Saving faith with works is saving faith by works

[JLB]

In Matthew 4:15-23, Jesus began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, which was a light to the Gentiles, and God's law was how his audience knew what sin is (Romans 3:20), so repenting from our disobedience to it is a central part of the Gospel of the Kingdom, which is in accordance with Jesus being sent in fulfillment of the promise to bless us by turning us from our wickedness (Acts 3:25-26), which is the Gospel that was made known in advance to Abraham in accordance with the promise (Galatians 3:8), and which he spread to those in Haran in accordance with the promise (Genesis 12:1-5).

In Genesis 18:19, God knew Abraham that he would teach his children and those of his household to walk in His way by being a doer of righteousness and justice that the Lord might bring to him all that He has promised. In Genesis 26:4-5, God will multiply Abraham's children as the stars in the heaven, to his children He will give all of these lands, and though his children all of the nations of the earth shall be blessed because he heard God's voice and guarded His charge, commandments, statutes, and laws. In Deuteronomy 30:16, if the children of Abraham will love God with all of their heart by walking in His way in obedience to His commandments, statutes, and laws, then they will live and multiply and God will bless them in the land that they go to posses. So the promise was made to Abraham and brought about because he walked in God's way in obedience to His law, he taught his children and those of his household to do that in accordance with spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom, and because they did that.

In John 8:39, Jesus said that if they were children of Abraham, then they would be doing the same works as him, so the way that the children of Abraham are multiplied and are a blessing to the nations in accordance with inheriting the promise through faith is by turning the nations from their wickedness and by teaching them to do the same works as Abraham by walking in God's way in obedience to His law in accordance with spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom.

While it is true that Abraham believe God, so he was declared righteous (Genesis 15:6), it is also true that he believe God, so he obeyed God's command to offer Isaac (Hebrews 11:17), so the same faith by which he was declared righteous was also expressed by being an obeyer of God, but he did not earn his righteousness as the result of his obedience (Romans 4:1-5). In James 2:21-24, it quotes Genesis 15:6 to support saying that Abraham was declared righteous by his works when he offered Isaac, that his faith was active along with his works, and that his faith completed his works, so he was declared righteous by his works insofar as they were the way to express his faith, but not insofar as they were earning it as the result.

To sum it up.

Those who do righteousness are righteous.

No one is righteous who doesn’t do righteousness.

Doing something “by faith” literally means God spoke to you and you obeyed.

All the different ways people string together scriptures and talk in circles to try and get around this simple truth is useless.

People have been so programmed to think that obeying the LORD is some kind of legalistic religious bondage… in which they are cursed by doing such.


Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
1 John 3:7

 

[Soyeong]

To sum it up.

Those who do righteousness are righteous.

No one is righteous who doesn’t do righteousness.

Doing something “by faith” literally means God spoke to you and you obeyed.

All the different ways people string together scriptures and talk in circles to try and get around this simple truth is useless.

People have been so programmed to think that obeying the LORD is some kind of legalistic religious bondage… in which they are cursed by doing such.


Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
1 John 3:7

Indeed, while the only way for someone to attain a character trait is through faith, but it means for someone to attain a character trait is for them to become a doer of that trait. For example, the only way for someone to become courageous is through faith apart from being required to have first done enough courageous works in order to earn it as the result, but it would be contradictory for someone to become courageous apart from becoming a doer of courageous works, and the same is true for righteousness and every other character trait. This is why the same faith by which was are declared righteous apart from works does not abolish our need to be a doer of righteous works in obedience to God's law, but rather our faith upholds it (Romans 3:28-31). The gift of righteousness is the gift of getting to become a doer of righteous works in obedience to God's law, so doing righteous works has never been about trying to earn our righteousness as the result. Along with 1 John 3:4-7, Isaiah 51:7 says the righteous are those on whose heart is God's law, so the righteous living by faith does not refer to an alternative manner of living that is not in obedience to it.

 

[GodsGrace]

God's way is truth, which is the way to know Him and Jesus by being in His likeness through being a doer of His character traits,

Hi Soyeong and welcome to the Forum.
I agree that we are to become more and more as Jesus wants us to be.
We are to be transformed and become a new creature.

and which is the way to eternal life (John 17:3). For example, in Genesis 18:19, God knew Abraham that he would teach his children and those of his household to walk in His way by being a doer of righteousness and justice that the Lord might bring to him all that He has promised.

