Motives for obedience
Wayne Grudem comments that Christians sometimes fail to appreciate the range of NT teaching regarding motives for obedience to God:-
- A desire to please God and express of love to him, Jn 14:15, 21; cf. 1 John 5:3.
- The need to keep a clear conscience before God Rom. 13:5; 1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 2 Tim. 1:3; 1 Peter 3:16
- The desire to be effective in the work of God’s kingdom, 2 Tim. 2:20–21
- The desire to see unbelievers come to faith in Christ through observing our lives, 1 Peter 3:1–2, 15–16)
- The desire to receive blessing from God, 1 Peter 3:9–12)
- The desire to avoid God’s displeasure (the ‘fear of the Lord’), Acts 5:11; 9:31; 2 Cor. 5:11; 7:1; Eph. 4:30; Phil. 2:12; 1 Tim. 5:20; Heb. 12:3–11; 1 Peter 1:17; 2:17
- The desire to increase our heavenly reward, Matt. 6:19–21; Luke 19:17–19; 1 Cor. 3:12–15; 2 Cor. 5:9–10
- The desire for a deeper walk with God, Matt. 5:8; John 14:21; 1 John 1:6; 3:21–22
- The desire that angels would glorify God because of our obedience, 1 Tim. 5:21; 1 Peter 1:12
- The desire for peace and joy in our lives, Phil. 4:9; Heb. 12:1–2
- The desire to do what God commands, because that is right, Phil. 4:8.
Systematic Theology