us from the hand of God’s judgment. In a way, by his obedience, Moses was like Jesus, saving many. On the night of Passover, every firstborn of the Egyptians died but none of the sons of Israel died. They were saved because Moses kept the Passover. The basis of salvation is Jesus Christ. Jesus alone saves us and we are saved by His grace through faith. We are not saved because of our obedience but the condition of salvation is obedience.
Saying “I believe” does not save you. Think how modern Americans in churches are saved these days. We hear, “I accepted Jesus into my heart”, “I believed in Jesus”.,“I prayed the sinner’s prayer”. These are mere words that have no power to save. Saying you know Jesus while neglecting obedience is not true salvation (Luke 13:25-27).
Obedience which leads to salvation begins with repentance (Mark 1:4,15). Repentance precedes faith. Jesus demands your repentance for forgiveness. When there is little obedience in one’s life, it means they lack repentance. Repentance is the turning away from sin out of sorrow and hatred of it, and turning towards Jesus in humility and love. Repentance is God’s grace. We are not saved by our giving but by God’s giving of repentance. In repentance, we forsake our sins and the world and consider Jesus our true Lord and Savior. Jesus must be Lord of all. This is a sure sign of faithful obedience. When you are free from sin, you know Jesus is the Lord.
We don’t know who is truly saved. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing. So outward obedience is not a guarantee of salvation. What we do know is that everyone needs the blood of Jesus Christ to be saved. Even Moses had to place the blood of the Lamb on his doorpost. This is why we must repent.
Faithful obedience powerfully loves others
“So that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.” The purpose of obedience is to protect others. By Moses’ obedience, many were protected and saved. Imagine what would have happened if Moses had disobeyed. By one man’s obedience, many sons and families were saved. In the call for obedience, God doesn’t ask for many. Remember Gideon’s small army. Remember Hudson Taylor who changed the nation of China. A few women in the state of Mizoram set aside a handful of rice for the church, and now that region is 90% Christian. Jesus chose twelve disciples and the whole world has been changed. It is through the faithful obedience of the few that God uses to save others.
Are we obedient to God in all matters and in all circumstances? Faithful obedience is not merely our duty but our forte. At the center of our faith is the risen Jesus. It is our privilege to obey Him and we pursue obedience with our best.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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