Obedience is Needed for Spiritual Development

Obedience and a proper understanding of justification by faith are essential for cultivating a deep friendship with God. While biblical theology makes friendship with God possible, it requires us to treat God as He truly is, the Lord of the universe.

Obedience Cultivates Intimacy

You cannot simply have a feeling of closeness with God without the reality of obedience, just as you cannot have a deep friendship with someone if you constantly ignore who they are.

In any long-term friendship, friends inevitably rub off on one another; they begin to think alike, act alike, and converge in their character. This process is reciprocal in human friendships, but with God, it means we must move toward Him.

While Aristotle argued friendship with God was impossible because the gap was too wide, the Bible bridges this gap through the Image of God in humans and the Incarnation of Jesus. While Jesus moved toward us via the Incarnation, we move toward Him through obedience. This is how we become holy by adopting His character, loves, and hates. Without this movement (obedience), there is no convergence, and thus no deep friendship.

A key rule of friendship is letting the other person be themselves. You cannot be friends with someone if you are constantly trying to force them to be someone else. God is the Lord of the Universe. To be friends with Him, you must accept Him as He is. If you treat Him as an equal or a cosmic butler rather than as the Lord, you aren't being friends with the real God; you are creating a fantasy. Therefore, recognizing His Lordship through obedience is actually an act of respect and transparency required for the relationship to exist.

The Role of Justification by Faith Alone

Keller famously states that obedience is necessary for friendship, but he clarifies that this obedience must be driven by gratitude, not a desire to earn wages.

If you do not understand that you are saved by grace (justification by faith alone), your relationship with God will default to a mercenary one, like an employee and a boss. In a mercenary relationship, you do work (obedience/worship) and expect payment (blessings/answered prayers).

If a boss stops paying, the employee quits. Similarly, religious people who are mercenaries will abandon God when life gets hard or prayers aren't answered, saying, "I did my part, where is my payment?"  A true friend sticks around even when there is no benefit, simply because they love the person. Only the gospel, knowing you are already fully loved and paid for by Jesus, can create this kind of non-transactional heart.

The Law in the Sermon on the Mount and Psalm 1.  Both texts open their respective books (the Psalter and Jesus’ first major discourse in Matthew) with a promise of happiness and human flourishing. They both define the good life not by wealth or power, but by a person's relationship with God and His word., which says the godly person delights in the law of God. This sounds impossible if you look at the sheer weight of God's law, specifically Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (where "do not kill" implies "do not hate"). Especially if you view the law as a way to earn salvation, it is terrifying and crushing because no one can keep it perfectly. It leads to despair, not delight.  

However, once you know Jesus has fulfilled the law for you (died the death you should have died, lived the life you should have lived), the law transforms. It is no longer a list of demands to avoid hell; it becomes a guidebook on how to please your friend. You obey not to get saved, but because you are saved and want to know what your Friend loves and hates.

Why did your God need a blood sacrifice to forgive?

We hear this from time to time. Why did your God need a blood sacrifice to forgive? Or why does forgiveness require a payment?

These questions imply that in our daily lives, forgiveness often feels free. If someone insults you and you forgive them, you generally don't demand that they (or someone else) be punished first. You simply choose to let go of your anger and waive your right to retaliation.

• The argument seems to be: If humans, who are flawed, can forgive freely without demanding a pound of flesh, why can't an all-powerful, perfectly loving God do the same? Why is His forgiveness conditional on violence (blood sacrifice)?

Because forgiveness is never actually free; it just shifts who pays the price.

Think of it like a broken window. If you break my window and I say, "I forgive you, you don't have to pay," the broken window didn't magically disappear. The broken glass is still real. The draft is still coming in. I have to pay for it to be repaired; I have to absorb the cost.

• Justice would be making you pay for the repair.

• Forgiveness means I decide to pay for the repair myself to restore the relationship.

In both cases, the penalty (the cost of the window) is paid. The only difference is whether the offender pays it or the victim absorbs it.

This is precisely what Christians believe happened on the cross. God didn't demand a "pound of flesh" because He was angry and needed to vent. He saw that a "window" in creation was broken by sin. Rather than making us pay the impossible cost to fix it (which would destroy us), He stepped down in the person of Jesus and absorbed the cost Himself.

It Was Never Really About Goats

The Bible actually says later in the New Testament (Hebrews 10:4) that "it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." The Old Testament sacrifices were essentially "IOUs" or shadows. They were temporary coverings that pointed forward to a future, permanent solution.  Christians believe Jesus was the only true sacrifice because He was the only one with a life valuable enough (infinite) and innocent enough (sinless) to cover the debt of humanity once and for all.  

