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Reasonable Service in the Context of Christian Obedience

Christian obedience is understood as a "reasonable service" (Romans 12:1, Darby translation) or "intelligent service" [3], encompassing various aspects of a believer's life. This concept is rooted in the idea of presenting one's body as a "living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God" [3].

Obedience to God is commanded throughout scripture [1]. It is impossible without faith (Hebrews 11:6) and involves obeying God's voice, law, and commandments [1]. This includes submission to higher powers (Romans 13:1) and is considered better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22) [1]. Christ himself serves as the ultimate example of obedience (Matthew 3:15; John 15:20; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 5:8), and angels are also depicted as engaged in obedience (Psalm 103:20) [1]. For saints, obedience is a characteristic (1 Peter 1:14) [1].

The concept of reasonable service also extends to glorifying God, which is commanded (1 Chronicles 16:28; Psalm 22:23; Isaiah 42:12) and due to Him (1 Chronicles 16:29) [2]. This glorification is for His holiness, mercy, truth, faithfulness, wondrous works, and judgments [2]. Believers are obligated to glorify God (1 Corinthians 6:20), and this is accomplished through relying on His promises (Romans 4:20), praising Him (Psalm 50:23), and doing all things to His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31) [2]. Christ also exemplified glorifying God (John 17:4) [2].

Humility is necessary for the service of God (Micah 6:8), with Christ again serving as an example (Matthew 11:29; John 13:14-15; Philippians 2:5-8) [4]. Sanctification, which is separation to the service of God (Psalm 4:3; 2 Corinthians 6:17), is effected by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit [5]. This process leads to the mortification of sin [5]. Resignation to God's will and watchfulness are also components of this service [6, 7].

