Faith and Obedience Are Inseparable

by Ten Cent

Mark,"Do we preach a divided Christ to the world when we preach His Saviorhood without His Lordship?"
1 John 3:23This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us"

Not only are faith and obedience inseparable, but faith is obedience. When a person believes in Christ, puts their faith/trust in Him, they are obeying His command.Which could even lead me to a very loose argument for predestination. Because who can reject the Word of the Lord? Even the wind and the waves obey His voice, so for Him to command us to believe in His name, how could we reject it? How could we refuse to do what the very Creator of heaven and earth has commanded us to do? Because it's not an offer, it's a command. I say it's a loose argument because there's some obvious holes in that logic.

But here is some further support for my answer that faith is obedience. Notice the difference between translations.
KJV says, "believeth not".
NIV says, "rejects".
NASV and ESV say "does not obey".
Darby says, "not subject to the Son".

So on one side of the equation you have believing the Son resulting in everlasting life. On the other you have not believing, rejecting, not obeying, not subject to the Son resulting in wrath remaining on him.

KJV - John 3:36"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

NIV - John 3:36"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

NASV - John 3:36"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

ESV - John 3:36"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."

Darby - John 3:36"He that believes on the Son has life eternal, and he that is not subject to the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him."

So, I would say we would a great disservice and even harm to message of the gospel when we only declare one aspect of it. As believers, we sing a new song, we serve a new master, wear a new name, walk a new road, have a new goal, know a new peace down deep in our soul. (FG people can't sing that song with their whole heart.)

In Christ,
Ten Cent

Lordship

10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10 KJV.

6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV.

1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
2He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
3A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
4He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. Isaiah 42:1-4 KJV.

"a lawgiver "
"unto him shall the gathering of the people be. "
"the government shall be upon his shoulder: "
"upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom,"
"and the isles shall wait for his law. Isaiah 42:1-4 KJV."

So says the Old Testament.

Now onto the New Testament -

13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Colossians 1:13 KJV.

9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 KJV.

Questions:
Do we preach a divided Christ to the world when we preach His Saviorhood without His Lordship?

What scriptural right do we have to do that?

Is Carnal Christianity A Static State?

Carnal - sarkikos; fleshly, carnal, pertaining to flesh or body.(11) As implying weakness, frailty, imperfection; e.g., of persons being carnal, worldly... From THE COMPLETE WORDSTUDY DICTIONARY - NEW TESTAMENT, Spiros Zodhiates Th.D.

If we look at 1 Cor.3:1 we see that Paul is using the word "carnal" as the opposite of spiritual, yes, then he shows us that he looked at these Corintians as "babes in Christ". We cannot see 1 Cor.3:1-4 as teaching a static state; for look at how he addresses them in chapter 1:4-9, "4I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

Note he says here in verse 7, "7so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,"

Zero in on this:"awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,"

These Corinthians were "eagerly awaiting the revelation of Jesus Christ". The context sets up the definition of "carnal". These people were zealous for Jesus but were still babes. They were immature even at age 5 years in the Lord, yes. But their state was not static. As you'll also note that Paul speaks to this very church in 2 Cor. 3:3, calling them "epistle[s] of Christ...written by the Spirit of God". You'll also see that in 2 Cor.7:9 that this very church repented. Again, an indication that their state was not static. They were alive spiritually, and it showed. See also in 2 Cor. 13:5 where Paul asks them to examine themselves, to see if they be in the faith. He did this as a way to vindicate his apostolic calling. He was confident that they, after examination, would conclude themselves in the faith, thereby vindicating him as an apostle.