Interesting comment on Genesis 18:19
It reminds me of God choosing Mary to be the mother of Jesus.
God knew both would obey...but I'd say that God also prepared them in some way since they were such special persons for the history of Christianity.

An arrow flies true when it hits its mark, our mark is to walk in God's way, and God's law is truth (Psalms 119:142) because it is God's instructions for how to walk in His way (1 Kings 2:1-3) while sin is missing the mark, sin is what is contrary to God's way, and sin is the transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4). The Spirit has the role of leading us in truth (John 16:13) and of leading us to obey God's law (Ezekiel 36:26-27) because God's character traits are the fruits of the Spirit. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact likeness of His character (Hebrews 1:3), which he expressed through his works by setting a sinless example for us to follow of how to walk in obedience to God's law, so he is the way, the truth, and the life, and the way to know the Father (John 14:6-12).

Very beautiful !
Agreed on all.

I DO wonder many times at why we Christians debate whether or not good works/deeds are necessary when this is all our Lord taught.

 

[GodsGrace]

Indeed, while the only way for someone to attain a character trait is through faith, but it means for someone to attain a character trait is for them to become a doer of that trait. For example, the only way for someone to become courageous is through faith apart from being required to have first done enough courageous works in order to earn it as the result, but it would be contradictory for someone to become courageous apart from becoming a doer of courageous works, and the same is true for righteousness and every other character trait. This is why the same faith by which was are declared righteous apart from works does not abolish our need to be a doer of righteous works in obedience to God's law, but rather our faith upholds it (Romans 3:28-31). The gift of righteousness is the gift of getting to become a doer of righteous works in obedience to God's law, so doing righteous works has never been about trying to earn our righteousness as the result. Along with 1 John 3:4-7, Isaiah 51:7 says the righteous are those on whose heart is God's law, so the righteous living by faith does not refer to an alternative manner of living that is not in obedience to it.

I'd like to add that we must distinguish when Paul speaks of works OF THE LAW and GOOD WORKS/DEEDS.

Also, UNRIGHTEOUS works simply means works done OUTSIDE of faith....
Works done outside of faith are useless in God's eyes.
Here is what I like to say:
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS A DEAD FAITH.
WORKS WITHOUT FAITH ARE DEAD WORKS.

These faithless works benefit mankind...but they cannot save a person's soul.
These are what I would call unrighteous works.
Some Christians believe ALL WORKS are unrighteous...nothing could be farther from the truth of Jesus.

 

[Soyeong]

I'd like to add that we must distinguish when Paul speaks of works OF THE LAW and GOOD WORKS/DEEDS.

Also, UNRIGHTEOUS works simply means works done OUTSIDE of faith....
Works done outside of faith are useless in God's eyes.
Here is what I like to say:
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS A DEAD FAITH.
WORKS WITHOUT FAITH ARE DEAD WORKS.

These faithless works benefit mankind...but they cannot save a person's soul.
These are what I would call unrighteous works.
Some Christians believe ALL WORKS are unrighteous...nothing could be farther from the truth of Jesus.

In Romans 3:27, Paul contrasted a law of works with a law of faith, in Galatians 3:10-12, he contrasted the Book of the Law with "works of the law", and in Romans 3:31 and Galatians 3:10-12, he said that our faith upholds the Law of God in contrast with saying that "works of the law" are not of faith, so that phrase does not refer to obedience to the Law of God. Rather, "works of the law" refers to the process of a Gentile converting to being a Jew, which involved physical circumcision.

 

[mailmandan]

How about obey His commandments?

Obey 24/7, 100% of the time, sinless perfection? (1 John 1:8-10) Or how about "keep" His commandments?

What about Christians, those who know Him, but don’t obey His commandments?

A Christian who never obeys His commandments at all? Oxymoron.

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 2:4

The Greek word for "keep" is "tereo" which simply means guard, observe, watch over.

Strong's Greek: 5083. τηρέω (téreó) -- to watch over, to guard

1 John 2:3 - By this we know that we have come to know Him, (already know Him/already saved/demonstrative evidence) if we "keep" (Greek word "tereo" - guard, observe, watch over) His commandments. This is 'descriptive' of genuine believers. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep (guard, observe, watch over) His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. That is 'descriptive' of unbelievers.

