Articles
Obedience in Romans
Obedience in Romans
It is often affirmed that we are saved by faith ALONE and not by works. Works is then defined as 'doing something', hence we are saved without doing anything. Obedience of course involves doing something, hence it is concluded that we are saved without obedience.
In this line of reasoning (?) obedience is thus contrasted with faith. Paul does write about obedience in Romans, but he never contrasts it with faith.
· Paul writes that he "received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations" (1:5)
· He warns that for "those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury: (2:8).
· He explains "that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness" (6:16-18).
· He thus commanded believers: "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions" (6:12).
· He explains that Israel was lost because "they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” (10:16). Notice here that rather than contrasting faith and obedience, he linked them together: to not believe is to not obey.
· Paul commended the brethren in Rome because "your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you" (16:19).
· Paul then concludes this letter: "Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith" (16:25-26).
We are saved by faith, but Paul twice refers to the obedience of faith. We are forgiven and set free from our sins when by faith we obey from the heart. We should follow the example of Abraham: "by Faith Abraham obeyed…" (Heb. 11:8). Is your faith an obedient faith?
Hugh DeLong