God didn't need blood because He was thirsty or angry and needed to vent. The argument is that Justice needed to be satisfied so that Mercy could be released. The blood was the evidence that the price of life had been paid, allowing God to be both Just (punishing sin) and the Justifier (saving the sinner).

So, does forgiveness require a payment? Yes. But the beauty of the Gospel isn't that God demands payment from you; it's that He made the payment for you.

Biblical Repentance: A Deep Dive

Rethinking Repentance: It’s More Than Just Feeling Bad

We usually think of repentance as a heavy, guilt-filled word—like someone crying over their mistakes or getting a stern lecture. But if you look at the actual meaning behind it, it’s much more practical and hopeful than that. It’s not about being stuck in the past; it’s about changing your future.

Here is a breakdown of what that actually looks like:

• The Difference Between "Oops" and a U-Turn In the Bible, the word for repentance (Shuv) literally means to turn around. The New Testament word (Metanoia) means to change your mind. Think of it like driving toward a cliff: regret is feeling bad about the direction you’re headed, but repentance is actually slamming on the brakes and making a U-turn. It’s a change of map, not just a change of mood.

• Repentance is not: 1) penance. Biblical repentance does not require you to pay for your sins through self-inflicted suffering or ritualistic acts. The payment for sin in Christian theology is the work of Christ; repentance is the acceptance of that work and the turning away from the sin that necessitated it. 2) perfection. Repentance does not mean a believer will never sin again. It means the pattern of life has changed. The believer no longer makes peace with sin but fights against it. 3) remorse. Judas Iscariot felt remorse (regret) for betraying Jesus, which led to despair and death. Peter felt repentance, which led to restoration. Remorse focuses on the self ("I can't believe I did that"); repentance focuses on God ("I have sinned against You")

• David vs. Saul: Reputation vs. Relationship You can really see how this plays out by looking at two different kings. When King Saul got caught messing up, he made excuses because he was worried about his image. But when King David messed up, he didn't blame anyone else; he just focused on fixing his relationship with God. The lesson here is that true repentance cares more about the heart than the public relations side of things.

• Failure Isn't the End of the Road Look at Peter - he denied even knowing Jesus three times. You’d think he’d be disqualified, right? But when Jesus restored him, He didn't give him a "I told you so" speech. He just asked Peter if he loved Him and then gave him a job to do. Repentance isn't about being benched; it’s about being restored so you can help others.

• You Can’t Just Leave a Vacuum One of the most important parts of changing is realizing you can’t just "stop" doing something bad and leave it at that. If you empty a room but don't put anything else in it, the mess eventually finds its way back in. True repentance means replacing a bad habit with a good one—like replacing a lie with the truth or greed with generosity.

• Justification vs. Sanctification - Repentance unto Salvation (Justification): This is the singular, initial event where a person turns from unbelief to belief. In Acts 2:38 ("Repent and be baptized"), the call is to change one's mind about who Jesus is - shifting from rejecting Him to accepting Him as Lord. Repentance unto Growth (Sanctification): This is the ongoing lifestyle of the believer. In Revelation 2-3, Jesus calls established churches to repent of specific behaviors (lukewarmness, tolerating false teaching). This is the daily dusting off of the soul, maintaining relational intimacy with God rather than re-establishing a legal standing.

Biblical Examples of Repentance

Comparing the narratives of King Saul vs. King David and the Ninevites in Jonah provides a complete anatomy of biblical repentance. These two accounts function as theological bookends: Saul and David illustrate the internal quality of repentance (the difference between regret and brokenness), while the Ninevites illustrate the external mechanics of repentance (radical, collective behavioral change).

The Tale of Two Kings: Saul vs. David

The most distinct lesson on the nature of repentance comes from contrasting Israel’s first two kings. Both men were caught in grievous sin, yet their responses, and God’s reactions, were diametrically opposed.

King Saul: The Repentance of Regret (1 Samuel 15)

Saul’s "repentance" is the classic example of attrition—sorrow over the consequences of sin, not the sin itself. God commanded the total destruction of the Amalekites. Saul instead spared the king (Agag) and the best livestock. When Samuel confronts him, Saul’s first instinct is deflection. He blames the soldiers ("They spared the best of the sheep") and then spiritualizes his disobedience ("to sacrifice to the Lord"). Saul eventually admits, "I have sinned." However, he immediately qualifies it: "I feared the people and obeyed their voice." His final plea to Samuel exposes his heart: "I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel" (1 Samuel 15:30). He was not worried about his relationship with God; he was worried about his public image. God rejected him. Saul kept his throne for a time, but he lost the Spirit and the Kingdom.

