Has the Obedience of Christ Captivated Your Heart to Obey Him?

© 2021 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Scripture presents a contrast between carnality associated with the flesh, and the righteousness of Christ characterizing those who are saved.  Certainly Scripture teaches us that those in Christ have been greatly changed.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Before going to the cross Jesus said to His disciples,

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

However, it’s important to understand that we don’t earn our salvation by loving Christ or obeying Him.  Our love and obedience are not the cause of our salvation.  Rather, they are the result of a much higher love and obedience.  Could it be that “the obedience of Christ,” referred to in 2 Corinthians 10:5, above, speaks of Christ’s obedience?

Scripture emphasizes that, when Christ offered Himself as a payment for sin’s penalty, He acted obediently.  As God the Son, He obeyed God the Father and submitted to His holy judgment.

“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

During Christ’s dark hours on Calvary, He was obediently bearing God’s righteous judgment for those who would trust Him.

“Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:23-24)

Do you love Christ?  If not, you don’t belong to Him but are still under God’s curse.

“If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” (1 Corinthians 16:22)

If you love Him, do you realize that sins you now commit caused Him agony during those dark Calvary hours?  Will your thoughts be captivated and turned from evil by contemplating the obedience of Christ as He suffered for you?

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