What is active obedience? What is passive obedience?

Answer

Active obedience involves obeying the commands of another person, while passive obedience entails complete submission to someone else, even if it leads to harm or suffering. Although these two concepts are similar, active obedience typically includes performing specific actions, whereas passive obedience involves non-resistance. In relation to God, active obedience means seeking His commands and being willing to follow them. Passive obedience, on the other hand, is a continual state of surrender that acknowledges, “Not my will, but yours be done” «saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. », (Luke 22:42). Jesus demonstrated both active and passive obedience throughout His earthly ministry, and Christians are called to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to emulate His example «But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. », (Acts 1:8).

In the Old Testament, God demanded active obedience from the Israelites. This active obedience was intricate and challenging because God wanted them to understand that they could never be righteous enough to earn His mercy and grace. He was preparing the way for the arrival of His Son, Jesus, who would fulfill every aspect of the law « Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. », (Matthew 5:17). Through Jesus’ active obedience, He met all the requirements of the law. He declared, “I always do those things that please Him” «And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not

He left me alone; for I always do those things that please him.” , (John 8:29). In passive obedience, Jesus submitted Himself to cruel and unjust treatment because it was the will of God “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” , (Isaiah 53:7). The Bible never uses the terms active obedience or passive obedience, but some biblical descriptions of Jesus’ passion do emphasize passivity: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” “who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” , (1 Peter 2:23).

A Christian is to remain in a constant state of passive obedience to God. Walking in the Spirit means we stay sensitive to His leading and respond the way He wants us to “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” , (Galatians 5:16,25) “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” , (Galatians 5:16,25). When hardships come, we endure “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” , (James 1:2). We live in the knowledge that God will work everything together for our good “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” , (Romans 8:28).

According to his purpose,” (Romans 8:28), so we need not pursue vengeance. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19). We know that God is at work in our lives, and we give Him free rein to accomplish what He wants (Galatians 6:9; Philippians 2:13).

However, passive obedience is only half of the responsibility of the Christian. God has specific commands He wants us to obey, and many of them are contrary to what we would naturally choose. Jesus told us that in order to follow Him we must “deny ourselves and take up our crosses,” “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23). Those are actions. Among other things, we are told to “be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit,” “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” (Ephesians 5:18), “flee sexual immorality,” “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18), “love one another,” “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently;” (1 Peter 1:22), and “purpose”Sue Holiness” «Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: », (Hebrews 12:14). These commands all necessitate active obedience. First Thessalonians 5:12–22 presents a series of directives from Paul to the church. While not exhaustive, it illustrates that the Christian life entails carrying out specific actions.

With Jesus as our perfect example and the Holy Spirit as our source of strength, we are called to pursue lives characterized by both passive and active obedience «But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. », (Acts 1:8). Both are necessary to fulfill commands like this: “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” «If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. », (Romans 12:18). Passive obedience involves overlooking wrongs and entrusting judgment to God. Active obedience involves seeking ways to do good and shun evil. By living in this manner, we bring glory to our Father in heaven «Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. », (Matthew 5:16).