King David: The Repentance of Relationship (2 Samuel 12 & Psalm 51)

David’s sin (adultery and murder) was arguably more heinous than Saul’s, yet he found mercy because his repentance was contrition, sorrow over offending God. The prophet Nathan traps David with a parable. When Nathan declares, "You are the man!", David offers no defense. David says simply, "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:13). There is no "but," no blaming Bathsheba, and no blaming the pressure of being king. In Psalm 51, David writes, "Against You, You only, have I sinned." He realized that while he hurt Uriah and Bathsheba, the ultimate treason was against God. He asks for a clean heart, not just a clean record. God forgave him. David suffered severe earthly consequences (the death of the child, a sword that never left his house), but his relationship with God was restored.

Feature	Saul's Repentance	David's Repentance
Response to Rebuke	Defended and debated	Immediately accepted
Blame	Blamed the people/circumstances	took full ownership
Concern	"Honor me before the elders"	"Create in me a clean heart"
Type of Sorrow	Worldly Sorrow (fear of loss)	Godly Sorrow (hatred of sin)

The Miracle of Nineveh: The Mechanics of Turning (Jonah 3)

If Saul and David teach us about the heart, the Ninevites teach us about the hands. Their narrative demonstrates that true repentance is an objective, observable disruption of the status quo.

Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, known for cruelty and violence. They were pagan enemies of Israel, meaning they had no covenant claim on God's mercy. Unlike Israel, who had promises of forgiveness, the Ninevites had none. Their repentance was driven by a desperate hope in God's character. The King of Nineveh says, "Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger" (Jonah 3:9). This is repentance without entitlement. Their repentance was comprehensive. It moved from the king down to the lowest citizen, and they even forced their animals to fast and wear sackcloth. It was a visible, community-wide halting of normal life. The king’s decree was not just to "be sorry." It was specific: "Let them turn everyone from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands" (Jonah 3:8). They identified their specific sin (violence) and stopped it. Jonah 3:10 is crucial: "When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented." It does not say God saw how they felt; it says He saw what they did.

Summary

Combining these narratives gives us a deep dive" definition of Biblical Repentance: the internal brokenness of David (grieving the offense to God) manifesting in the external action of Nineveh (a radical, visible change in behavior), avoiding the face-saving negotiation of Saul.

The Mechanics of Restoration: Peter vs. Judas

The narrative presents Peter and Judas as theological counterparts: both betrayed Jesus on the same night, but their paths diverged radically. Judas ran into death (regret), while Peter ran into life (repentance).

Jesus asks Peter three questions to mirror his three denials. In the original Greek, this conversation reveals a heartbreaking dance regarding the word for love. Jesus asks, "Do you love (agapas) me?" using the word for total, unconditional, sacrificial love. Peter responds: "Yes, Lord; you know that I love (phileo) you." Peter uses the word for brotherly affection or friendship. He is too broken to claim the superior agape love he once boasted of.  Jesus switches his term: "Simon, do you love (phileis) me?"
Jesus comes down to Peter's level, essentially asking, "Are you even my friend?" Peter is grieved by the change but answers honestly with phileo again.

Jesus accepted the humble, broken love (phileo) that Peter could offer rather than demanding the confident, boasting love he couldn't. After each confession, Jesus commands Peter to "Feed my sheep." This teaches that the evidence of forgiveness is usefulness. Instead of being sidelined for his failure, Peter is put back to work. Peter's failure actually qualified him to be a pastor. Before, he was arrogant; after, he was humble. You cannot shepherd broken sheep until you know what it feels like to be broken.

Why did Peter survive while Judas perished?

After his denial, Peter returned to the community of disciples (Luke 24:33). Judas went to the priests (his enemies) and then isolated himself. Repentance happens in community; despair happens in isolation. Judas tried to "fix" his sin by returning the money. Peter realized he couldn't fix it, so he "jumped out of the boat" and swam to Jesus.

A Prayer of Repentance

A prayer of repentance is a heartfelt, voluntary admission of wrongdoing to God, seeking forgiveness and a change of heart. 

Remember to 

1) Acknowledge Sin: Admitting to specific or general sins, such as pride, envy, or selfishness, and asking for forgiveness.

2) Surrender: Handing over one's life to God and asking for strength to change.

3) Acceptance of Mercy: Trusting in God's promise to forgive and restore, rather than fearing punishment

4) Turning Away: Expressing a desire to stop sinning and to follow a path of righteousness.

A Short, Daily Prayer: "Gracious Lord Jesus, whose kindness leads me to repentance, I  come before You, just as I am. I repent of my sins; please forgive me and pour out your steadfast love into my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Lead me away from broken paths and toward your life-giving guidance. Amen".

Repentance is considered a lifelong journey of purification that involves actively turning away from past mistakes.