Here's Why Obedience Is Necessary for Spiritual Growth - Tim Keller

Every single aspect of biblical theology Every single aspect of biblical theology makes it possible for us to be friends makes it possible for us to be friends makes it possible for us to be friends with God. Now, this is about prayer. with God. Now, this is about prayer. with God. Now, this is about prayer. Let's talk finally about how it's Let's talk finally about how it's Let's talk finally about how it's possible. That it's possible, why it's possible. That it's possible, why it's possible. That it's possible, why it's possible, but how is it how is it possible, but how is it how is it possible, but how is it how is it cultivated? And what I like about cultivated? And what I like about cultivated? And what I like about thinking about prayer thinking about prayer thinking about prayer um in terms of friendship with God is um in terms of friendship with God is um in terms of friendship with God is that the the friendship gives them gives that the the friendship gives them gives that the the friendship gives them gives me a framework for the prayer. Let me me a framework for the prayer. Let me me a framework for the prayer. Let me show you what I mean. There's let's see show you what I mean. There's let's see show you what I mean. There's let's see how many will I give you. One, two, how many will I give you. One, two, how many will I give you. One, two, three, four. I'm going to give you five. three, four. I'm going to give you five. three, four. I'm going to give you five. Five ways to cultivate friendship with Five ways to cultivate friendship with Five ways to cultivate friendship with God. Number one, obedience. God. Number one, obedience. God. Number one, obedience. Didn't think I was going to go there, Didn't think I was going to go there, Didn't think I was going to go there, did you? did you? did you? Intimacy with God. Obedience. Start Intimacy with God. Obedience. Start Intimacy with God. Obedience. Start there. Why? Well, for example, John there. Why? Well, for example, John there. Why? Well, for example, John 15:14, Jesus says, "If you do what I 15:14, Jesus says, "If you do what I 15:14, Jesus says, "If you do what I command you, you are my friends." command you, you are my friends." command you, you are my friends." By the way, Psalm 66:18 says, "If I By the way, Psalm 66:18 says, "If I By the way, Psalm 66:18 says, "If I cherished iniquity in my heart, he would cherished iniquity in my heart, he would cherished iniquity in my heart, he would not hear me."

not hear me." not hear me." Now, see, Now, see, Now, see, let's I can't tell you how many people I let's I can't tell you how many people I let's I can't tell you how many people I know who found that they lost their know who found that they lost their know who found that they lost their intimacy with God, their friendship with intimacy with God, their friendship with intimacy with God, their friendship with God, because they weren't obeying him. God, because they weren't obeying him. God, because they weren't obeying him. Now, here's where Aristotle is kind of, Now, here's where Aristotle is kind of, Now, here's where Aristotle is kind of, this is probably why Aristotle was this is probably why Aristotle was this is probably why Aristotle was concerned about talking about friendship concerned about talking about friendship concerned about talking about friendship with God or the gods. with God or the gods. with God or the gods. He says, "No, we're too different." He says, "No, we're too different." He says, "No, we're too different." Well, I tried to show you that because Well, I tried to show you that because Well, I tried to show you that because of biblical theology, we're not too of biblical theology, we're not too of biblical theology, we're not too different because of the image of God in different because of the image of God in different because of the image of God in me and you, and because the atonement me and you, and because the atonement me and you, and because the atonement and the incarnation and the incarnation and the incarnation on God's side, because the image of God on God's side, because the image of God on God's side, because the image of God on our side, on our side, on our side, stunningly we can be God's friends. But stunningly we can be God's friends. But stunningly we can be God's friends. But the fact is that God is not just like the fact is that God is not just like the fact is that God is not just like us. Yes, he's a lot like us only because us. Yes, he's a lot like us only because us. Yes, he's a lot like us only because of the incarnation and the atonement, of the incarnation and the atonement, of the incarnation and the atonement, but he's not just like us. And we must but he's not just like us. And we must but he's not just like us. And we must never think of friendship with God as never think of friendship with God as never think of friendship with God as treating him just like us. Uh for treating him just like us. Uh for treating him just like us. Uh for there's two reasons why obedience is there's two reasons why obedience is there's two reasons why obedience is necessary for friendship. Number one, necessary for friendship. Number one, necessary for friendship. Number one, if he's if you obey him, you're going to if he's if you obey him, you're going to if he's if you obey him, you're going to become more like him. It's called become more like him. It's called become more like him. It's called holiness.