Now this does not mean flawlessly obey all of God's commandments 100% of the time and merit eternal life based on our works. Sinless, perfect obedience is a big failure for all of us. (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) But not for Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22) Only Jesus Christ was without sin.

How about Christians who don’t obey Jesus Christ to love?

Oxymoron. (Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:7-8, 19)

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:15

Descriptive of children of the devil. In contrast with children of God in 1 John 3:14 - We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Also see 1 John 3:10.

How about Christians who don’t obey His doctrine?

Oxymoron. You are trying to create two separate camps of Christians.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9

In 2 John 9 we see two camps: 1. "Those who transgress and do not abide in the doctrine of Christ and do not have God" (never did) and 2. "those who abide in the doctrine of Christ and have both the Father and the Son."

When a person takes in the teachings of the New Testament as a whole, we see the truth.

We must properly harmonize scripture with scripture before reaching the proper conclusion on doctrine.

And the truth is, eternal salvation is for those who obey Him.

Which is only 'descriptive' of believers.

And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, Hebrews 5:9

In regard to Hebrews 5:9, who obeys Him? The saved or the lost? I often hear works-salvationists cite this verse to try and support salvation by works. Only believers have obeyed Him by choosing to believe the gospel (Romans 1:16) in order to become saved, and only believers obey Him after they have been saved through faith by practicing righteousness and not sin. (1 John 3:9,10) In either sense, only believers obey Him.

Unbelievers have not obeyed Him by refusing to believe the gospel (Romans 10:16; 2 Corinthians 4:3,4) and without faith it's impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), so unbelievers do not obey Him no matter how much "so called" obedience that they attempt to conjure up from an unregenerate heart in a vain effort to receive salvation based on works. (Matthew 7:22-23) So, in either sense, unbelievers do not obey Him.

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36 NASB

I often hear works-salvationists cite John 3:36 in the NASB and "stress" the word "obey" to imply that we are saved "by" obedience/works which follow believing. In regard to "does not obey the Son" in the New American Standard translation of the Bible, this does not mean that receiving eternal life is received based on the merits of our obedience/works which "follow" believing in the Son but obey by choosing to believe in the Son.

If John wanted to make obedience/works which follows believing in Him the central theme in salvation here, he would have said: "He who believes and obeys the Son has eternal life," but that is not what John said. To obey the Son here is to choose to believe in the Son.

The King James Version renders this same verse as: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that "believeth not the Son" shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. The NIV says "rejects the Son" and the HCSB says, "refuses to believe in the Son." To refuse to believe in the Son is to disobey, rebel, be disloyal and refuse conformity. Strong’s definition of apeitheo is "to disbelieve willfully and perversely." *In the context of 3:36, to "not obey the Son" means to reject the Son by refusing to believe in the Son.

THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE IF YOU KNOW IT.

Salvation by works is not the truth. (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9)

 

[JLB]

Obey 24/7, 100% of the time, sinless perfection? (1 John 1:8-10) Or how about "keep" His commandments?

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3

If you should sin, then you and I have an Advocate with the Father.

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2

Do you confess your sins, so that you can be forgiven and cleansed?

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

 

[GodsGrace]

Obey 24/7, 100% of the time, sinless perfection? (1 John 1:8-10) Or how about "keep" His commandments?

A Christian who never obeys His commandments at all? Oxymoron.

The Greek word for "keep" is "tereo" which simply means guard, observe, watch over.

Strong's Greek: 5083. τηρέω (téreó) -- to watch over, to guard

1 John 2:3 - By this we know that we have come to know Him, (already know Him/already saved/demonstrative evidence) if we "keep" (Greek word "tereo" - guard, observe, watch over) His commandments. This is 'descriptive' of genuine believers. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep (guard, observe, watch over) His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. That is 'descriptive' of unbelievers.

Now this does not mean flawlessly obey all of God's commandments 100% of the time and merit eternal life based on our works. Sinless, perfect obedience is a big failure for all of us. (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) But not for Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22) Only Jesus Christ was without sin.

