For the Obedience of Faith
As I finished reading the book of Romans, a phrase from the last section in chapter 16 caught my attention. ‘Obedience of faith.’ Verses 25-26 read, ‘Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:’
This shouted out to me that all that Jesus did during His earthly ministry, it was done to demonstrate how WE are to walk in obedience as a sign of our faith of the grace we have accepted. (For by grace are you saved by faith…)
Hebrews 11:1 says that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So our faith is demonstrated by obedience.
John 14:15 says, ‘If you love me, keep My commandments.’ Again, obedience.
Obedience to what?? The law of God, the ten commandments.
1 John 3: 4-10, 22 tells us that if we do not obey, then we do not know Him. Because sin is the transgression of the law. So therefore, knowledge of God brings obedience to His word.
Matt 7: 21-23 says that not all who claim to be followers of God will be in the kingdom. Why? Because He does not ‘KNOW’ them. How do we show we know Him? By walking in obedience. Jesus ends His comment here with ‘Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity.’ Iniquity is sin. Sin is breaking of the law.
Returning to Romans 16. We are assured that God gives us power to walk in obedience. We cannot do it of ourselves. It is by submitting to Him. Rom 12:1-2 says, ‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’
We present ourselves to God. Then He works in us to transform us (like the butterfly in the cocoon). Paul also tells us in Col 3:5, ‘Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:’ There are other verses on this topic.
We are to die to self daily. Die to the lusts of the flesh so we can allow the spirit to live in us, bringing us into obedience to God’s law of government. If we cannot learn to live according to the laws of God’s government (the ten commandments) while on earth, we will not be allowed to go to heaven. We are promised that sin will never rise again. Therefore, only those who are willing to be law-abiding citizens will be living there.
Another point to remember regarding the law of God, we cannot keep 9 of them and break one. It’s singular. LAW, not laws. James tells us that when we break one, we break them all. Not one of the commandments have been changed, despite the common belief among the majority of Christians today. There is not one verse in all of the Bible that says God’s law has been changed.
In fact, we are told that God NEVER changes. Never. Therefore, His law, which is a demonstration of His character, has never changed. Will never change.
Paul tells us that even if an angel came telling of a new gospel not to believe it. This is the same if a Being came to proclaim that God’s law has been changed.
If you would like to know more about how the supposed change in God’s law (His fourth commandment) came to be accepted as truth, click here for more information. Just remember that no earthly power has the right to change God’s law. None.
We have been warned against those who seek to change times and laws.
Something to think about.