holiness. holiness. And all of you know who have had And all of you know who have had And all of you know who have had friendships for a long period of time is friendships for a long period of time is friendships for a long period of time is friends rub off on each other. You know, friends rub off on each other. You know, friends rub off on each other. You know, friends rub off on each other. They they friends rub off on each other. They they friends rub off on each other. They they they they uh they sharpen each other. they they uh they sharpen each other. they they uh they sharpen each other. They move each other more toward one They move each other more toward one They move each other more toward one another in many ways. You have to. Now, another in many ways. You have to. Now, another in many ways. You have to. Now, Jesus Christ is already done his part. Jesus Christ is already done his part. Jesus Christ is already done his part. He's come an enormously long way to He's come an enormously long way to He's come an enormously long way to become like us. It's called the become like us. It's called the become like us. It's called the incarnation, the atonement. Okay, that's incarnation, the atonement. Okay, that's incarnation, the atonement. Okay, that's a long way. But it's only through a long way. But it's only through a long way. But it's only through obedience you start to move closer to obedience you start to move closer to obedience you start to move closer to him. you start to become more like him. him. you start to become more like him. him. you start to become more like him. And therefore, without obedience, there And therefore, without obedience, there And therefore, without obedience, there can't be friendship because friendship can't be friendship because friendship can't be friendship because friendship in friendship people converge. They come in friendship people converge. They come in friendship people converge. They come together. They they they learn from each together. They they they learn from each together. They they they learn from each other. They they become more like each other. They they become more like each other. They they become more like each other in many ways. But here's a second other in many ways. But here's a second other in many ways. But here's a second reason why obedience is necessary for reason why obedience is necessary for reason why obedience is necessary for friendship with God. And that is, isn't friendship with God. And that is, isn't friendship with God. And that is, isn't it true? Don't we always say that if it true? Don't we always say that if it true? Don't we always say that if this person is going to be your friend, this person is going to be your friend, this person is going to be your friend, you've got to let that person be him or you've got to let that person be him or you've got to let that person be him or herself? herself? herself? You've got to allow transparency. You You've got to allow transparency. You You've got to allow transparency. You need transparency. need transparency. need transparency. You want that person not to try to be You want that person not to try to be You want that person not to try to be somebody that you want them to be. They somebody that you want them to be. They somebody that you want them to be. They you need to know who that person really you need to know who that person really you need to know who that person really is. That person needs to be him or is. That person needs to be him or is. That person needs to be him or herself with you. Isn't that friendship?

