The Osteen Predicament: Mere Happiness Cannot Bear the Weight of the Gospel – Albert Mohler
I admire Albert Mohler. Mrs. Osteen might have meant to say, that our obedience adds nothing to God (it doesn’t), but when we obey, we open blessings for ourselves in this life (it does), and she may have just worded herself less than perfectly. (If I ever word myself less than perfectly, I would wish for the benefit of the doubt.) God does indeed promise blessings in this life, on this side of heaven. But for those who obey Him (Deu 28), not for those who simply believe Him, as most modern Prosperity Theology teaches. In Scripture, faith cannot be separated from obedience, as obedience is the fruit the root of faith produces. Therefore obedience is the mark of true faith, and the plumb line which separates true believers from those who merely talk a good talk.
obedience has not passed away scripture gallery
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice Law-lessness!’
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.’
“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Mat 7:21-27
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Joh 14:15
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 Joh 2:3-6
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. Rev 22:14
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