A Gospel Dilemma:“If the Gospel changes us internally so that we begin to desire what

is right; why are there so many behavioral commands in The Bible, especially in the New Testament?”

Reason #1

The Commands Enlighten Our

Darkened Hearts to Appreciate God’s Design

for Life.

Matthew 6:21(The Message)

“The place where your treasure is,

is the place you will most want to be,

and end up being.”

John 1:17

“For the law was given

through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Deuteronomy 10: 12-1312 “And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God

with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the LORD’s

commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”

“God’s love provides us with the motivation for obedience, while God’s laws provide the direction for the Biblical

expressions of love.”- Jerry Bridges

Reason #2

Obedience to the Commands Limits

the Destructive Damage of Our

Sinfulness.

Romans 13: 9-109 The commandments…

are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love

is the fulfillment of the law.

1 Peter 2: 11-1211 “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from

sinful desires, which war against your soul.

12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing

wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

Reason #3

Disciplining Ourselves to Practice

God-honoring Behaviors

Helps Us Develop a Love for Them.

1 Peter 2: 2-32 “Like newborn babies,

crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up

in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted

that the Lord is good.”

“Appetites grow as you feed them.

Disciplining ourselves to do what we don’t always want

to do helps us learn to love the things we should love.”

- J.D. Greear

Spiritual Disciplines Are Like…

Spiritual Disciplines ofAbstinence & Engagement Spiritual Disciplines ofAbstinence & Engagement• Fasting• Submission• Sacrifice• Solitude• Silence

• Fellowship• Worship• Prayer• Study• Service• Confession• Celebration

These Disciplines

Can Not Rearrange and Heal

Your Heart.

God isn’t just after our obedience.

He’s after a whole new kind

of obedience which is born out

of a love and desire to follow Him.