herself with you. Isn't that friendship? herself with you. Isn't that friendship? Right. Okay. Well, then how do you have Right. Okay. Well, then how do you have Right. Okay. Well, then how do you have friendship with the Lord of the universe friendship with the Lord of the universe friendship with the Lord of the universe without treating him like he is and without treating him like he is and without treating him like he is and letting him be himself? The only way to letting him be himself? The only way to letting him be himself? The only way to do that is to obey him. Obey him. do that is to obey him. Obey him. do that is to obey him. Obey him. Elizabeth Elliott tells a story that Elizabeth Elliott tells a story that Elizabeth Elliott tells a story that I've never forgotten because it's you'll I've never forgotten because it's you'll I've never forgotten because it's you'll see why. Uh she talks she tells about see why. Uh she talks she tells about see why. Uh she talks she tells about how her little brother Tommy uh was how her little brother Tommy uh was how her little brother Tommy uh was always told by his mother that he could always told by his mother that he could always told by his mother that he could play with his toys play with his toys play with his toys but he had to put them away. but he had to put them away. but he had to put them away. And one day he had played with them. A And one day he had played with them. A And one day he had played with them. A lot of them weren't really toys. They lot of them weren't really toys. They lot of them weren't really toys. They were like uh paper bags and things like were like uh paper bags and things like were like uh paper bags and things like that that they used to play with. But he that that they used to play with. But he that that they used to play with. But he had taken all these things out and he had taken all these things out and he had taken all these things out and he had been playing with them and he had had been playing with them and he had had been playing with them and he had left them all over the floor. and left them all over the floor. and left them all over the floor. and suddenly he noticed, uh oh, it's time suddenly he noticed, uh oh, it's time suddenly he noticed, uh oh, it's time for my music lessons because his music for my music lessons because his music for my music lessons because his music lessons were at a certain point. So, he lessons were at a certain point. So, he lessons were at a certain point. So, he went into the living room and he got up went into the living room and he got up went into the living room and he got up uh into the piano and he started playing uh into the piano and he started playing uh into the piano and he started playing his uh his his practice uh uh lessons. his uh his his practice uh uh lessons. his uh his his practice uh uh lessons. Well, evidently uh Elizabeth and Tommy's Well, evidently uh Elizabeth and Tommy's Well, evidently uh Elizabeth and Tommy's mother came in, saw that he had left the mother came in, saw that he had left the mother came in, saw that he had left the place a wreck, walks in the living room place a wreck, walks in the living room place a wreck, walks in the living room and says, "Tommy, you did not put away and says, "Tommy, you did not put away and says, "Tommy, you did not put away your things." But Tommy, because he was your things." But Tommy, because he was your things." But Tommy, because he was practic, this is a Christian home. You practic, this is a Christian home. You practic, this is a Christian home. You know what his lessons were? He was know what his lessons were? He was know what his lessons were? He was playing hymns. His his [clears throat] playing hymns. His his [clears throat] playing hymns. His his [clears throat] practicing the the the piano uh his practicing the the the piano uh his practicing the the the piano uh his practice piano time uh was uh playing practice piano time uh was uh playing practice piano time uh was uh playing hymns. So Tommy says, "Mom, hymns. So Tommy says, "Mom, hymns. So Tommy says, "Mom, I'm singing praise to Jesus." [laughter]

And she said, and this will go down, you And she said, and this will go down, you know, in the ages. She said, "There's no know, in the ages. She said, "There's no know, in the ages. She said, "There's no use singing praises to Jesus when you're use singing praises to Jesus when you're use singing praises to Jesus when you're being disobedient." [laughter] being disobedient." [laughter] being disobedient." [laughter] But I have to tell you, our churches are But I have to tell you, our churches are But I have to tell you, our churches are filled with people that come for a high filled with people that come for a high filled with people that come for a high on Sunday. But they're being on Sunday. But they're being on Sunday. But they're being disobedient. They come, they want to disobedient. They come, they want to disobedient. They come, they want to feel good. They want to be spiritual, feel good. They want to be spiritual, feel good. They want to be spiritual, but not religious. I guess, but not religious. I guess, but not religious. I guess, you know, they they want to have the you know, they they want to have the you know, they they want to have the feeling of intimacy, but they don't want feeling of intimacy, but they don't want feeling of intimacy, but they don't want to get their life in line. But that, you to get their life in line. But that, you to get their life in line. But that, you know, Jesus says, "Listen, if you obey know, Jesus says, "Listen, if you obey know, Jesus says, "Listen, if you obey what I command you, you are my friends." what I command you, you are my friends." what I command you, you are my friends." So, the first thing you need for an So, the first thing you need for an So, the first thing you need for an intimate