Simple Bible Truths Obedience & Repentance

Obedience

Doing what God says.

OBEYED
Did right in His eyes.
DISOBEYED
Went their own way.
“To obey is better than sacrifice.”
1 Samuel 15:22
Examples
OBEYED
Noah: did everything God commanded.
Abraham: went, not knowing where.
Daniel: kept praying when it was outlawed.
Mary: “let it be to me according to your word.”
DISOBEYED
Adam & Eve: took the forbidden fruit.
The wilderness generation: grumbled and would not enter.
Achan: took what was devoted to God.
Jonah: ran from God’s call.
Saul: spared what God said to destroy.
Manasseh: filled Jerusalem with idols and blood.

Obedience was never the whole story.

OBEYED PERFECTLY
Jesus
FELL SHORT
Noah
Abraham
Moses
David
Daniel
Mary
Peter
Everyone
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23

Repentance

Turning back when you fail.

REPENTED
Owned their sin before God.
REFUSED
Sorry for the consequences, not the sin.
“If my people humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways, I will forgive.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
Examples
REPENTED
David: “I have sinned against the Lord.”
Nineveh: a whole pagan city turned at one warning.
The prodigal son: “I have sinned against heaven and before you.”
Peter: wept after denying Him, and was restored.
Manasseh: humbled himself in captivity, and God restored him.
REFUSED
Cain: warned by God, killed his brother anyway.
Saul: made excuses, “I feared the people.”
Ahaz: in his distress, became yet more faithless.
The rich young ruler: walked away sad, unwilling to let go.

Takeaway

Obedience the path God set.
Repentance the way back when you stray.
When you fall, own it.
What repentance sounds like
  • “I have sinned against the Lord.”David, 2 Sam 12:13
  • “I have sinned against heaven and before you.”the prodigal son, Luke 15:18
  • “Lord, You know that I love You.”Peter, John 21:17
What refusal sounds like
  • “Am I my brother’s keeper?”Cain, Gen 4:9
  • “I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.”Saul, 1 Sam 15:24
  • “In his distress he became yet more faithless.”Ahaz, 2 Chron 28:22
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.”
1 John 1:9