Oxymoron. (Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:7-8, 19)

Descriptive of children of the devil. In contrast with children of God in 1 John 3:14 - We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Also see 1 John 3:10.

Oxymoron. You are trying to create two separate camps of Christians.

In 2 John 9 we see two camps: 1. "Those who transgress and do not abide in the doctrine of Christ and do not have God" (never did) and 2. "those who abide in the doctrine of Christ and have both the Father and the Son."

We must properly harmonize scripture with scripture before reaching the proper conclusion on doctrine.

Which is only 'descriptive' of believers.

In regard to Hebrews 5:9, who obeys Him? The saved or the lost? I often hear works-salvationists cite this verse to try and support salvation by works. Only believers have obeyed Him by choosing to believe the gospel (Romans 1:16) in order to become saved, and only believers obey Him after they have been saved through faith by practicing righteousness and not sin. (1 John 3:9,10) In either sense, only believers obey Him.

Unbelievers have not obeyed Him by refusing to believe the gospel (Romans 10:16; 2 Corinthians 4:3,4) and without faith it's impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), so unbelievers do not obey Him no matter how much "so called" obedience that they attempt to conjure up from an unregenerate heart in a vain effort to receive salvation based on works. (Matthew 7:22-23) So, in either sense, unbelievers do not obey Him.

I often hear works-salvationists cite John 3:36 in the NASB and "stress" the word "obey" to imply that we are saved "by" obedience/works which follow believing. In regard to "does not obey the Son" in the New American Standard translation of the Bible, this does not mean that receiving eternal life is received based on the merits of our obedience/works which "follow" believing in the Son but obey by choosing to believe in the Son.

If John wanted to make obedience/works which follows believing in Him the central theme in salvation here, he would have said: "He who believes and obeys the Son has eternal life," but that is not what John said. To obey the Son here is to choose to believe in the Son.

The King James Version renders this same verse as: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that "believeth not the Son" shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. The NIV says "rejects the Son" and the HCSB says, "refuses to believe in the Son." To refuse to believe in the Son is to disobey, rebel, be disloyal and refuse conformity. Strong’s definition of apeitheo is "to disbelieve willfully and perversely." *In the context of 3:36, to "not obey the Son" means to reject the Son by refusing to believe in the Son.

Salvation by works is not the truth. (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9)

Same old nonsense.
Same old excuses.
Same old running to Strong's,,as if Strong's is doing the teaching and not Jesus.

Copy and paste.
This is what you do.

WHO ever said we have to be perfect?
Same old strawmen.

I leave you to the other member because you're same old excuses are tiring.
You can't seem to leave first base.

2 Corinthians 11:4
2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.


If a person is DEVOTED TO CHRIST...
he will OBEY Christ...

 

[mailmandan]

Same old nonsense.
Same old excuses.
Same old running to Strong's,,as if Strong's is doing the teaching and not Jesus.

Copy and paste.
This is what you do.

WHO ever said we have to be perfect?
Same old strawmen.

I leave you to the other member because you're same old excuses are tiring.
You can't seem to leave first base.

2 Corinthians 11:4
2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.


If a person is DEVOTED TO CHRIST...
he will OBEY Christ...

I never implied through my clarification that if a person is devoted to Christ, they will never obey Christ. No nonsense or excuses on my part. That is your same old straw man argument.

 

[GodsGrace]

I never implied through my clarification that if a person is devoted to Christ, they will never obey Christ. No nonsense or excuses on my part. That is your same old straw man argument.

THAT is exactly what you're alluding to.

You even debate the word OBEY in John 3:36...
why debate something you believe to be true??

 

[mailmandan]

THAT is exactly what you're alluding to.

You even debate the word OBEY in John 3:36...
why debate something you believe to be true??

No. You just misunderstand. Obey does not pertain to salvation by works in John 3:36. But obey, by choosing to believe in the Son. Not to be confused with multiple acts of obedience/works, which follow.

 

[GodsGrace]

No. You just misunderstand.

What's to misunderstand?

John 3:36 states that we are to believe and OBEY God.

YOU debate that the word is BELIEVE both times.
What's the difference?

1. Why debate the word OBEY if you believe we ARE to obey God?
2. The word believe denotes obedience. Disbelief is the same as disobey.

 

[mailmandan]

What's to misunderstand?