friendship with God is intimate friendship with God is intimate friendship with God is obedience. Second thing you need is to obedience. Second thing you need is to obedience. Second thing you need is to believe in justification by faith alone. believe in justification by faith alone. believe in justification by faith alone. You said, "Oh, yeah. I knew Tim Keller You said, "Oh, yeah. I knew Tim Keller You said, "Oh, yeah. I knew Tim Keller would get to that somehow. I have no would get to that somehow. I have no would get to that somehow. I have no idea how he does it, but there it is. idea how he does it, but there it is. idea how he does it, but there it is. Well, yeah. Um, I think I have to. And Well, yeah. Um, I think I have to. And Well, yeah. Um, I think I have to. And here's the reason why. Psalm one. here's the reason why. Psalm one. here's the reason why. Psalm one. Well, before I even get to Psalm one, Well, before I even get to Psalm one, Well, before I even get to Psalm one, listen. listen. listen. If you are trying to have a relationship If you are trying to have a relationship If you are trying to have a relationship with God with God with God and you do not understand the doctrine and you do not understand the doctrine and you do not understand the doctrine of justification by faith alone, of justification by faith alone, of justification by faith alone, you do not understand that you are not you do not understand that you are not you do not understand that you are not saved by your works or saved by your saved by your works or saved by your saved by your works or saved by your moral efforts, but that it's it's a it's moral efforts, but that it's it's a it's moral efforts, but that it's it's a it's a gift uh through what Jesus Christ did a gift uh through what Jesus Christ did a gift uh through what Jesus Christ did on the cross. If you don't understand on the cross. If you don't understand on the cross. If you don't understand that, your relationship with God has to that, your relationship with God has to that, your relationship with God has to be a mercenary one. Basically, God be a mercenary one. Basically, God be a mercenary one. Basically, God cannot be your friend. God will be your cannot be your friend. God will be your cannot be your friend. God will be your boss.

boss. boss. Now, when you're working for your Now, when you're working for your Now, when you're working for your employer, you have a relationship. employer, you have a relationship. employer, you have a relationship. You're the employee, that's the You're the employee, that's the You're the employee, that's the employer, and you might be friendly with employer, and you might be friendly with employer, and you might be friendly with your boss, your boss, your boss, but you know the fundamental nature of but you know the fundamental nature of but you know the fundamental nature of the relationship. No matter how friendly the relationship. No matter how friendly the relationship. No matter how friendly you are, it is a mercenary relationship. you are, it is a mercenary relationship. you are, it is a mercenary relationship. You have to do XYZ, You have to do XYZ, You have to do XYZ, and your boss has to pay you XYZ. and your boss has to pay you XYZ. and your boss has to pay you XYZ. If you don't do XYZ, no matter how If you don't do XYZ, no matter how If you don't do XYZ, no matter how friendly they are, they're probably friendly they are, they're probably friendly they are, they're probably going to have to fire you. Even if the going to have to fire you. Even if the going to have to fire you. Even if the boss likes you, the upper boss is going boss likes you, the upper boss is going boss likes you, the upper boss is going to make you go. Or on the other hand, to make you go. Or on the other hand, to make you go. Or on the other hand, frankly, if you do XYZ and your boss frankly, if you do XYZ and your boss frankly, if you do XYZ and your boss doesn't do XYZ, then you have every doesn't do XYZ, then you have every doesn't do XYZ, then you have every right to quit. They you might be right to quit. They you might be right to quit. They you might be friendly with the person, but you say, friendly with the person, but you say, friendly with the person, but you say, "I'm sorry. I took this job to be paid "I'm sorry. I took this job to be paid "I'm sorry. I took this job to be paid this amount. You're not paying me this this amount. You're not paying me this this amount. You're not paying me this amount. I mean, I like you. You're a amount. I mean, I like you. You're a amount. I mean, I like you. You're a friend, but I got to go." So friend, but I got to go." So friend, but I got to go." So friendliness might be in there, but the friendliness might be in there, but the friendliness might be in there, but the bottom line relationship is a mercenary bottom line relationship is a mercenary bottom line relationship is a mercenary one. This person's your boss, not your one. This person's your boss, not your one. This person's your boss, not your friend. friend. friend. And unless you believe the gospel of And unless you believe the gospel of And unless you believe the gospel of grace, unless you have a deep grace, unless you have a deep grace, unless you have a deep understanding of justification by faith understanding of justification by faith understanding of justification by faith alone, alone, alone, then you're you can't have friendship then you're you can't have friendship then you're you can't have friendship with God. It's going to be a mercenary with God. It's going to be a mercenary with God. It's going to be a mercenary one. You're going to be doing your thing one. You're going to be doing your thing one. You're going to be doing your thing and you're going to be expecting your and you're going to be expecting your and you're going to be expecting your benefits.

