Do I Have To?

Often times when a parent asks a child to do something, the child will respond by asking “do I have to do it?” This can be very frustrating at times, as a parent knows the task is something that must be done, yet the child lacks the motivation or desire to do as asked. There may be many hours wasted each night as parents try to explain to children that they must do chores, homework, etc. and at times there may be the temptation to “throw in the towel” as the parent may begin to question themselves if the task at hand is something that has to be done. We understand the struggles of trying to make a child understand their need to do certain things and having to explain to them time and time again why they must do something, but how many acts just as those children do in regard to keeping the commands of God? Oftentimes, people will read the instructions from God, given to us as instruction in righteousness, or may hear a Gospel sermon and immediately begin to ask, “do I have to”. In this life we will all be faced with things that we have to do, there are things that we can choose not to do, and there are things that we can choose to do.

There are some things in this life that everyone will have to do. These are things that are “un-get-aroundable” that everyone will do regardless of choice. As everyone lives, everyone has to die. The Scriptures warn us of this very fact repeatedly. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us “it is appointed unto men once to die.” Job was well aware that life would come to an end as he stated, “man that is born of women is of few days” (Job 14:1). After sin entered into the world, Adam was told by God, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19). No one is exempt from death, as the cemeteries are filled with testimonies of the surety of life. Although we may desire to have more time on this earth, at some point life will come to an end, because we cannot deny the fact that we all have to die. After we die, we will all be raised. There is a day coming in which all that are in the graves will be resurrected. Many in Thessalonica were unsure of the resurrection and Paul wrote his first epistle to them to address the issues regarding the resurrection, telling them they should know the Day of the Lord will come “as a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2). The resurrection was something that the brethren in Thessalonica would be able to “comfort one another” as they could be assured that although they may die and be buried there was a time coming in which all that are in the graves will come forth and meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Jesus spoke very plainly about the coming resurrection and stated not to be marveled by the fact that life does not end in the tomb, as the Sadducees taught, but there was a time coming in which all that are in the graves will be resurrected (John 5:28-29). Of course, after the resurrection will be the Judgment. We all have to be judged and no one can escape the coming Judgment. The time is coming when we will all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ and receive the things we have done in this body (2 Cor. 5:10). Those that have been faithful to the commands of God will be rewarded accordingly (Rev.2:10; 2 Tim. 4:6-8), but those that have disobeyed God and have not kept His commands will be condemned accordingly. On the Day of Judgment everyone will give an account of the life they have lived (Rom. 14:12) and we will be judged according to the good or the evil that we have done in this life.

There are some things in life that people can choose not to do. Although the Bible clearly states that a person must do certain things, man still has free moral agency to make the choice to either obey or disobey God. God will not force His will upon anyone but has given His Word so man can make the choice to either obey and be blessed or disobey and face the consequences. Among the many things that we can choose not to do, we do not have to hear the Gospel. Timothy was exhorted by Paul to “preach the Word” and was warned of the false teachers that would arise (2 Tim. 4:2ff.). Paul proclaimed that faith comes by hearing the Gospel (Rom. 10:17), the Gospel is God’s power to save man (1 Cor. 1:18), and Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel (Rom. 1:16). We all possess free moral agency to hear the Gospel preached or turn a deaf ear to the preaching of the Word. Many today are exercising this right and do not want to hear the truth. Many assemblies of congregations are seeing smaller numbers because people make the choice to not hear the Gospel, to forsake the assembly, and fulfill earthly desires, although we have been commanded by God to assemble on the first day of the week and exhort one another through preaching of God’s Word (Heb. 10:24-25; Acts 20:7). Although Jesus states that a person must believe He is the Christ (John 8:24), we can choose not to believe. Jesus proclaimed that, “he that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). Although Jesus commands we believe in order to be saved, man still possesses the free moral agency to deny that Jesus is the Christ, but if so, take heed to Matt. 10:33. Although we are commanded to repent of sins, our free moral agency allows a person to remain in sin, and although we are commanded to repent, we do not have to if so chosen. When the multitude heard the Gospel proclaimed and came to the understanding they were in sin and cried out asking what they should do, they were commanded to “repent” (Acts 2:37-38). Repentance is absolutely necessary in order to be saved as God has commanded all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30) but those that choose not to do so have that right. Although commanded, man still has free moral agency not to confess Jesus is the Christ. The Ethiopian Eunuch was told is he would confess then he could be saved and after making that confession he was baptized into Christ (Acts 8:35-39). Jesus states those that confess Him before men, He will confess before His Father in heaven, but those that deny Him will be denied by Him (Matt. 10:32-33) and if one makes the choice not to confess Jesus, they have the free moral agency to do so. Although commanded, one does not have to be baptized in order to be saved. There are many false teachers that are teaching this statement as fact, but the Scriptures undeniably teach that if one is to be saved then they must be baptized for the remission of sin (Acts 2:38). Baptism is the process by which our sins are washed away (Acts 22:16), and is a command given by Jesus in order to be saved (Mark 16:16), but a person still has free moral agency to deny the Scriptures and not be baptized. Although commanded, a person does not have to be faithful to God unto death. If a person decides to rebel against God and no longer walk in the light (1 John 1:7ff.), they have the right to make that choice, but those that are faithful unto death will be given a heavenly reward (Rev. 2:10).

There are things that a person can choose to do. A person can choose to obey the commands of God. Just as God will not force anyone to disobey Him and we have the agency within us to disobey, we also have the right and the ability to obey His commands. God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) and has given instructions whereby we may be righteous (2 Tim. 3:16-17), and those that choose to take heed to the commands of Scripture can do so. If a person wanted to obey the commands of God in order to be saved by Him, they can do so. If a person wanted to believe Jesus is the Christ, repent of sin, confess Him before men, and put Him on in baptism (Gal. 3:26ff.), then they have the ability to do so. After one makes the choice to obey the commands of God and be saved, if so chosen, they can live faithfully to Him. The Bible teaches that if we love Christ then we will keep His commands (John 14:15). The church at Corinth was encouraged to continue steadfastly, not being moved, and always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58) and if one decided to do such today, they have every opportunity to do so.

There are things in life that we will all do, things we can choose not to do, and things we can choose to do. God has been gracious to us in allowing us to be redeemed by Jesus if we obey His commands, but the choice to be redeemed is up to each individual.