A.J. Jacobs devoted a year to living biblically. Then he wrote a book: “The Year of Living Biblically is about my quest to live the ultimate biblical life. To follow every single rule in the Bible – as literally as possible.” Interesting… but it means nothing. Apart from Jesus, obedience to the Scriptures is meaningless. Jesus said, “I did not come to abolish the law of Moses… I came to accomplish [its] purpose” (Matt. 5:17, NLT). People misunderstood Jesus’ teaching, that He was encouraging rebellion against the Law of Moses (e.g. dishonoring the Sabbath). Jesus did not come to abolish the Law – it still has purpose, the same purpose it always had... ultimately, to point us to Christ (Col 2:16). Jesus is what the Law is all about. Jesus fulfills the entire purpose of the Law: its moral requirements, the sacrifices, the prophecies… it’s all about Jesus. Jesus fulfilled its morality and granted to us obedience. Jesus brought to light its full meaning. Only in Christ does obedience mean anything. This is why we submit ourselves to the authority of the Scriptures, even that of the Old Testament. Obedience is a demonstration of faith in Jesus Christ. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it this way: “Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.” Obedience is the ultimate test of whether you believe. A follower of Christ should and will live a morally righteous life
The righteousness of a follower of Christ will be vastly superior to the obedience of A.J. Jacobs because it comes from the Spirit working in a changed life. But that begs an unsettling question: What if my life is a little less than righteous?