benefits. benefits. And of course, if God doesn't come And of course, if God doesn't come And of course, if God doesn't come through and answer some of your prayers, through and answer some of your prayers, through and answer some of your prayers, you're going to say, "Where are my you're going to say, "Where are my you're going to say, "Where are my benefits?" And you're going to be ready benefits?" And you're going to be ready benefits?" And you're going to be ready to walk because you were friendly to to walk because you were friendly to to walk because you were friendly to God. But basically, you're not friends. God. But basically, you're not friends. God. But basically, you're not friends. You're not loving because you've been You're not loving because you've been You're not loving because you've been loved. loved. loved. You're just doing because you've been You're just doing because you've been You're just doing because you've been done for. done for. done for. Now, Psalm 1, interestingly enough, Now, Psalm 1, interestingly enough, Now, Psalm 1, interestingly enough, says, says, says, "The godly man or woman delights in the "The godly man or woman delights in the "The godly man or woman delights in the law of God and meditates on it day and law of God and meditates on it day and law of God and meditates on it day and night." Now, I want you to know night." Now, I want you to know night." Now, I want you to know Psalm chapter 1, that statement Psalm chapter 1, that statement Psalm chapter 1, that statement especially to me makes no sense without especially to me makes no sense without especially to me makes no sense without the New Testament. With the New the New Testament. With the New the New Testament. With the New Testament makes incredible sense. It Testament makes incredible sense. It Testament makes incredible sense. It doesn't just say, "I delight in the law doesn't just say, "I delight in the law doesn't just say, "I delight in the law of God." Uh to to obey the law of God. of God." Uh to to obey the law of God. of God." Uh to to obey the law of God. It says, "I delight the the godly man It says, "I delight the the godly man It says, "I delight the the godly man delights and meditates on it." You know, delights and meditates on it." You know, delights and meditates on it." You know, in Jesus Christ in the sermon on the in Jesus Christ in the sermon on the in Jesus Christ in the sermon on the mount gives you the ultimate meditation mount gives you the ultimate meditation mount gives you the ultimate meditation on the law of God.

