SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP

  1. Old Testament
    1. Note from from Deuteronomy 5:10
       It is a characteristic of Deuteronomy to link obedience to YHWH's covenant to love for YHWH (cf. Deut. 6:4-9; 7:9-11; 10:12-13; 11:1,13,22; 13:3; 19:9; 30:6,16,20; John 12:47; 14:15,21,23,24; 15:10; 1 John 5:2-3).
       YHWH's love is not capricious, but clearly defined. He shows no partiality. His initiating covenant love is maintained by covenant obedience (see SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT).
       "Keep" (BDB 1036, KB 1581) is the key concept in this chapter (cf. Deut. 5:1,10,12,29,32 and many times in Deuteronomy, cf. Deut. 4:6; 6:19; 11:22; 17:19; 27:1). The OT was based on the grace of YHWH and human obedience/performance. YHWH wanted to show human inability to respond appropriately (cf. Galatians 3). The New Covenant (cf. Jer: 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-36) is based on God's gracious initiation and redemption in Christ (cf. Eph. 2:8-9). Believers are still destined to be righteous (cf. Eph. 1:4; 2:10), but they have been accepted and forgiven by grace through faith and not human merit (cf. Eph. 2:8-9). Now they obey/perform out of a sense of gratitude and family love (i.e., "those who love Me"). The goal is the same, a righteous (Christlike) people, but the mechanism has changed from human performance to Christ's performance (cf. Isaiah 53; Mark 10:45; 2 Cor. 5:21).
       Another Hebrew root used in Deut. 6:4, "hear" (BDB 1033, KB 1581), also means "hear so as to do/obey." (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SHEMA)  Obedience is the evidence that faithful followers are faithful followers.  Note Jesus' words in Luke 6:46!  One of the saddest passages in Isaiah describes Israel's inability to obey (cf. Isa. 6:9-13)!  Also note Jesus' words in Matt. 7:21-23,24-27.
      SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD [OT])
    2. Notes from Deuteronomy 6:1
       Deuteronomy 6, along with the conclusion of chapter 5, could be characterized as a strenuous emphasis on the need for obedience (cf. Deut. 5:29,31,32,33; 6:1,2,3,4,17,24, and 25).

  2. New Testament
    1. This same emphasis on the need for obedience in the lives of believers is repeated in the NT. Obedience is linked to so many other doctrines.
      1. one's profession of faith that Jesus is "Lord" ‒ Luke 6:46
      2. Jesus kept YHWH's word; His followers must keep His ‒ John 8:55; 15:10
      3. eternal life is conditional on obedience, which is evidence of one's faith ‒ John 8:51; 14:23; 15:17-21; 17:6 (note James 2:14-26)
      4. judgment ‒ John 12:46-48 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGMENT IN THE NT)
      5. ability to receive revelation ‒ John 14:21
      6. the indwelling of the Triune God ‒ John 14:23; 1 John 3:24 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ABIDING)
      7. receiving the Spirit ‒ John 14:15-16; 1 John 3:24
      8. more spiritually important than the Mosaic law ‒ 1 Cor. 7:9 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S VIEWS OF THE MOSAIC LAW)
      9. part of the "good fight" ‒ 1 Tim. 6:11-14
      10. assurance of salvation ‒ 1 John 2:3-6 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ASSURANCE)
      11. answered prayer ‒ 1 John 3:22
      12. command to love one another ‒ 1 John 5:2-3; 2 John vv. 4-6
         One way that we show Him that we really love Him is that we do what He has told us to do (i.e., believers obey the word of God, Luke 11:28; John 8:51,52,55; 17:6; 1 John 2:6; Rev. 3:8,10).
    2. The focus of this obedience is directed first toward God and then toward our covenant brother/sister (i.e., Matthew 5-7; James; 1 John). God always takes the initiative in grace, yet He expects us to obey His covenant requirements (see SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT)! This is true of both the OT and the NT.
    3. The NT requirements (use of "My yoke" in Matt. 11:29-30) are
      1. faith (initial and throughout life; see SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, OR TRUST)
      2. repentance (initial and throughout life; see SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE [NT])
      3. obedience
      4. service
      5. worship (see SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP)
      6. perseverance (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE)

    God wants a godly, loving, obedient people to clearly reveal Himself to a fallen world (cf. Matt. 25:31-46). God wants to attract the lost through His godly people to Himself (i.e., Matt. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:12; 4:11).

    SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

    SPECIAL TOPIC: DISCIPLES' CHARACTERISTICS

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