Members of the churches of Christ obey the pattern of sound doctrine (meaning “teaching” because this is our duty of righteous living for our God.
Romans 6:1-23 makes a direct connection between righteous living which sets us free from sin and obedience to a pattern, with verses 17 and 18 instructing us, “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you OBEYED from the heart that FORM (or “pattern”) of DOCTRINE (or “teaching”) to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
Romans 6 also illustrates how the gospel of Jesus Christ saves sinners who “obey” it, as Romans 10:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and 1 Peter 4:17-18 implies all sinners must. The gospel is the “good news” of the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (summarised by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8). As a true story or narrative, it can certainly be “believed” (that is, given our assent as regards its truth or trustworthiness). But, how can a story be “obeyed” (i.e. to be acted upon as commanded)? The answer is, penitent sinners are themselves to be baptised to “re-enact”, as it were, Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection unto new life (in sinners’ case, resurrection unto a life of righteousness).
Romans 6:1-6 explains how we “obey” the patterned narrative of the gospel, God’s power to save sinners: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not. How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Clearly, if we are not obedient to the gospel command of believing it and being baptised (see Mark 16:15-16), we have not shared in the likeness of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, are not saved and remain slaves to sin. In this sense, what our Lord did in reality became a pattern for us to follow or “be obedient to” for our eternal salvation, no less (1 Peter 3:21).
It is often objected that “obeying” a command or pattern is a “work” or “effort” which has no part in a sinner’s salvation according to Ephesian 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” However, what is denied in this scripture is that works of merit, deserving reward, can save man’s souls (i.e. “works” we can “boast of”when we demand to be rewarded or recompensed for doing them). Rather, works of obedience to Divine commands and pattern are the right and proper duty of “unprofitable servants” who are doing what they should, not expecting praise nor reward (Luke 17:6-10, which tells of a duty of obedience on the part of those subject to a higher authority, verse 6 and 9-10). No thanks are to be expected for obeying God; rather, punishment is to be expected when we DO NOT obey (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; 2 Corinthians 5:9-11).
Besides “obeying the gospel” which saves us, there is also “the obedience of (our) confession to the gospel of Christ” (2 Corinthians 9:13). This comprises good works for others’ benefit which those who have obeyed the gospel do to bring glory to God (also Matthew 5:16).
Obeying the gospel brings the sinner into a relationship of servant-Lordship of Jesus Christ which naturally brings up the question of our Lord, “But why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,” and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21-27). Indeed, if we claim to love our Lord, we must obey His commandments (John 14:15).
Patterns of belief and conduct are sustained by faithful communication to,- and imitation by,- successive generations of believers (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 4:9). Obedience to preserved patterns requires that the pattern contained in scripture be unchanged, as must the communication and practice of it (Revelation 22:18-19; 2 Timothy 1:13-14). After all, the body of faith was “once for all delivered to the saints”, thereafter to continually be exposed to “ungodly men” (Jude 3-4) who would bring ruin to the body of Christ, His church if Christians do not preserve, contend for and defend the pattern as it was Divinely-revealed.
2 Timothy 1:13-14 13Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.