on the law of God. on the law of God. There's a tendency if you just look at There's a tendency if you just look at There's a tendency if you just look at the ten commandments to say oh yeah I the ten commandments to say oh yeah I the ten commandments to say oh yeah I can do that but Jesus says let's think can do that but Jesus says let's think can do that but Jesus says let's think about it let's meditate on it about it let's meditate on it about it let's meditate on it uh you know it says thou shalt not kill uh you know it says thou shalt not kill uh you know it says thou shalt not kill but you know the implications of that but you know the implications of that but you know the implications of that means it means to love it means you're means it means to love it means you're means it means to love it means you're not supposed to hate you're not supposed not supposed to hate you're not supposed not supposed to hate you're not supposed to resent you're not supposed to despise to resent you're not supposed to despise to resent you're not supposed to despise yeah don't commit adultery but you know yeah don't commit adultery but you know yeah don't commit adultery but you know that means you're not supposed to lust that means you're not supposed to lust that means you're not supposed to lust and Jesus is meditating on it and Jesus is meditating on it and Jesus is meditating on it let me tell you something once you let me tell you something once you let me tell you something once you understand understand understand once you meditate on the law of God the once you meditate on the law of God the once you meditate on the law of God the Jesus is is meditating on the law of Jesus is is meditating on the law of Jesus is is meditating on the law of God. I don't know how somebody who is God. I don't know how somebody who is God. I don't know how somebody who is not saved by the blood of Christ. I not saved by the blood of Christ. I not saved by the blood of Christ. I don't know how somebody who doesn't don't know how somebody who doesn't don't know how somebody who doesn't understand the doctrine of justification understand the doctrine of justification understand the doctrine of justification by faith alone could ever look at the by faith alone could ever look at the by faith alone could ever look at the sermon on the mount and not be sermon on the mount and not be sermon on the mount and not be absolutely petrified by it. And I think absolutely petrified by it. And I think absolutely petrified by it. And I think I think it's Dr. David Martin Lloyd I think it's Dr. David Martin Lloyd I think it's Dr. David Martin Lloyd Jones that once heard I think he said Jones that once heard I think he said Jones that once heard I think he said this somewhere in his great book on this somewhere in his great book on this somewhere in his great book on that. He said one time some somebody that. He said one time some somebody that. He said one time some somebody once said, "Well, to be a Christian, you once said, "Well, to be a Christian, you once said, "Well, to be a Christian, you don't have to believe in Jesus. You just don't have to believe in Jesus. You just don't have to believe in Jesus. You just have to live according to the sermon on have to live according to the sermon on have to live according to the sermon on the mount. the mount. the mount. And Dr. Lloyd Jones says, "Have you ever And Dr. Lloyd Jones says, "Have you ever And Dr. Lloyd Jones says, "Have you ever read it? God saved me from the sermon on read it? God saved me from the sermon on read it? God saved me from the sermon on the mount."

the mount." the mount." I mean, now Lori, if the sermon on the I mean, now Lori, if the sermon on the I mean, now Lori, if the sermon on the mount is true, I've got no hope. mount is true, I've got no hope. mount is true, I've got no hope. and see the only way to delight in the and see the only way to delight in the and see the only way to delight in the law of God uh and not find the law of God an uh and not find the law of God an everlasting despair everlasting despair everlasting despair is if you understand that Jesus Christ is if you understand that Jesus Christ is if you understand that Jesus Christ fulfilled the law of God perfectly. He fulfilled the law of God perfectly. He fulfilled the law of God perfectly. He delighted in the law of God. He went to delighted in the law of God. He went to delighted in the law of God. He went to the cross. He lived the life you should the cross. He lived the life you should the cross. He lived the life you should have lived a perfect life and then died have lived a perfect life and then died have lived a perfect life and then died the death you should have died in your the death you should have died in your the death you should have died in your place. And now because that's all taken place. And now because that's all taken place. And now because that's all taken care of now I can delight in the law of care of now I can delight in the law of care of now I can delight in the law of God. now is it is now a way for me to God. now is it is now a way for me to God. now is it is now a way for me to please my friend. Why? What's the law of please my friend. Why? What's the law of please my friend. Why? What's the law of God? It tells me what my friend loves God? It tells me what my friend loves God? It tells me what my friend loves and what he hates. And now that it's no and what he hates. And now that it's no and what he hates. And now that it's no longer an everlasting despair, it's longer an everlasting despair, it's longer an everlasting despair, it's something I can actually use, something something I can actually use, something something I can actually use, something I can actually do, something I can I can actually do, something I can I can actually do, something I can actually uh uh use in my friendship. actually uh uh use in my friendship. actually uh uh use in my friendship. It's no longer a way for me to to It's no longer a way for me to to It's no longer a way for me to to basically coers God into giving me basically coers God into giving me basically coers God into giving me benefits.