John 3:36 states that we are to believe and OBEY God.

YOU debate that the word is BELIEVE both times.
What's the difference?

1. Why debate the word OBEY if you believe we ARE to obey God?
2. The word believe denotes obedience. Disbelief is the same as disobey.

John 3:36 does not say believe AND obey as I already pointed out in my post. You redefine believe as obedience/works which is problematic and culminates in salvation by works. Just because obedience is a manifestation of belief and disobedience is a manifestation of unbelief does not mean we redefine believe as obedience/works.

 

[mailmandan]

John 3:36 - The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him. (HCSB)

 

[JLB]

John 3:36 - The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him. (HCSB)

If you believe in the Son but don’t obey Him as Lord, then your believing is useless.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9

If Jesus teaches that we are to forgive people of their sins against us, and we don’t obey that teaching, then our sins won’t be forgiven.

If your sins aren’t forgiven then you are right back to where you started before you were saved. In your sins.

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15

 

[mailmandan]

If you believe in the Son but don’t obey Him as Lord, then your believing is useless.

Attempted obedience without believing is useless. (Matthew 7:22-23) If you believe in the Son and are born of God then Jesus is now your Lord (Romans 10:8-10) and obedience/practicing righteousness follows. (1 John 3:10)

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9

I already covered that verse with you in post #106.

If Jesus teaches that we are to forgive people of their sins against us, and we don’t obey that teaching, then our sins won’t be forgiven.

If your sins aren’t forgiven then you are right back to where you started before you were saved. In your sins.

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15

Contimued unforgiveness is the mark of an unbeliever and forgiveness would be the mark of a genuine believer. We are to forgive others because God, through Christ, has forgiven us. (Ephesians 4:32) It is inconceivable that someone who has truly experienced God's forgiveness could refuse to grant forgiveness to others. Forgiveness is about a heart condition and not a work for salvation.

 

[mailmandan]

2 Corinthians 11:4
2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

Jesus is God. (John 1:1-14) Another Jesus would be less than God. The gospel is the "good news" of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes.. (Romans 1:16) To "believe" the gospel is to trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation. Anything else which denies this is a "different" gospel. (Galatians 1:6-9)

 

[GodsGrace]

John 3:36 does not say believe AND obey as I already pointed out in my post. You redefine believe as obedience/works which is problematic and culminates in salvation by works. Just because obedience is a manifestation of belief and disobedience is a manifestation of unbelief does not mean we redefine believe as obedience/works.

I'm not the one defining anything.
YOU like the greek.
Go check out what believe means and what disobedience means.

But you won't.
Because you'll find out the truth...

and the truth is not what you post on these forums.

 

[GodsGrace]

Jesus is God. (John 1:1-14) Another Jesus would be less than God. The gospel is the "good news" of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes.. (Romans 1:16) To "believe" the gospel is to trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation. Anything else which denies this is a "different" gospel. (Galatians 1:6-9)

Let's see if scripture agrees with you.

Scripture teaches that something else is needed besides faith:

Philippians 1:29
29 For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
1 Corinthians 13:2
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
James 2:24
24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.


Only one verse is necessary to debunk your idea that faith alone saves you.
I've given you 3.
SUFFERING FOR CHRIST'S SAKE
LOVE
WORKS

Paul and James agree that faith alone is not sufficient.

 

[mailmandan]

I'm not the one defining anything.
YOU like the greek.
Go check out what believe means and what disobedience means.

But you won't.
Because you'll find out the truth...

and the truth is not what you post on these forums.

Strong's #4100

pisteuó: to believe, entrust
Original Word: πιστεύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: pisteuó
Phonetic Spelling: (pist-yoo'-o)
Short Definition: I believe, have faith in

Definition: I believe, have faith in, trust in; I am entrusted with.

Obedience which follows is works.

To refuse to believe in the Son is to disobey, rebel, be disloyal and refuse conformity. Strong’s definition of apeitheo is "to disbelieve willfully and perversely."

Strong’s Definitions
ἀπειθέω apeithéō, ap-i-theh'-o; from G545; to disbelieve (wilfully and perversely):—not believe, disobedient, obey not, unbelieving.

In the context of 3:36, to "not obey the Son" means to reject the Son by refusing to believe in the Son.