Obedience by Grace 

Romans 7:18-19 (NIV)

     For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 

Romans 10:5-6 (Msg)

     Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it's not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print… 

1. Even those who believe they are doing their best to obey are lost but don’t even know it 

We can easily turn obedience into idol as a means of obligating God to owe us – we do not truly desire God but something else more than God

If we doubt or do not believe that God is gracious and pleased with us, or if we presumptuously expect to please Him through our works, then all [our compliance with the law] is pure deception, outwardly honoring God, but inwardly setting up self as a false savior. Note for yourself, then, how far apart these two are: keeping the First Commandment with outward works only, and keeping it with inward [justifying faith]. For this last makes true, living children of God, the other only makes worse idolatry and the most mischievous hypocrites on earth... (Martin Luther)

2. Jesus obeyed the perfect laws of God perfectly on our behalf 

Romans 8:3-4 (NIV)

     For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,^[a] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.^[b] And so he condemned sin in sinful man, ⁴in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us… 

The more grace we understand and receive the more power and genuine transformation we will have to obey God from the inside-out 

Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)

     For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹²It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age… 

Obedience comes by being strengthened on the inside-out through the hearing of the Gospel of Grace and then receiving it by faith 

Romans 16:25-26 (ESV)

     Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages ²⁶but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 

3. The two gifts of the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness – approval leads to obedience, overcoming of sin and abundant life! 

Romans 5:17 (NLT)

     For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 

Romans 5:17 (NIV)

     For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 

The grace of God answers us in our most undeserving moments – be Christ-conscious and approval (righteousness)-conscious!