In the context of societal roles, such as servants, Christian obedience means faithfully serving masters, pleasing them in all things, and not viewing one's condition as an impediment to their Christian calling [8, 9, 10, 12, 14]. The gospel does not cancel obligations based on natural law or mutual consent [12]. John Calvin notes that the offering of Gentiles to God through the gospel is a spiritual sacrifice, likening the gospel to a "spiritual sword for slaying victims" [11]. The support of Christian ministry, like the Old Testament priesthood, is also considered a form of service, sustained by the contributions of the people [13].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Obedience to God — Commanded -- De 13:4. Without faith, is impossible -- Heb 11:6. Includes Obeying his voice. -- Ex 19:5; Jer 7:23. Obeying his law. -- De 11:27; Isa 42:24. Obeying Christ. -- Ex 23:21; 2Co 10:5. Obeying the gospel. -- Ro 1:5; 6:17; 10:16,17. Keeping his commandments. -- Ec 12:13. Submission to higher powers. -- Ro 13:1. Better than sacrifice -- 1Sa 15:22. Justification obtained by that of Christ -- Ro 5:19. Christ, an example of -- Mt 3:15; Joh 15:20; Php 2:5-8; Heb 5:8. Angles engaged in -- Ps 103:20. A characteristic of saints -- 1Pe 1:14. Saints ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glorifying God — Commanded -- 1Ch 16:28; Ps 22:23; Isa 42:12. Due to him -- 1Ch 16:29. For his Holiness. -- Ps 99:9; Re 15:4. Mercy and truth. -- Ps 115:1; Ro 15:9. Faithfulness and truth. -- Isa 25:1. Wondrous works. -- Mt 15:31; Ac 4:21. Judgments. -- Isa 25:3; Eze 28:22; Re 14:7. Deliverance. -- Ps 50:15. Grace to others. -- Ac 11:18; 2Co 9:13; Ga 1:24. Obligation of saints to -- 1Co 6:20. Is acceptable through Christ -- Php 1:11; 1Pe 4:11. Christ, an example of -- Joh 17:4. Accomplished by Relying on his promises. -- Ro 4:20. Praising him. -- Ps 50:23. Doing all ”
  3. Romans “Romans 12:1 (Darby) — I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the compassions ofGod, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable toGod, [which is] your intelligent service.”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sanctification — Is separation to the service of God -- Ps 4:3; 2Co 6:17. Effected by God. -- Eze 37:28; 1Th 5:23; Jude 1:1. Christ. -- Heb 2:11; 13:12. The Holy Spirit. -- Ro 15:16; 1Co 6:11. In Christ -- 1Co 1:2. Through the atonement of Christ -- Heb 10:10; 13:12. Through the word of God -- Joh 17:17,19; Eph 5:26. Christ made, of God, to us -- 1Co 1:30. Saints elected to salvation through -- 2Th 2:13; 1Pe 1:2. All saints are in a state of -- Ac 20:32; 26:18; 1Co 6:11. The Church made glorious by -- Eph 5:26,27. Should lead to Mortification of sin. -- 1Th 4:3,4. Ho”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Watchfulness — Christ an example of -- Mt 26:38,40; Lu 6:12. Commanded -- Mr 13:37; Re 3:2. Exhortations to -- 1Th 5:6; 1Pe 4:7. God especially requires in ministers -- Eze 3:17; Isa 62:6; Mr 13:34. Ministers exhorted to -- Ac 20:31; 2Ti 4:5. Faithful ministers exercise -- Heb 13:17. Faithful ministers approved by -- Mt 24:45,46; Lu 12:41-44. Should be With prayer. -- Lu 21:36; Eph 6:18. With thanksgiving. -- Col 4:2. With steadfastness in the faith. -- 1Co 16:13. With heedfulness. -- Mr 13:33. With sobriety. -- 1Th 5:6; 1Pe 4:7. At all times. -- Pr 8:34. In all thin”
  8. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 17:7: 17:7-10 In Greco-Roman culture, servants existed to serve their masters faithfully. Faith (17:5-6) entails obedient submission to Christ and his commands.”
  9. Titus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Titus 2:7: Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters,.... And not others, whether they be believers, or unbelievers, gentle or froward, all their lawful commands ought to be obeyed; See Gill on Eph 6:5 and to please them well in all things; not only to obey and serve them, and do what they order, but to seek and endeavour to do it in such a way as may be grateful, acceptable, and well pleasing to them, whereby an interest in their affection, esteem, and commendation, may be gained: and this should be done always, and in all things, that are not contrary to a good conscie”
  10. Titus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Titus 2:9: servants--"slaves." to please them well--"to give satisfaction" [ALFORD]. To be complaisant in everything; to have that zealous desire to gain the master's goodwill which will anticipate the master's wish and do even more than is required. The reason for the frequent recurrence of injunctions to slaves to subjection (Eph 6:5, &c.; Col 3:22; Ti1 6:1, &c.; Pe1 2:18) was, that in no rank was there more danger of the doctrine of the spiritual equality and freedom of Christians being misunderstood than in that of slaves. It was natural for the slave who had”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 13.2: of their faith, which it certainly would be. That, however, the whole passage may be more clearly understood, he says that he offered sacrifice to God, when he consecrated them by the gospel. There is a similar expression in Romans 15:16 ; for in that passage he represents himself as a priest, who offers up the Gentiles to God by the gospel. Now, as the gospel is a spiritual sword for slaying victims, 139 139 “ Pour tuer les bestes qu’on doit sacrifier ;” — “For killing the animals that ought to be sacrificed.” so ”
  12. 1 Timothy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 6:1: I. Here is the duty of servants. The apostle had spoken before of church-relations, here of our family-relations. Servants are here said to be under the yoke, which denotes both subjection and labour; they are yoked to work, not to be idle. If Christianity finds servants under the yoke, it continues them under it; for the gospel does not cancel the obligations any lie under either by the law of nature or by mutual consent. They must respect their masters, count them worthy of all honour (because they are their masters), of all the respect, observance, compliance”
  13. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 9:14: Even so--The only inference to be drawn from this passage is, not that the Christian ministry is of a sacrificial character as the Jewish priesthood, but simply, that as the latter was supported by the contributions of the people, so should the former. The stipends of the clergy were at first from voluntary offerings at the Lord's Supper. At the love-feast preceding it every believer, according to his ability, offered a gift; and when the expense of the table had been defrayed, the bishop laid aside a portion for himself, the presbyters, and dea”
  14. 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 7:21: Art thou called being a servant?.... That is, called by grace whilst in the condition of a servant, care not for it; do not be troubled at it, and uneasy with it; be not anxiously solicitous to be otherwise; bear the yoke patiently, go through thy servitude cheerfully, and serve thy master faithfully; do not look upon it as any objection to thy calling, any contradiction to thy Christian liberty, or as unworthy of, and a reproach upon thy profession of Christ: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. The Syriac renders the last clause, , "choose for ”
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