Marsha's Musings: Faith and Obedience (Hebrews 11:8-10 NKJV)

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10 NKJV)

What I notice here is that Abraham's faith in God came before obedience. We are told in James that Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness.  He believed God and had faith in God, then he obeyed.

So many people have this backwards.  They teach that you must obey and as you obey faith will come. They teach that by obedience you earn merit with God and are saved.  This is wrong. We obey out of a heart of faith because we believe God.

If your church emphasizes obedience over believing God's word as revealed in the Bible, then you need to leave that place and find a church that teaches Biblical faith and obedience.